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...

Don't worry. If they decide not to use those Pretty as a Picture/Every Picture Tells a Story cliches in the photoframe design, they'll almost certainly be appearing in sequins on a Per Una T-shirt near you soon anyway.

I was just having a wee browse through Per Una and thinking wow they've toned it down - loads of blue and black with a touch of pink.

Then this happened

Years ago when I was 19 (late 80s) I worked at M&S Marble Arch on contract for six months over Christmas. It was the flagship store and HQ where up the street and would pop down frequently to ask our opinion. The store was almost always packed and had a big range of quality merchandise. I worked in lingerie and we were extremely busy with people from all over the world coming to purchase tons of undies and PJs.

I live abroad now and went there recently with my teen girls. The whole place was appalling and really shoddy. Hardly any staff anywhere and tons of low quality, badly designed clothes. The underwear dept was a shadow of its former fabulous self. I thought I was their perfect customer late 40s woman of relatively classic tastes. I couldn't find anything I liked despite expecting to purchase something.

As a teen I also often bought classics from Marks like merino sweaters and cotton underwear.

It just seems like they have completely lost the plot. Needless to say they were not massively busy despite being on Oxford St.

I went to try on a couple of things at my local store last weekend. No staff in sight at the changing rooms, which seemed to be used as a (very untidy) store room too. Had to edge past to get into a cubicle. Totally unprofessional.

Needless to say, the clothes looked horrible on. I've had more luck at New Look!

Paperblank But sadly if M&S were reading this thread they'd think that the description of it being a dinosaur, would mean they need to "get dahn wiv the kids" And chase the primark fashion market even more FGS.

I think M&S may have entered the grey area of this chart. The orange part was the 70s and 80s and the last 20 years have been the burgundy phase.

I will be sad when they sell fo their food business and stop trading but I can't see how things will change unless the new chairman / ceo refuses to allow any sacred cows.

I'd quite like their Per Una denim A line skirt as I have worn a similar White Stuff one to death. But I just know from bitter previous that in order to get it over my hips the waist will be gaping like mad. I'm not going to depress myself by trying it on.

Katisha I always like the look of denim skirts on other people but can't get round to liking myself in the M&S one I bought (or any others to be fair). I think I'm so used to trousers I just don't feel right in a skirt. I'm a vanity size 10 now, sort of straightish up and down, so I must get used to them again!

I went in the Manchester store yesterday. I had some gift vouchers to spend and thought I would at the very least get something to wear for work. Wrong.

I left without spending a penny. I no longer even look in the per una section for the many reasons stated on this thread (satin edging on plain tees wtf, appliqué, ruffles, wavy edges on skirts - with ruffles of course and the colours - get your sunglasses on).

I digress - work wear? Dated. Fussy blouses in strange colours. Tops and blouses are too short. Too many bloody patterns.

A sad day when you can't find a thing that you want to wear in M&S.

Go back in and spend your vouchers in the beauty section - plenty of decent (non-M&S) brands to choose from.

Not M&S, but their influence appears to be spreading. I was in French Connection yesterday and spotted these sequinned flares. SEQUINNED FLARES I tell you! What is the fashion world coming to??

Francisdesales interesting post. I'm a contemporary of yours and I started to notice somewhere in the 90s quality drastically going down. The cottons suddenly got very thin, hardly anything was made in britain anymore.When I find vintage M&S in charity shops (1980s and earlier) the quality is just far higher.
I know we can't turn round the clock, cotton is more expensive, manufacturing in the UK is prohibitive (or so we're told) . But they seem to get it so wrong year after year. Some companies such as Uniqlo still manage to make stuff people want to wear. Since the 90s I've maybe bought about 5 pieces at M&S. I just wonder where those endless racks of garments go.

Prob been said before but why are the kids clothes so trashy? All bloody Disney princesses and party wear. It would be so nice to go in and buy a simple 3 or 5 set of kids long sleeved cotton t shirts in plain or stripes, cosy fleeces (without stupid sequins), cords, jeans... nice normal basics that can go with other stuff.

It's 60s 70s look Cereirys it's all the rage with the youngsters of today. (who don't remember the first time it was around)! I was immune to it's excesses even when I was young!! .

I had an interesting idea for M&S ref. hepzibah's post, they should time the amount of time it takes us from actually taking the clothes off the rail and then replacing them!

I'm howling at this thread
When they get it right, it's fab though. Comfy stilettos for £19, jeggings that fit, and I got an amazing pair of boots that are Isabel marant copies
But the tops are never long enough and I hate having to wander and root. And the bra sizing is shit

Yes it's been said before but it's well worth saying again Gnome I live 50% of the time in Fr. and Monoprix can manage it (they don't have school uniforms because the state schools don't wear them) but they do quite a bit of organic cotton which i prefer for dcs. Also good quality basics for children.

Come on M&S take a look round Monoprix it can be done.

yy ppeatfruit. Another one they could do with taking inspiration from is Lands End for kids, they do great fleeces, trousers and coats for both girls and boys. Their tops aren't so great though (Lands End, if you're looking!) - expensive 'one offs' with stuff all over the front of them a la M&S, with no plainer, cheaper but still good quality multipack options.

In fact NICE NORMAL BASICS WHICH CAN GO WITH OTHER STUFF is really what everyone seems to be saying here.

Stop trying to have a 'signature M&S look'. Spend the sequin and frills money on better quality fabric and tailoring.

Yes exactly Gnome I just remembered last year I bought some fabulous plain silk tops which were being sold as underwear in Monoprix. Totally plain with long sleeves and normal style slightly scoop necks. I gave them to my dds as Xmas gifts and they loved them. I gave one to myself of course they weren't very expensive and came in black or off white.

I was hoping this thread was still around as I saw a student in those same hideous trousers in the OP's post. They looking just as ghastly in broad daylight, more so with the platform DM's the wearer had on with the bad fur coat.

Oh M&S, what do we do with you? They were ground breakers in ready meals and quality clothes but these days, feel more like C&A did before they disappeared from our high street.

Totally agree with comments on this thread that they need to stop fucking about with the ruffles and sequins, bring back quality well cut clothes in a variety of colours, streamline the too many sub-brands, invest in their stores which are starting to look tired in our local area and get back to doing what they did best being to focus on what the customer wants. Is it honestly that hard to do?

I want good quality wool, waterproof and trench coats, a variety of jeans, shirts, coatigans, wrap dresses, shift dresses, Breton stripes, leather pumps/court shoes/boots/bags, two or three beauty lines but easy rivals to top brands, wide choice of hosiery, excellent choice and design of underwear, quality up to date evening wear, excellent basic menswear and kids wear. I want quality and understated basic colours with some items that pop with colour as a nod to the catwalk. And good quality gym wear. I also want nail bars or pop up beauty spas where you could book a treatment before during or after you shop. I'd like to see quality but limited concessions like in John Lewis - think White Stuff, Cos, Joules, uggs, sorrel, etc. I'd also like small market places in the foyer like post office counters, shoe repairs, dry cleaning etc so that I can get errands done the same time as shopping. And I want reward cards with goodies or discounts the more I spend.

Their Home section is quite good but again could do with some more Modernised pieces - think like Dwell.

Ah talking of silky plain tops, the one thing I have bought and loved in M&S in the last 5 years is Heatgen thermals tops - good quality, plain, go with loads of things, soft, wash and wear really well.

Though I notice that the latest range includes 'sparkle' and 'glitter' options

Well at least they were 'options' Gnome . I (like quite a few on here) have vouchers to spend in M&S so i'll look for those. In the underwear or sports area?

They used to have amazing up and coming designers come in anonymously and influence what was being put in the stores, in the 1990s. I think that's all gone now.

I don't think there is a natural fibre sold in the whole place apart from jeans, socks and pants now, certainly where womenswear is concerned. Their love of artificial fibres is bringing the nation out in permanent thrush.

I think they're usually in the underwear area, (in plastic packets from memory, though that could have changed). A bit sheer for wearing on their own, but great for layering.

Hopefully it's not too late in the season for thermals to be in stock, I guess they might have displaced them for bikinis now it's January! They have them on the website anyway.