Alexa for Marks and Spencer

[Neveradullm0ment]

Have you seen the clothes? On news websites

[Didiusfalco]

I like that black dress Sheffield but its out of stock in my size

[sheffieldsteeler]

Every time I go in there, the biggest queue is at the Customer Service desk, with people collecting parcels they've ordered online. I would really like to think someone in their e commerce unit is corrolating what people are ordering in the regions, and what stock the actual shops are holding.

Obviously we won't see hide nor hair of the Alexa range out here in the sticks, but it'll be interesting to see where the website stock goes to.

[Floisme]

They need to sort out their stock. What's the use of all those big stores with all those running costs if all they're going to have in them is Per Una?

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

It didn't sound bossy at all. :) Cba with online and our store (huge) rarely seems to stock the short lengths. But will deffo have a look.

[sheffieldsteeler]

Sorry, that sounded really bossy. I just get so excited when M&S make an item of clothing that works, and is reasonably priced, and ticks most of the boxes the M&S shopper has been begging for - I half-want it to sell out so a red alarm bell would start ringing on someone's desk...

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Will have a look. Thanks.

[sheffieldsteeler]

Ah, but they do them in short lengths! The regular one is just on the knee for me (I'm five seven) so the short one might work? They do seem to be restocking this style quite a lot.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

I do like the look of this but probably hideous irl!

[sheffieldsteeler]

Needless to say, neither of these really useful and appealing-to-a-broad-demographic dresses were available in my local store, the biggest in the (admittedly quite rural) county. We do, however, have two different racks of fleece jackets, three racks of fleece joggers, and a whole section of floaty kaftans/sarongs that shoppers walk past with a look of barely suppressed contempt en route to the Food Hall downstairs.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Thank you - I like both but almost certainly way too long for me.

[sheffieldsteeler]

This is the black dress in question - I have a suspicion it might bobble, but as far as good basics go, it's exactly the sort of thing M&S should be leading with.

And this stripey one is also fantastic on.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Sheffield - any chance of a link to the black dress?

[Abraid2]

I liked most of niminy's selection.

[Floisme]

Hey niminy I tracked down those denim culottes and really like them. As you say, they're more like cropped wide legs - finish just above my ankle bone. Very similar to some I saw in Whistles but about 80 quid cheaper.

I also got that dark green, cotton cropped jumper you linked. It's short but not belly revealing which really suits me.

So thank you (I feel a bit like a style stalker )

There were quite a few other things - mostly in Limited Collection and Autograph - that I liked but didn't have time to try. It beggars belief that none of these were in stock in my local branch in a large (albeit struggling) city.

So M&S do have things I like but Jeez they're hard to find. And I speak as a TK Maxx/H&M veteran who enjoys a good rummage.

[Floisme]

Thanks Niminy I'll be near our out of town mall later this week where there's a bigger branch so will go and look there. I could order online but it just rankles when there's a big branch on my doorstep. Just above the ankle would be good.

[sheffieldsteeler]

As long as the M&S website persists in styling clothes with clumpy black brogues they're going to have an uphill battle persuading me that any of it's meant for me.

Although, to be fair, I've just bought two of their very very useful black body con dresses with 3/4 sleeves, and the same in stripes. I anticipate wearing them a lot.

[ExConstance]

I'm 59 - I'd never buy anything Per Una. Whistles and Cos are my go to places.

[ExConstance]

I presume it was M&S that made her wear the horrid olive trench coat over her lovely dress to the Erdem show, it really ruined her outfit.

[niminypiminy]

Floisme I cracked and bought the denim culottes online. On my short legs they are cropped wide legs - I knew this would happen, but I like the length in fact. They're just above the ankle and high waisted, thick material with plenty of structure, blue-black. They feel like a new shape -interesting and different. I like 'em - not as much as the me+em cropped wide leg jeans that never went into the sale, but then I paid less than £30 for them, so they were bargainous.

[higge]

I like the deliver to store and return via Collect plus, I shop online - mostly Limited Edition and sometimes Autograph, I find enough to keep me checking back. I never shop in store.

Two things I've picked up recently -

www.marksandspencer.com/modal-blend-longline-bomber-jacket/p/p60077729?prevPage=srp

www.marksandspencer.com/v-neck-blouse/p/p60080771?prevPage=srp

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

I told the assistant about the ridiculously big size 12 jumper and she just shrugged and put it back on the rail.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

I tried two things on today.

The denim A line mini I linked to earlier - disaster. It wasn't A line - it was tight and pencil skirtish at the front and had a horrible sticky out back. Far too long for a mini for me too. Hideous.

A grey jumper on the sale rail, from the Autograph range. I'm a size 12. I tried on a size 12. You could have fit 12 of me inside it. Shame, as I really liked it.

[Floisme]

Yup I can remember finding good things in Per Una too, before it went all Johnnie-Boden-on-drugs. But now it doesn't even seem that frilly any more. It's just very, very dreary.

[BestIsWest]

I remember when Per Una was first introduced they had some lovely stuff. I still have some pretty wrap tops from the nineties that I would wear if I was slim enough one day

Not sure when it became so frilly.

However, they are still do or two things. I bought a Per Una burgundy biker jacket last year which is lovely. Granted it's not leather but it feels and looks good.

[SirChenjin]

It's true..I used to buy Per Una jeans way back when and they were great. A lot of their stuff was v wearable but now it's just a jumble of buttons, ribbon and awful patterns.