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Original poster

So is there anything we DO like in M&S style and beauty?

124 replies

Lottapianos · 09/07/2014 14:47

Their clothing sales figures were released yesterday and are down for the 12th quarter in a row. I cant' imagine many on here will be hugely surprised! Their clothing frustrates me so much - an INSANELY huge range of everything, poorly displayed, way too much ageing granny type stuff, way too many frills and fuss, not enough good quality basics, much of it very overpriced. The usual complaints.

However, there are some things I do like:

  • knickers - fit well and last well. I tried some from Sainsburys recently, they were the same price but did not last any time at all
  • socks and tights - a nice range of colours (tights) and at a good price
  • smellies - own brand bath and shower stuff if you love a bit of floral (I do!). Stila make-up. Fragonard perfume (wish it lasted longer though)
  • cakes in the cafe!

I think that's it. What do you like, apart from their food and drink?!

OP posts:
polyhymnia · 09/07/2014 19:00

'is',not 'us'.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 09/07/2014 19:57

I like the Rosie silk knickers and bras (but I don't use their fitting service, just sort myself out).

Illusion sheer tights - the only ones I've found that are pale enough for me.

I got a fab pair of Autograh work shoes recently, and they were an amazing bargain in the sale.

V occasional nice cotton brorderie tops.

I really rate their skinny jeans, especially the v pale wash ones.

Leek and gruyere tarts - my very favourite Saturday night treat.

Saurus72 · 09/07/2014 20:25
  1. Food, especially the cheese and bread related products. Yummmm
  2. Rosie for Autograph silk camisoles. So difficult to find non-polyester, lovely camisoles. These are gorgeous.
  3. Autograph velvet touch black opaques. So brilliant, better than Wolford IMO.
  4. I buy thermal underwear for husband which he loves in the Winter.

And...erm...that pretty much sums up what I have bought in M&S over the past 5 years or so. I don't even look anymore, it's just wasting time in a shop which I know I will never find anything good. I feel that M&S are just irrelevant to me really and I think they are on borrowed time. Even my mum in her late sixties can't find any clothes she wants to buy - she's had some gift vouchers since Christmas and still hasn't spent them. It is difficult to see how this company can do such a bad job, and John Lewis can do so brilliantly. Kind of interesting.

Sicaq · 09/07/2014 20:29

Autograph eye shadows are brilliant. £6 and last all day: www.marksandspencer.com/pure-colour-mono-eyeshadow/p/p22132083

Rivercam · 09/07/2014 20:36

Sometimes I think I must shop in a different store to other people as I can find lots I like in m and s, whilst,other people,can't seem to find anything.

BsshBosh · 09/07/2014 20:54

School uniform, food, knickers. That's it. Though based on this thread I'm now going to check out their skincare range...

TheMightyMing · 09/07/2014 20:58

The new style website is beyond rubbish- so clunky!!

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 09/07/2014 21:01

I like the fact that you can choose which fabrics you want to look at.

Saurus72 · 09/07/2014 21:14

Apparently, according to R4 M&S spent £150m on the new website. I don't understand how it is possible to spend that much and for it to still be so unintuitive.

ContinentalKat · 09/07/2014 21:16

School uniform trousers - indestructible.
Knickers - ditto.

Went in this week to update my holiday wardrobe, no limit on budget. Walked out with 1 lovely slouchy t-shirt. Would have bought one in every colour, but it's the end of summer, apparently, so t-shirts are on their way out.
Got 2 more very basic stripey t-shirts and a well fitting pair of navy shorts. Yay Sad

And don't even get me started on their new website. I had to order school trousers while on the phone to their customer service because their sizing guide is less than useless!

polyhymnia · 09/07/2014 22:04

Agree website is absolutely awful.

Crutchlow35 · 09/07/2014 22:07

Pants are good. I like a lot of their shoes and boots. Tights are good and their food hall, particularly at Christmas. I occasionally find some nice clothes.

bringonyourwreckingball · 09/07/2014 22:10

They did have a really nice thin knit zip back jumper at the beginning of the summer. It was in stock about 2 minutes then whoosh, gone. Why do they sabotage the nice stuff these days?

purplegadget · 09/07/2014 22:12

OMG - the hopeless sizing guide for boys' school trousers! Don't get me started.

Went online tonight to place a massive order for all three kids. Get them kitted out at 20% off, be organised for once.

Hell, it took me 10 mins to locate the sizing guide. Then, the sizes on there don't match the sizes the trousers come in AND there's no length info apart from 'standard'. What length 'long' and 'extra long' are is a mystery. After wasting another 10 mins thinking 'I must just be missing it, it must be somewhere' I phoned Customer Services and they couldn't help me. I have to phone a different no. between 9am and 5pm to find out. I am at work and whilst I don't have a problem making personal calls I'm phenomenally busy. That's why I like to do this stuff online in the EVENING.

Wow! That's excellent online customer service (not).

Oh dear - looks like I got started anyway Grin

I actually took the time to put all this in an email to them and guess what? When I clicked to send it I got an error message and my email was deleted - WTF!!

Sent them a snotty one liner saying basically I just can't be bothered with you any longer - you lost the sale. I was SO mad.

And relax.

dexter73 · 09/07/2014 22:13

purplegadget - you need some M&S wine after that!

amothersplaceisinthewrong · 09/07/2014 22:14

I only ever look at Autograph in M&S. Who is Per Una for. The very old and the very fat??

I have three shift dresses I wear for work, they took some hunting out from a flagship M&S. OUr local one is RUBBISH.

dexter73 · 09/07/2014 22:17

Per Una is for my mum. She loves it!

polyhymnia · 09/07/2014 22:20

Well I'm quite old and fat but wouldn't be seen dead in Per Una so don't think that is a safe assumption, another!

thecatfromjapan · 09/07/2014 22:28

I've posted elsewhere about how sad I am about the discontinuation of Lyn Harris perfume. Why do that?

And there are a few bottles left in various bits of the country - but no way I can order them. so they are sitting, unsold, in stores in which no-one wants to buy them, far away from people who want to buy them.

I can't help but feel that this is a small example of what might be going on with the clothing, really: you stop selling things people want to buy; you sell things people aren't that thrilled by; you make it hard for people to buy stuff.

And if you have something really good (the Lynn Harris range was part of the revamp of Beauty) you don't publicise it, and roll it out so pitiably slowly that people don't know about it, or hear about it and realise it's nowhere near them, so lines are discontinued before they had a chance to build a following and start selling in any real quantities (loads of the Beauty lines have been dropped).

FFS. How to really bugger up a famous store.

Original poster
Lottapianos · 09/07/2014 22:34

Very good points about the Lyn Harris perfumes.

I forgot their last ad campaign with Annie Lennox and Emma Thompson and Doreen Lawrence all standing around in white shirts and black trousers. Flipping bonkers. Seriously WTF?!

OP posts:
GretchenWiener · 09/07/2014 22:35

cahsmere crew neck cardigan
MY MOST worn winter thing

GretchenWiener · 09/07/2014 22:35

I love marks
I dont get the slagging
its a department store - get overit

alemci · 09/07/2014 22:39

stuff for home

the odd per una shorts and trousers for fit.