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

In the summer I bought 3 coats on offer. All very stylish. Two of them were corduroy (I love corduroy). Last winter I also bought a poncho style coat (?) with fur in purple. Everything very elegant!

I always like their bras, especially the nursing ones are so much better than those from mothercare which cover too much and are visible from the top

I also like their tunics!! They can conceal quite a lot

My husband always buys his vests, socks and other personal bits from M&S! Besides it's hard to find 100% cotton men's socks anywhere.

I only like the pencil skirts for work now. Get other stuff elsewhere.

www.marksandspencer.com/buttonsafe-checked-suit-with-wool/p/ds714f7ab7d2645b2afb8650659633baea Vile]]

Also vile

Makes the others look really nice !!!!!!!

What the hell????

Can't find a single thing I would be seen dead in, in the suits section. Worse than ever by the lok of it.

Non-attendee.

Best items of clothing - some fab black straight leg trousers; stretchy but smart, goes with everything, good leg length, washes well - less than £20! And knickers are good.

Thing that finds its way into basket...those chocolate biscuits that are morec chocolate than biscuit. LETHAL.

Non attendee I always buy bras for my daughter and myself. I won't buy bras from anywhere else.

Knickers here too! Also, I have just bought my first onesie from M&S. It's divine - fleecy with a big, soft collar that you can zip right up and snuggle into.

Non attendee

Besides knicker and bras the best item of clothing is a Twigg Dress, not so twigg but plus size, it is so stylish and flattering, blue and black with a pvc black shoulder cover. Looks better than it sounds :)

Non-attendee:

I have a pair of black Footglove ankle boots with a 1.5 inch heel. They are the most comfortable pair of heeled shoes I've ever owned and I get a ton of compliments on them too. I'd given up on ever being able to wear heels as my feet get so sore and I seem to topple over very easily - but these have saved the day! Now I can look glamorous (ish) without being in agony...

Also a pair of jeggings that I wore until they fell to bits.

Non attendee who buys footwear (limited collection usually) and tights.

Best thing I ever had was a blue / green peacock patterned pencil skirt. I think it may have been per una which is a miracle as have seen nothing else in there before or since that I liked. Ripped it last Christmas at dhs work do and am still a bit heartbroken over it.

Non-attendee

Best item I have ever purchased was a coat for my 2 year old. She is currently still wearing it and it will then be passed on to her younger sister. It is a lovely thick woollen winter hooded coat in a bright yellow/pink/blue tartan. It looks great on and keeps her nice and warm. It shows very little signs of wear and even after her sister has used it I am sure it will be passed on to another family member or friend for others to get great use out of it.

I should've said on my earlier post I am a non-attendee

Non Attendee : Every pair of pants ever, the bikini I just adored print wise in 2003, all the bedding and decor for my first child's nursery in 2001. the White 'scuba' a line skirt hanging in my wardrobe unworn because I loved it but have had no where to wear it.

Food.. Hmmm, well, the coleslaw has always been a favourite, the mulled wine , the Christmas food to order and the ham and mustard sandwiches are a lifetime fave :)

Hi, non attendee.

Best clothing item has to be pretty white cotton nightdresses, cool and comfy for all year round.

Best food item, salt and vinegar chip sticks!

Non attendee. Am married to someone who is m&s shopaholic. This has made me discover some of the gems that m&s sells. I have two coats, one Mac trench coat, and a beautiful jacket for just £99. Excellent quality. Lots of my cotton nickers are from this shop. Lots of my pregnancy and breastfeeding bras where from m&s too. Lovely brown boots too bought it for 20% less. Second winter in use. It looks like it will still last a few more years.

Machine wash fluffy boot slippers are great!

Their knitwear, just plain cardigan and jumpers

Non attender.
This thread is really interesting and has made me think about what I do actually buy in M&S and I've come to the conclusion that it's not very much even though it's always by first go-to shop when I'm clothes hunting!
I appear to be the only person who doesn't buy their knickers, but that's because I like to wear a matching set and for some unknown reason as we all know M&S ignore my FF bra size so that's out.
I also find their shoes uncomfortable - the sizes are more than a little odd.

I sometimes buy work trousers but I can be a 12, 14 or 16 in them and I don't always want to try on loads of trousers to find the one that fits. I don't care what size I am branded as as long as I know in a particular shop (M&S, Monsoon, Next wherever) that is my size. And btw I am nowhere near a normal 12!
I sometimes walk through my local store (Bluewater) and get so depressed at the rows and rows of dull colours and in some ranges - yes Limited I'm talking to you - the tiny sizes left on the rails. Obviously the more common 12s - 16s sell quickly and I know it's limited but surely that tells them something?
Their 2 for £8 vests are good though - that'll keep the profits up then won't it?

But their Peanut Butter Ice Cream is to die for!

When I first moved to London (about 1995) I bought a black a-line shift dress which was washable. This was a real mainstay in my wardrobe as I could wear it with a jacket to work but it was fun enough to head straight out afterwards. It was also machine washable so helped save me precious money on dry-cleaning bills. I loved that dress and even re-dyed it when it inevitably faded. I also bought a red double-breasted coat around that time which was similarly well-worn.

I haven't bought any clothes for myself for a long time but regularly buy tights and socks.

Not womenswear but the cotton baby vests have definitely been the best we have used.

Non-attendee here.

I love the M&S black cotton knickers and pyjamas (or loungewear as they are now called). The material is lovely and soft and incredibly comfortable.

Unfortunately I'm not the biggest fan of clothes there as I find them a bit old-fashioned. I also love their court shoes and boots which are comfortable and hard-wearing. I've bought knee length boots which have lasted for over 7 years and are still going strong!

Non-attendee. 3 pack of opaque tights - amazing quality. These last me at least one year and get washed and worn day in day out through winter. The pack I bought 2 winters ago is only just starting to bobble on the heel.

Non-attendee
The best item of clothing I've bought from M&S is a plain long-sleeved thermal vest. I have 4 of them. They make a perfect base layer & don't look at all 'vesty'.
I don't think I'm the right shape for a lot of the clothes (not a uniquely M&S problem, unfortunately).

Every time I go to M&S, I end up buying much more than I intended from the food hall....

Non-attendee

The best item of clothing I ever bought from M & S was a pair of Limited Edition jeans. It was just after the Limited Edition was launched and they were fab. Everyone commented on them and they looked and felt designer. I loved them.

Knickers, socks and school uniform (not for me ) always find their way into my basket.

NoNe attendee

I really love the children's socks and underwear, always buy pjs as they wash so well.

Ladies clothes are too much of the same, frumpy and too coordinated.

The food hall is lethal, something m&s do best. The tomatoes are the very best.

Just to say we have some answers from M&S to the most commonly asked questions on the recruitment form here

Non-attendee

My best buy was a simple black jersey dress for £25 a few years ago. I always seem to come out of there with a top of some description but there are plenty I wouldn't be seen dead in.

A couple of moans while I'm here (I feel entitled as I shop there A LOT). The knickers in multipacks are of a blatantly lower quality than they used to be - I have some pretty old ones that are a much thicker, smoother fabric than their exact equivalents that are newer. Also, what happened to the long length pyjama bottoms?

Non attendee- I buy a lot of my wok clothes from M&S. Last year, I bought a gorgeous black dress with a very small peplum which is really flattering; I get compliments whenever I wear it. The material is really nice and it's washed really well!