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...

I looked at the article and its sort of what we've been saying - your customer loyalty is hanging by a thread etc - but it praises those suede skirts and talks positively about fashion industry praise with no mention of clothes not being designed for real women (e.g tops cut too short for anyone who has had a baby).

So, the fashion journalist who wrote the article doesn't seem to have quite grasped what the customers want.

Samantha 28 - I'm only saying that the general Zeitgeist of the ladies of my age in the underwear department does not appear to be one of getting dressed up to go out on the pull - might be nice if I was wrong though!

The Rosie styles seem to have a high silk content, so are not uncomfortably synthetic.

What IS the bloody point of a Sparks card? Aside from offering me 10% off bath mats, oh be still my heart!

Sparks card = bombarding customers with far too many needless emails. A quarterly update on how many points I have would suffice. Unless they fancy sending the odd money off voucher in between. I really don't need weekly or twice weekly correspondence from them though.

That's why I destroyed mine Agatha.

This suede skirt that everyone talks about is hideous and I have never seen anyone wearing one. Who is their target market for that?

At least good old Morrison’s card gives you a £5 off voucher every few weeks. I’m sick of the M&S tills barking ‘have you scanned your Sparks card, have you scanned your Sparks card, have you scanned your Sparks card?’

I probably have a loyalty card for every shop going

Sparks card - got 20% of sportswear this month - which I used, friend got money off on food - it's sort of OK if you just delete the emails which are not offering you anything. Think it needs a bit of refining.

I also have an M&S credit card which I use for everything (petrol, holidays etc) and get enough vouchers to pay for Christmas usually.

Those suede a-line skirts are fabulous if you're a size 8 fashion type with what the Daily Mail would call 'an enviably toned tum', who avoids all contact with liquids, sticky handprints, pets or public transport.

For everyone else most people, they're a walking dry cleaning bill with a straining second button that makes them hyperconscious of the small bumbag of chump representing the choice between fashion and crisps. And a last button that you will inevitably rip off while trying to stop your dog escaping/running for the bus/getting up awkwardly.

BUT they look great on models in Ali McGraw themed photoshoots thus grab M&S the editorial space they want, in order to remind the rest of us that we're running low on opaque tights and need to call in for some Percy Pigs on the way home.

bono I tried one on and looked bloody awful in it! like a square potato.

I should add, I went in yesterday for a nice skirt or dress and came out with PJ's.

"They should just sell bras and lasagne"

Or maybe just stick to the the lasagne...

Thanks!

I was just this minute wondering where to buy elegant crotchless kickers.

Has anyone used the M&S online personal shopper service, Tuesdays? They've sent me two emails so far and the stuff is nice and they really take on feedback that I've given them about whether I like something or not. As yet I've not bought anything from M&S but it has really helped me to think about what I like, what suits me and how sometimes I do play it safe.

M&S crotchless nickers would be interesting. They would probably make them in wool.

*knickers

I found a pair of crotchless knickers in John Lewis/Peter Jones this Christmas. I almost fainted into a Playtex display.

I imagine they'd be a bit draughty.

Crotchless knickers in John Lewis!?

My mum shops in John Lewis.

Please don't....

It was a body-type thing in the L'Agent range. To be strictly accurate, it was backless, and about 60% frontless too.

Backless, frontless, crotchless... What was there of it then? It definately wouldn't keep the chill out.

Was it a Spanx-like garment. Those are quite often crotchless, in order to enable the wearer to have a wee without having to take the whole thing off. I however am squeamish so end up either limiting my water intake when I'm wearing them, or spending ten minutes in the loo wrestling them on and off!