M&S tights - what happened?!

[thevelvetoverground]

They used to be excellent. I stopped buying them a couple of years ago because I thought they'd gone off the boil, and switched to Primark. M&S swore they hasn't changed supplier or anything.

The biggest downside with the Primark tights though is that they wear really quickly at the top of the thighs.

Anyway I bought some M&S tights yesterday thinking they must have gotten better again. NO! They are AWFUL. No stretch. No flex. Short in the body (I'm 5'6"). Just awful.

I'm a bit of a fatty so really struggle to find good XL tights. M&S; please make your tights good again!

I have the same issue, 5ft 8 and a bit with long legs in proportion to rest of bod (which is a bit chunky nowadays) as are thighs if I'm honest

Can really recommend Falke brand though - not cheap but generously cut and long-lasting

Have a look here

I'll take a look at that link, thanks slack.

I'm so disappointed in these tights I might take them back!

I can't believe how bad M&S tights have got. I bought some fishnet 'Bodyshapers' a few weeks ago, and they weren't remotely Bodyshapers - just too tight, scratchy, nasty nylon tops, with fishnets that laddered in two different places over the course of the evening. The fishnet hold-ups were about four sizes bigger than the label, making them unwearable. So, in total, nearly £15 down the drain. I've now sent four pairs of tights back to M&S, asking them to be reviewed by quality control, but I gave up with these two pairs and simply decided that's that. Not buying tights from M&S anymore. And that's something I never thought I'd hear myself say.

Another one here. I don't live near an M&S but, on the rare occasions I am in a town, I always go to one and pick up a multi pack of tights. I have just worn the ones I bought two weeks ago and oh my good lord they were so terrible I took them off before lunch time and bared my luminous legs to the world. Too short in the body, baggy from the moment I put them on and constantly falling down. Dreadful.

It's a shame - and something Head Office needs to look at. Once you stop going into M&S for tights, you really stop going in there at all...

Agreed my dh ruins mines after hed wore them once

LTB

Not sure anything they do is good any more. Crap tights, crap bra fitting.

Some of their salads are ok I suppose.

Yup, I've had this problem. And the terrible, tacky bra designs.

For basic blacks I buy Boots. The 40d and the 15d are both fine in my experience.

Do Boots tights come up to your tits? I like 'em high!

I had a pair of Marks tights (cashmere blend I think) that lasted 3 winters. Finally replaced them this winter with what seemed to be the current version and poked a hole in them after the second wash. The material felt almost rotted. Very disappointing, I loved those tights, made winter commutes bearable.

Once you stop going into M&S for tights, you really stop going in there at all...
You are absolutely right. I used to only buy tights and knickers from M&S. I no longer get my knickers there as they stopped making the ones I liked. If their tights are now crap then that is it. I don't even think their food is that great anymore. So long M&S

Yup! Plenty of space in there.
The downside is that they go saggy on your legs, of course, and then you end up hitching them up all the time. But I prefer it to M&S's 'hover around your thighs' version.

Gap do really good tights, usually in the sale too, as no-one seems to realise they sell them! Only the woolly, opaque type though, but they are fab, partic the merino ones. Wash fantastically.

Agree that the quality is really bad these days. They used to last too and now they wear through so quickly. I don't see the point of M&S any more.

All tights are appalling these days, I admit I have a small waist and chunky thighs but surely the largest size should fit...? But no I'm lucky if I can get the gusset past my knees.

Wish I could affords silkies although I bet they've changed since I last used them!

I used to buy Boots tights and they were good. Cheap on 3 for 2 too.

I've given up too. I now wear Wolford, excellent quality, wash well and look great. Expensive though. However I discovered that Bicester has an outlet so the opaques for example are £14, which compared to the £9.99 for M&S autograph isn't bad at all.

I'm so pleased you have posted this. I thought I was going mad.

I paid £10 for a pair of tights in M&S that laddered within three hours of me putting them on even though I hadn't caught them on anything.

Not good enough at all. I'm going to try Woolford next.

I must be in the minority. I love their Autograph velvet touch tights. So much better than my equivalent Wolfords!

Agree with DoratheDestroyer and Dexter and hope the head office of M&S are reading this!!

This is what M&S should be for fhs!! They should go back to basics and produce:

1. excellent tights
2. excellent bras (and totally re-haul their fitting service)
3. excellent basics such as classic white shirts and t-shirts
4. excellent basic work suits, 1 skirt + 1 trouser + well-cut jacket (summer and winter versions)

In winter you should be able to buy a fab black, camel or red coat (but they need to sort out their cheap colour dyes)

In spring ditto with macs

And offer a good range of well-priced, durable, plain children's clothes that don't have hideous designs and logos all over them and don't come in a combination of black and hideous bright pink

Then we might actually head back there ....

I agree. There are exceptions. I still like their cotton rich opaques and some of the fancy designs (got some spotty ones which I love and which have lasted well). I bought a pack of 5 basic sheer ones recently and was actually embarrassed to wear them out. They were weirdly baggy and wrinkly. A bit Nora Batty.

I still like their big cotton pants though.

I do still like some of their Autograph opaques - don't bother with the cheaper ones.

Have tried Falke quite a few times but I have the problem that theirs which are meant for my ample hip size are too big and wrinkly on my slimmer legs and ankles - even fell down the last time I tried. Perhaps I ust need a smaller size with them .