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

Best thing ever at Marks and Spencer for me has been their multi-pack knickers. I really love the high quality material and great fit. They always come in lots of nice prints or plain styles if that's what you prefer. I have been buying these for years, even wore them in a larger size while pregnant and found them far more comfortable than maternity knickers! These are a great buy and hope Marks and Spencer never stop making them.

Very footrests reply marks. No one asked those questions as far as I can see. They asked why your bra fittings are so inaccurate and most of us ;(despite being loyal marks shoppers) never buy a bra from you.

"Corporate"

Not foot rest

I agree Noelle - no answers to direct questions. More like a press release. It will be a shame if they don't take the opportunity to engage with the very people who want them to be a success and this turns into just another PR exercise.

I'd love to attend a 'bra event'.

I've just read this response on the form linked to above:

M&S has nearly 30% of the lingerie market in the UK and one in three women wear our bras. We fit by using a tape measure for the underband only, then cup assessment is done by sight as its more accurate. The lady's body shape is assessed as not every woman can wear every shape, so this helps the customer to shop and know her body shape. We have 6000 fitters in total and we measure 150,000 women every week. We have largest size range from 28AA to 46H including wired, non-wired, padded and non-padded, first bras, post-surgery bras (the only one on the high street). All our bras are machine washable including the silk We also offer additional sizes online We also have developed a fitting tool on line (bra app) and we have had almost 80,000 ladies try it in the first 10 wks.

There is so much wrong with that answer:

1. If someone who is a size 18 needs (around) a 36 band who are you fitting into a 46 band?

1. Bras should not be machine washable! It destroys them.

1. The bra tool doesn't work! I entered my measurements and answered the questions and even said that I had a perfect fit in 30H in other brands and it said my perfect size is a 34G. Nope! Wrong!

Non attendee. I've got two lovely Per Una cardigans, one teal green one and one magenta/purple and grey, which both always get loads of compliments from people, even from strangers.

Non attendee

Pants and bras
ALWAYS

Tights-black cotton opaque. Yeah, I know, I know...

Recently (ie this year, spring) bought blue/green dress-?stained glass. Absolutely love because it makes me Actual Thin and worn it to death

About fifteen years ago saw a beautiful black leather coat with white saddle stitching-meant to go back and scoop it up in the sales, but didn't

Had I managed it, it would have been my Best M and S Purchase Ever, and I'dve been wearing it right now

[still dreaming about leather coat that got away face]

Mmmm - not v impressed by the so-called, 'answers' to questions. They still seem to be saying that they are trying to be all things to all people, and not actually understanding that people actually want them to try to do less, but do it better.

Footglove shoes & boots, always comfy, always fit. Also love the PJ's -no shrinkage, got some from years ago. Sadly given up on the knickers, & moved over to Sloggis :)

A pair of faux black suede ankle boots with a kitten heel. This was about 7 years ago and I wore them until they feel apart and it was uneconomical to take them to the cobblers. They were under £30 and i wore them to work with trousers, with skinny jeans and with opaques and dresses out. M and S footwear is always really good.

I always buy M and S jeans - they fit well, they wear well and I like them!

On the food side, I love m&s popcorn. Great treat.

As everyone else has said for clothes, it's knickers. Also love tights and long socks.

Kids trousers are great quality too and I like the range and colours.

Non atendee: they used to sell lovely longer length t-shirts with a few pleats round the neck, making them a little nicer than a plain t-shirt. But for the last couple of years they have only made them in horrible printed fabric, I wish they'd get the plain ones again.

Non-attendee:
Best item of clothing I ever bought from M&S was a beautiful little black dress which has a strapless, basque-style top and chiffony skirt which I bought whilst I was at university either in 2000 or 2001 at M&S Oxford St, in their January sale. It was reduced by 75% so I was well pleased. It is also timeless and I have worn it countless times over the years. It is my go-to LBD. And am proud to say, with the help of (M&S) control pants, I can still wear this fabulous dress!! M&S underwear & tights also always finds it way into my basket.

I was so lucky to be an attendee last week. I love shopping and clothes without being a fashionista so M&S is my homeground.

We were warmly greeted and enjoyed coffee and pastries whilst chatting to the other mumsnetters, Mumsnet staff and M&S staff. There was then a very helpful introduction to the M&S ladieswear brands. It gave us a really good idea of what brand within the M&S "stable" might suit our styles. The message from us was really strong - they need to communicate this and the changes to their shoppers. Some suggestions of targeted advertising.

We were then let loose on the 2 floors of ladies wear to go and choose a few items, perhaps focussing on Christmas. I found it actually quite tricky. The party wear was lovely but I had already been to my Xmas party for this year. So I chose something which was for me very daring- a black all in one trouser suit. (I think it has a different name). One of the M&S ladies was wearing it with high heels and it looked fab. It came in different styles and colours. Unfortunately when I tried it on it slipped off the shoulders in a not very glamorous way!! Perhaps needed a modesty pin! I then selected a piece of cashmere to try in a gorgeous pale brown (espresso). It was a wrap. Lovely and soft but I couldn't wear it quite right - I also couldnt think of what occasion I would wear it on - not for school run, certainly not in wet weather, so put that back on the hanger.

I had then struggled to find items I liked in my size - standard 10. So picked a couple of items more for style. My favourite items came from perUna - totally changed from when George set it up - now a real focus on detail. I chose a pair of deep indigo self patterned jeans - loved them (but didn't have my size) and a lovely 3/4 sleeve turquoise top. Fab colour. (That was the other issue I had - the current seasonal colours don't suit me but this did). The colour is more of a hint of what is coming in the Spring. Lovely little details of buttons. It was just under £30.

We tried the items on in the Press Rooms - lots of discussion and we then had a session with the M&S staff. They were so interested in what we and the non-attending Mumsnetters had to say. It was refreshing. They are mostly a new team, in place roughly 2 years and seem so committed to the brands and M&S and getting it right for customers.

There were lots of good questions, many involving quality of make and fabric. Although interestingly I realised later that no-one had asked about sourcing, child labour, supplier chains etc. I was able to ask about the stock system and that customer services couldnt tell customers how many items in stock at a particular store. We talked about sizing - my pet peeve is 8-10 - too small for me; others were concerned about excessive sleeve length.

We fed back that we all liked the styled mannekins (sp?) but tiny bit of feedback - if you are going to show gorgeous tights then please put them for sale close to the mannekin.

Bra and underwear discussions will be held on another day.

We were all slightly stumped on if we ran the Womenswear dept what would we do. The knowledge of the M&S staff had impressed us all and I think we realised it was actually much trickier to get it right than it looked.

I had a super day - it was my 1st time meeting other mumsnetters and that was so lovely. Looking forward to meeting you all again. Waves to KBear - you looked fab in that dress - please wear to ASDA! And the goody bag - wow! My DS helped me unpack it that evening - it was the gift that kept giving. The fairy is now on the tree.

M&S questions:

~ 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? It does matter but I have to rely on the UK retailer to check their supplier chain properly. I am not keen on Primark, gap etc as I think they try to get away with not thinking about this. I am not sure how many UK customers do care.
~ Where do you get ideas and inspiration from for what clothing you want to buy? I have now given up trying to get what I see in magazines. #fail So I tend to go to stores and browse.
~ How often do you update your wardrobe with new items? Most months but mostly with basics and the same eg new tshirt, new jeans etc.
~ How would you describe your personal style and taste? I love colour and sadly often more than 1 colour at once! My style is very casual - I have forgotten how to dress smartly and for work.

Non attendee.
There are a few things I've had from M&S over the years that have been brilliant bits of my wardrobe.

Firstly, a long camel coat that I bought with my first bonus. I lived in London, and is wore it every winter. Really classic style. I threw it out v reluctantly last winter as it was threadbare.

A couple of very simple wrap cardigans. One in blue, the other in grey. 100% wool! but washable. They were hip length. I wore them both to death. Never found anything remotely like them anywhere.

Lastly, a pair of Swiss cotton pyjama bottoms. Again, worn them so much.

There's definitely a pattern here... Good quality, simple clothes made of excellent fabric.

Okay - some direct and honest feedback from a non-attendee. I often struggle at M&S to be honest - perhaps I'm the wrong shape or height or age (apple, small, 50s). I'm always looking for 'younger' clothes and find that the smaller, local stores 'miss' their market (my own is a prime example of this. They could do so much better given the population on their doorstep! It seems very obvious to all my friends here but M&S clearly haven't undertaken their research properly for the area I live).

On a more positive (perhaps predictable) note, I bought a pair of 'boyfriend jeans'. They were fab. I went back within 2 weeks and bought another pair.

The best item I have bought at Marks and Spencer has to be a pair of the stiletto high heel platform court shoes with insolia. I have them in nude, black and blue snakeskin. They are the perfect shoe.

I wear then to work, to dinner, I even wore them to a Ball in Singapore. They always get compliments and are so comfortable I never get the dreaded burning feet. I won't buy my heels anywhere else now and have converted all of my friends to m and s heels!

no attendee - i've always loved the lingerie and nightwear from m&s and is always on my xmas list

Tenminutesearly
can you link to the shoes?
Thwnks

On two of the questions they didn't answer them at all .

I haven't been fitted correctly in M&S for years and when I try again to buy a bra I feel unwelcome and come away feeling horrible. Again.

Non attendee - best thing I bought was leggings for DD, in the indigo range. They kept their shape, were comfortable, really good, lasted a long time, unlike those from a certain store beginning with P and ending in K. In fact, I too have always been happy with M&S tights.

Non attendee. Black patent court shoes with a bit of a heel, perfect for evening work occasions when I am running events but need to look dressed up.

Non attendee

I always buy my tights from M&S, love the dark grey soft tights they do too. Knickers ( the Rosie ones are lovely), pyjamas and thermals. The best thing I have ever nought from M&S is a waterfall cardigan in grey from 2010. I loved it so much I got it in black and beige-just great cardi that goes with trousers and dresses, for work or weekends. They're a bit threadbare now but love them so wear as pjs now!

Heels99 it is worth taking a look in store as they often have different colours and heights. There are a couple online here and here. I really can't explain how comfortable they are.