M&S "behind the scenes" feedback thread - non attendees - chance to win £150 M&S giftcard! NOW CLOSED

[AnnMumsnet]

This thread is for the 8 MNers who attended the M&S "behind the scenes" event at M&S Marble Arch on Thursday 4th December. This was a chance for these MNers to meet the Womenswear design and buying team at M&S and chat about about their womenswear range this Christmas and to get some top advice on the range.

Non attendees - for a chance to win a £150 M&S voucher, please share on this thread either the very best clothing item you have ever bought from M&S or the one thing they sell that always seems to find its way into your basket! Add your comment and you'll be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £150 M&S giftcard

The event consisted of MNers "shopping" for themselves and selecting items they think they'd like to buy - these were then tried on and chatted about with the M&S team.

Frances Russell, Womenswear Trading Director and Belinda Earl - Style Director - called in and chatted about how the business works, how they try to make sure what M&S offers meets the need of all their customers.

There was then an open discussion with other members of the M&S senior womenswear team about MNers top 3 loves and hates about M&S, what the ideal M&S would look like/sell, what are MNers favourite shops and what's most important to those attending in clothing.

The group also asked MNers - if MN ran the Womenswear business what 3 things would they do?

Note; M&S have submitted some answers to the most commonly asked questions on the recruitment form - see this link here for them - we hope to have some additional answers in the next day or so.

Attendees - please share below your responses to the following questions! And do add any photos you took of the day to the thread.

~ Please give an overview of the day
~ What items you picked and what you thought about them (would you buy them?)
~ Please share with MNers about the discussions on the day - what did you ask and what was the consensus?
~ What was your take on the question of "if MN ran the Womenswear business what 3 things would they do"?
~ What was your overall impression of the day? Are you glad you went?

Also M&S would love to know from attendees:
~ How important is the way something is made to you e.g. does it matter if it was made ethically or sustainably and do you check this?
~ Where do you get ideas and inspiration from for what clothing you want to buy?
~ How often do you update your wardrobe with new items?
~ How would you describe your personal style and taste?

Thanks!
MNHQ

non-attendee

Really like the Per Una Roma straight leg jeans in long length, they fit really well on the waist and wash well with not much creasing.

I also buy all my underwear from M&S

Oh and what has happened to the long length pyjamas, there hasn't been any for a few years now.

I love M&S Jeggings. Underwear (despite them always telling me the wrong size when measuring, I just take the one I know will fit), and Bikinis. They also do nice scarves and winter hat sets.

I generally don't shop in there much because I find the layout awful in both my local shops and get annoyed with the overwhelming choice of stuff that is just not quite right. I used to buy all my work suits in there but have since moved away because the trousers seem to be flarey and the jackets not as fitted as they once were.

My mum bought me some m and s jeans after I had had dd and they are still the most comfortable I own, but unfortunately you've changed the cut :(

Non attendee - I like a lot of the Indigo range and most years end up with at least a jumper, jacket or gilet and some tops. I also really like their boots and have several pairs, wooly tights too and dressing gowns. I don't like the per una frippery stuff. Good quality long lasting clothing is M&S's strength.

I am a nonattendee
I always by wrap style patterned dresses from MandS as they flatter and fit really well.

I am a non-attendee. I like the per una range and have a lovely pair of smart work trousers I bought about five years ago which are still going strong. Also have a great pair of jeans that are really flattering.

Non-attendee

I like MandS thermal underwear, and their old-fashioned cotton nightdresses which are lovely and long.

I have a great thick, grey cardigan that I use a lot as a seasonal transition coat and it's lovely quality. Goes with everything, and just the right weight.

Non attendee.

I always visit M & S for bra's but I have found they don't fit quite as well the last couple of years. I love the kids clothes but they are expensive so wait for the sales, excellent quality though.
Work trousers are my staple M & S buy, I have just brought two identical styles in different colours as they fit well and are classic, I like the fact that they do lots of styles in black/navy/grey but where is brown this year..?

Non-attendee

100 denier opaque black tights (usually the Magicwear ones) - hands down the best tights ever. I came off my bicycle earlier in the year, taking most of the skin off my knee, but the tights were miraculously intact (magic indeed!) and still going strong.

One grumble though... I'm now pregnant so in maternity tights this winter - why do you only do these in 40 or 60 denier M&S? Please give us some 100s!

Non-attendee- A lovely vest top in black and grey that I bought a couple of years ago and I love it. It washes really well too. I wear it loads in summer and have had lots of compliments on it- it fits so perfectly.

Non attendee
My favourite going out dress is from M and S.
Having always been chubby I had a large weight loss August 2011- dec 2012, about four stone. That winter I bought a fabulous dress from M and S which is still my favourite, in fact I wore it last weekend to my best friends 40th. I think it may actually be a tunic as it is mini on me and I am 5ft 2. It's burgundy, has sheer sleeves, fairly straight in the body with tassels at the bottom. I like that it is great with knee high boots or with heels it makes my legs look long (which they definitely are not ;-) ) my weight fluctuates by about half a stone but this dress always makes me feel good.
The best bit is maybe that it is a size 10, my first (I remember gleefully emailing this to mum and friends) and after such a hard slog to get there after a lifetime of being unhappy with my body and 3 kids in 3.5 years, it felt pretty good :-)
Always keep my eye out in M&S for similar but nothing so far.
Thanks!

Non attendee

best item ever bought from M&S was a pair pf suede black ankle boots when I was 16, with my first ever pay check from my Saturday job. I loved them and thought I looked so stylish. Broke my heart when they finally got scuffed beyond belief a few years later

thing that always goes in the basket has to be pants!! Always go to M&S for pants, especially the 5 multipacks, great value and always know they'll be comfortable

Non-attendee

Has to be underwear for me, especially their VPLs.

Non attendee

Pjs. I love the quality and the designs. They are pretty addictive.

Food: chocolate caramels and scotch pancakes

non attendee, I like the per una trousers as they fit me and are comfortable. I also like the tights and nightwear.

Non attendee. Best thing I ever bought from M&S is a sports bra that I used for running (3 x's a week) for at least 10 years with only a little minor fraying-the bra, not me.
Eventually I bought a new one (from M&S of course), but the old one is still on standby as the 'emergency running bra' for when I have to do some 'emergency running'....

M & S salmon and cream cheese parcels.

Non Attendee

Marks and Spencers Bras and Knickers.
Shoes and Boots
Indigo Clothing and Scarves
and just love to go browsing really. My nearest one is an hour away so I don't go very often but see it as a treat when I do.

Non-attendee.
I have a gorgeous sweater dress, which people ar aways surprised is M&S (though, tbd, I'm not exactly typical demographic).
I buy lots of children''s clothing (not over trendy/depressingly grown up) and, of course, black/white pants.
Yset, I sometimes despair at just how wrong they manage to do some things.
Goddamn this crappy phone, making me look illiterate :/

Non attendee. The best thing I ever bought from m&s was a grey wool 3/4 length coat. It lasted years and was warm and elegant.

Thanks for all the comments
Am pleased to say Aubasaurus wins the £150 giftcard from M&S!