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...

OK, i'm sticking my neck out here but... there are quite a few things here that I would definitely wear. Granted, it's difficult to know what the feel/quality is but some of this looks quite nice

www.marksandspencer.com/l/women/winter-warmers

Nice jacket, I thought, then I saw what it was made from and reckoned I would short-circuit the electrics at work whilst slightly smelling of cheese.

www.marksandspencer.com/double-crpe-jacket/p/p22429652?extid=TP_F_CT_B_260911_290_CreoGe

Thanks Gnome

To be fair Boffin most shops which charge 'certain prices' stock mainly man made materials now. You have to hunt for natural fibres.

Yes Knowler but wtf is a bodycon dress? I noticed that the designers would like everyone to be wearing funny flat brimmed hats and flappy type ponchos, the Peruvian musician look; great!!!! [not]

They still have loads of the thermal tops in the underwear section of my local M&S. Watch out for the ones with glitter as it comes off like confetti until its been washed a couple of times.

I'm not liking their conversion rate at the moment.

There is a 20% off offer going on at the moment. There is a pair of boots on the UK site that would cost £55.20 (which at todays conversion rate is Euro 72.20). The same boots on the Irish site with the 20% reduction factored in come to Euro 76. So what is making up the difference? I don't understand it at all.

I agree knowler. I particularly like that stripey shirt for £20.00 with the discount, but need to feel it and try it on, especially with that straight hem.

ppeatfruit I don't think M&S invented the term 'bodycon'... I wouldn't wear it myself, but I've seen worse. And ponchos are/have been v 'in' this winter... so again, not just M&S. And I'm quite partial to a poncho :)

Bodycon just means skin tight.

I don't want to turn into some kind of M&S apologist (I like it, but am not obsessed with it or anything ), but as for making things with synthetic fibres, surely everywhere does this to an extent, and it all boils down to how something feels and 'hangs'. See for example www.theoutnet.com/en-GB/product/Isabel-Marant/Floyd-knitted-cardigan/703806

Biggest % fibre is polyamide and original price was £700+

I am no chemist but we are presumably just wearing glorified oil, no?

I am really annoyed with bloody M&S for ballsing up their 20% off online promotion for Sparks card holders.

Ordered stuff this morning, it was in stock. I get an e-mail seven hours later saying, "oops, sorry, we got it wrong and we haven't got any left".

The reason, I later discovered, was that all the stocks of this item were in the stores. They didn't have it in the warehouse to sell, although that didn't stop them from selling it to me online this morning.

Would they honour the 20% off in the store, even though it was their stupid fault that they couldn't fulfil the online order they'd taken from me this morning? Guess the answer.

How amateurish! I'm a fan of M&S but I felt like throwing my Sparks card in the bin. Way to annoy your loyal customers, M&S!

I'd like to know how much they have spent on their online ordering and fulfilment system. I read last year that it was millions, and that despite many teething problems, they'd sorted it out. Clearly not, based on my experience today.

Yes Crystal skintight in petroleum based fabric, as Boffin says!!!! Lovely!!!!

Bodycon was invented (if that's the right word) by Azzedine Alaïa in the 1980s, but probably became better known when Herve Leger brought out the bandage dress in 1989.

It just mean tight and stretchy now.

The V of blue right over your muff! Like a super hero costume! EGADS.

Glad this is still going!

I was in the big Glasgow store today for a browse. Actually saw a really nice shirt but when I tried it on it made my hair stand on end! The static was horrendous.

Well, I haven't noticed anything about M&S accepting an offer of a webchat. It seems they don't care to engage with their customers, or at least the demographic that they think mumsnetters represent.

So, there are two choices: we either let the current M&S board ruin our once beloved M&S and drive it into the ground, or we stage a military-style coup at M&S HQ!

Is it possible to go on their website or twitter? Praps if we all did that it might make them think again.

Var123 let's do it. Let's storm the M & S head office and stage a takeover

We could have a burning of per una flounce!

Or we could each buy one of the awful outfits featured on this page and picket the annual general meeting holding up signs for the shareholders as they come in that say "Do YOU think I look good in this?"!

The press would love it, and the shareholders might stop to think about what's happening to their company and whether they'd prefer to not automatically vote to renew all the directorships.

and we could put that per una flounce on the brazier to keep us warm (though it might give off toxic fumes when burning!)

M&S HQ:

Marks and Spencer Group plc
Waterside House
35 North Wharf Road
London
W2 1NW

and the AGM is at Wembley in July.

So, plenty of time to plan but luckily its before the school holidays!

Sorry last post on the subject. I just found this on the M&S corporate website under AGM questions that have been asked. Unfortunately it doesn't say which year.

Q: When and how will the clothing underperformance be rectified?
A: Our main focus is on womenswear for our Autumn/Winter collections, which will be launched in store and online from the end of July. This re-launch of womenswear will reassert our leadership in quality, stylish, upgraded products; and will be supported by a full marketing campaign as we move through September. We have spent a large amount of time with our customers and Shareholders, and also looking through our archives, as sources of inspiration. We are clear who our core customers are and what they want.

PS Just in case anyone is wondering, i am not serious about direct action!

Oh, sorry this one too:
What are you doing to improve your fashion?
Our Autumn/Winter 14 and Spring/Summer 15 collections were well received by both the fashion press and our customers, who enjoyed our interpretations of key style trends. The fashion press also identified our Autograph suede skirt (£199) as being a highlight of the year.

For Autumn/Winter 15, our design team have utilised contemporary shapes and simple silhouettes, with luxurious fabrics and tonal colour palette, to create a confident collection that feels contemporary, yet is accessible for all age groups.

corporate.marksandspencer.com/investors/shareholder-information/agm-information/agm-questions-and-answers

Basically the shareholders - who are the owners after all - are asking exactly what we are saying on this thread - design, fabric, lack of sizes, weird shapes etc - and they are getting waved away with airy, -we-know-best answers.