I used to like M&S but I'm not surprised they are struggling to sell womens clothes, WARNING MAY BE UPSETTING

[Behooven]

Says it all...

www.marksandspencer.com/bonded-flared-trousers/p/p60079448

These are a bit too 'forward thinking' for me

Oh. of course I've got all the bad trousers M&S ads around my mumsnet screen now.

It's so frustrating. I would like them to sell work trousers, something like a wool and cashmere blend in normal straight leg in plain black, charcoal, pale grey, navy, chocolate and neutral. Short A line skirts in same. Maybe one pinstripe.

Then crew and v neck jumpers in lovely muted colours. Cashmere mix for winter, linen and cotton blend for summer.

Some plain silk mix t shirts for workwear, good quality cotton long and short sleeved t shirts for summer.

Decent quality tights in range of muted colours - like white stuff do.

Some fit and flare jersey dresses in neutral colours, like white company.

The odd Breton stripe jumper.

A decent range of smart wool coats and parkas.

If they did this, I would buy there for workwear. As it stands, I think I own one black autograph skirt and a heap of lingerie.

Brilliant thread. I've suggested on Site Stuff that MN could invite somebody in for a webchat and linked to this thread.

I'm no fashionista and M&S has been my default clothes shop all my working life (well over 30 years now). I agree with everybody else - it used to be easier to find decent stuff there and far too much of what they stock is ruined by unnecessary frills, hideous patterns, vile colours, dreadful fabrics and odd shapes.

Good things from M&S:
Rosie H lingerie (I wear a 40D) and it goes in the washing m/c here.
School uniform.
The fact you can order online and collect from nearby M&S Simply Food store so can whizz in and out.

Bad things:
Agree with all PP. Especially on polyester/viscose/clammy materials.

I used to love their jersey style nighties. I now have to buy them 4 sizes to big to allow for chronic shrinkage after the first few wears.

Sistermoonshine Those trousers would be hideous with flats but with those weird boots !!!!! What were they thinking FGS???

I forgot thumbs up to the coconut prawns. They're yummy & even make salad palatable to DS in darkest Jan. when I'm trying to curb my own calories.

So the basic message to M&S management is:

a) we love your food

b) we like your café

c) your clothes are pants

d) forget houseware

e) just do well what you used to do well and we will buy loads of it.

Yes lets get M&S management in and give them this thread to read first. Their new CEO needs to come on in May just after he gets appointed.

I was thinking of this thread when I went into M&S this morning - and was attracted like a moth to a flame by the revolting central display for Autograph/Diego Dalla Palma cosmetics. Nice make-up (£15.50 for a lippie in M&S?!), spoiled by a stand smeared with lip gloss, broken powders, gloops of foundation, 65% empty units, etc. I don't think anyone's cleaned it for weeks. The make-up displays I've seen in Oxford St have been pristine, but this looks like they could trace back every local outbreak of cold sores to one lipgloss.

Great that they've got premium brands in the beauty section. Not great that they're happy to let it look like as much of a jumble sale as the rest of the store. This would NOT HAPPEN in the food hall!

Thanks gasp

sister . Just who is going to wear those trousers with those boots?

Max Wall?

Any responseGaspode? Interesting to be on a different thread together!!

notnow. I see it!

ABetaDad To be fair they do do other clothes than pants

Highlighted as one of their "this-season must-haves"
www.marksandspencer.com/no-peep-square-print-shirt-dress-with-belt/p/p22425786
100% polyester eugh

Oh my that's a migraine in 3D.

Second the pj request I don't want teddy bears or stupid phrases like good morning gourgous. I defiantly don't want pink either. Which if your luckily leaves you maybe two grey or black options that they then ruin by adding nasty lace or glittery stones!

notmyname Did you notice that with that wonderful plastic dress £60 for polyester!! "the androgynous look" is very 'this season' So we've all got to get bandages instead of bras then. Why don't they just shut the eff up

notmynameohno that black and white frockstrosity reminds me of one of those magic eye pictures. If you stare at it long enough maybe you'll see an image of Jesus on a skateboard.

"I wear a 40D"

I sense a bra intervention coming here.

Another grip is that their pyjamas are made for short women. I am not that tall at 5'7", but the trousers are too short at first wear and way too short after a low temperature wash.

That brings me to my main other gripe which I have already mentioned upthread, but is worth repeating because this seems to be an issue for most of us. All their clothes shrink. I always have to buy a size up to allow for shrinkage, except that when arms and legs shrink the garment is no use anyway.

Dear M&S
I went into your Westfield Stratford store a few days before Xmas and knew immediately you would be in for a downturn in their results . In front of me were rows and rows of hideous sparkly clothes all reduced to half price. What you need to understand is most of us will buy a sparkly top for £10 from Primark as it'll get a few wears over Xmas then be forgotten. Sparkly clothes are not investment pieces which you pay £80+ for.

Secondly your main market is middle age women who may be menopausal or nearing the menopause thus have problems with Controlling our body temperature. We're want and need natural fibres not the 100% polyester crap which so many of your clothes are made from. Agree with everything that's been said about the underwear. Also why is there a dearth of long leg knickers. Been in a few times and not found any I wanted to buy.
Thirdly your men's wear is fine for the 60+ but I struggled to find anything for anyone younger. Finally your clothes section is visually drab and uninspiring.

On a positive note love your food section

Heartily agree with the short PJ bottoms comment. I am 5'5" and they are just about OK on first wear, half mast after a couple of washes.

I just looked at the dresses on their website - nearly 240 of the ugliest dresses I have ever seen in my life. Not one of them looked nice or even vaguely fashionable, if you want high fashion. Seriously, teenagers wouldn't wear that pseudo-"directional" stuff - neither would women in their 30s, 40s, 50s - who is it for?!? Who wears stuff like this?

www.marksandspencer.com/cross-hatch-print-tunic-dress/p/p22428667

www.marksandspencer.com/checked-tunic-dress/p/p22432236

www.marksandspencer.com/dogtooth-print-shirt-dress/p/p22415513

www.marksandspencer.com/plus-striped-tunic-dress/p/p22442523

Seriously, I don't see anyone at work dressing like this; or in magazines; or out and about; or at toddler group; or in the street - so WHY are they selling stuff that clearly no-one is wearing at the moment or going to consider wearing EVER because it's so HORRENDOUSLY UGLY??

Bunbaker I wonder they don't 'size' the legs of the PJs like they do the jeans and trousers? There's an idea for them

Tell you what they'd have to pay thousands to get consultants like us working for them !! We're doing it for free!!