We haven't poked fun at M&S for ages

[PYT]

I'll start

Abstract indeed. The black mix is particularly...um...abstract.

I think dd1's English teacher is a fan of Per Una. She is the only teacher who i think is old enough to have taught me; I'm old enough to be the mother of most teachers.

My Mum loves per una skirts

She is in her 60's and has never really been what you might call sartorially aware.

Today she is wearing a long floaty number that has enormous pink roses on it and green lining and sequins and so forth. I haven't checked the label but I just know where she got it from

I saw a pair of leggings in Autograph the exact shade of grey I'm looking for - otherwise M&S is failing me atm. I understand they do decent winter tights though.

Yup, I think the Autograph opaques are really good and wash well, etc. Winter staples.

Per Una has definitely had its day. Time they discontinued it as a line.

Limited Collection occasionally has the odd lovely thing.

One thing that pissed me off big style this summer was that they didn't have a single decent vest style t-shirt, only old lady cap sleeve jobbies.

Darn it I wanted to join too but and I've found things I like.

hooray!

These will go a treat with cornsilk's dress :)

Oh well, once you get to Classic Collection the game's almost too easy, really. Why M and S condemn older customers (80? - surely it can't be aimed at anyone younger) to these monstrosities is beyond me. There are plenty of people in their 80s and beyond who still look stylish. But NOT in Classic Collection.

are you taking the piss shaz?

I like Per Una. I am 30. Honestly, I really like most of there stuff and own a fair few bits. I have about 4 Per Una skirts.

I am sartorially incontinent, aren't I?

I really wish I was elegant and stylish and classy, but I am squinting and peering and honestly, I can't see what is wrong with their stuff. WHY do I not understand what everyone else seems to effortlessly know?

Link to some nice per una then Yuno.

Yuno - are you stressheaderic's weirdie workmate by any chance?

Yuno - have you actually seen the stuff that we have been linking to and laughing at?

Its the vile swirly patterns and bright clashing colour combos in horrid fabrics that I dislike. Some of their neutral stuff isn't that bad, but a lot of it is like they've got three designers to work on a skirt - one has got a pattern, one has got some frills and one has got some embroidery and they think "ooh yes great idea, lets have all of it in one garment" - they never know when to stop

shudder

These days, walking through M&S is like visiting The Five Stages of British Womanhood, as conceived by a sadistic misogynist, ie, mad unwearable Limited Collection stripper heels, then not-quite-retro-enough Indigo smocks, then Lamb-dressed-as-Mutton frilled Per Una long skirts, then droopy waterfall Portfolio cardies, finishing up in elasticated waist Classic Collection slacks and zip-up dressing gowns.

It's very depressing.

Okay, even I can see that Cornsilk's dress / drapey cardi thing is vile.

But I like this skirt.

This is nice. I would wear this a lot.

This isn't bad - sweet little work skirt.

I love this.

Like this too.

I mean, I don't work for Per Una or anything. I'm not even meaning to defend them really. Just I have to wince and wonder when clothes that I think are fine are obviously so hillariously WRONG to the rest of the world. Am laughing at myself really! Rolling my eyes as I am obviously a lost cause.

I am choosing my words carefully...

I admittedly have next to no dress sense but I have a couple of Per Una tops I wear for work, and my sister (age 25, likes Seasalt/Fat Face kind of clothes) has several nice shirts/skirts from there - okay they might be a bit flowery but they don't look weird on her.

ok, what's wrong with this stuff -

and in actual fact i am definitely someone who

1. likes skirts of about knee length
2. likes feminine & floaty stuff

i am currently wearing a knee length Noa Noa skirt in a simple tapestry fabric for e.g.

but

Per una - the skirts are too long for knee length (even on the modls in the pictures!) - but not long enough to be full-length hippy wear. I have legs, which, from the knee down at least, i don't want to hide yet..

Feminine and floaty is best when it is done in nice natural fabrics and this has all been awesomely polyester and fussy prints.

• and all on the same fit n flare shape - totally crap if you have a narrow waist as it is tight over your tum and hips (causing bulges).

It isn't even cheap - for £45 i could, for example get a skirt from White Stuff which, if nothing else, would at least be cotton.

I am going to admit i like one of the skirts yuno linked to, though still, it looks too long!

My aunty Pauline shops at per una- I have no doubt though that the look for AW 2011 will be the Aunty Pauline, and we will all be very sorry we mocked instead of snapping up key pieces.

I think some of it would be ok......if it was a lot lot cheaper.

The price of some of the hideous items is extortion - they might seem a little less hideous if they were not so expensive.

Maybe.

Never underestimate the ability of the M&S website to make even the most innocent looking clothing look shocking.

I usually get a fair few basics from autograph/limited, but would never post links here, as for some reason the website makes them look perfect for a menopausal Home Economics teacher. I don't understand it - the models look fairly normal. It's like a reverse Boden Catalogue effect.

has anyone LINKED TO THIS yet?

To be fair I think most of my tops came from an outlet where they were half price... I don't mind paying a tenner or fifteen quid for them.