Alexa for Marks and Spencer

[Neveradullm0ment]

Have you seen the clothes? On news websites

[WhiskyTangoFoxtrot]

"The yellow that some of you are banging on about look like clothes protectors to me!"

3 people mentioned (in one sentence each) that they disliked a colour. That's hardly banging on. Two have said they like it.

[iPaid]

I think they need to go the John Lewis/Debenhams route and have concession stands (is that what they're called?). There's no way they'll ever be able to stock some of their huge stores entirely with their own stuff.

[Floisme]

I guess if I'm honest, I'm taking this a bit personally, which is silly. But it does feel as if M&S are giving me - a middle aged woman who likes fashion - the finger. It's like being back at school, watching your best friend hook up with someone cooler and prettier.

I can see what they're trying to do: a fresh take on old classics, by someone who can look at a pleated skirt without thinking of Barbara Woodhouse. What I don't get is how they think this will bring in - and keep - a new generation.

But it would be funny if, in spite of our doom and gloom, they've got it right. You never know, 'granny chic' is having a moment....

[FanDabbyFloozy]

Definitely clothes for the tall and thin.. Not your avg M&S buyer i should think.
Alexa is a model who doesn't resonate at all with me. Claudia Winkelman - yes, Zoe Ball - yes, even Keira Knightley. But definitely not the cutting edge Alexa.

[SirChenjin]

I completely agree Flo. I have a 16 year old DD - she can take her pick of the high street. I'm almost 47 and I want good quality, tailored, classic but slightly quirky clothes - frilly blouses and pleated school skirts of the kind we wore when we were teenagers ticks none of those boxes.

I've now got a bit more disposable income than I used to have - M&S are missing a huge demographic by bringing in someone who doesn't speak to us. Perhaps in time they will appeal to the younger market but I can't imagine my DD and her friends giving up Top Shop, Superdry, H&M, Forever 21 and so to shop in M&S just because Alexa Chung has put her face to a blouse they've seen their mum wear in photos c1983.

[niminypiminy]

Yes, I think I probably agree too. I love M&S and still buy clothes there. I never have the experience, so often reported on MN, of going in to a shop and seeing nothing I'd buy.

But I hate the fact that their offering for the middle-aged and older is the Twiggy collection which I would never buy. But then that's a problem that's larger than M&S. Where are the high street shops selling to middle-aged women actually using middle-aged models (yes, Whistles, Cos, Phase 8, Hobbs, LK Bennett, I'm looking at you)?

[prettywhiteguitar]

Not really sure they got the styling right, the models don't look great in it so how are we ?

[IWannaHoldYourHand]

But isn't there a gap between your daughter and you? I imagine I fit into that. I imagine they're also the people who'll be drawn to Alexa.

I'm mid 20's with a decent disposable and I don't want my wardrobe to be cheap tat, but neither do I want to spend so much that I need to wear stuff for years. I think that at present m&s fill a hole for me.

[Wolpertinger]

It's not even that I'm old and so don't like it because I saw it first time around. I love love love vintage looks. In the launch pics they've put all the inspiration garments in cases - and I, er, think they look better.

The modern versions are only going to work if you are really really thin. Older versions are a bit more forgiving.

And what is M&S launching for the 40 something customer?

[iPaid]

To be fair to M&S they have used Emma Thompson and Helen Mirren.

Alexa Chung reeks of desperation on their part. They have been in a state of desperation for well over a decade.

[Floisme]

That's a good point IWanna. We're talking about Chung as if she's a teenager but she's 32

[Wolpertinger]

www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3454361/First-look-Alexa-Chung-s-fashion-range-Marks-Spencer.html

Have shown DH the pics. He thinks Alexa looks like she is going fishing. He also thought that if the model in the grey skirt had that as her school uniform she would be changing it in an alleyway out of shame so whe wasn't seen in it. He did like the blue dress as he thought the model's arse would hang out when she bent over

Maybe we are just old and don't understand the ways of youth.

[MadisonMontgomery]

Does anyone know whether the pieces that have been shown in the press are the entirety of the collection, or is there more? They just seem a bit random is all.

[Floisme]

I'm sure we don't. But I'm not sure M&S do either!

[Floisme]

Sorry cross post - that was a reply to Wolper

[Wolpertinger]

Very good point about Alexa being 32. Which market is she meant to appeal to? Because those models are all styled to look about 16.

Emma Thompson is great as is Helen Mirren but maybe just some models, that I don't know the names of that are 40. And a range of sizes. Not super skinny or 'plus size' which is all the fashion industry seem able to do. Their version of diversity will be a load of young skinnies, a gorgeous skinny 80 year old, a gorgeous size 24, a skinny black model and they are done. No thought for their customer who is actually size 14-16 age 30-50 at all.

[AnchorDownDeepBreath]

Madison It says Alexa has given fans a "glimpse" at the first part of the collection so I expect there will be more.

Whether it'll be nicer is open for debate...

[Gwynfluff]

I actually think that some of the changes Belinda Earl had made are showing in the shop floor. The collections have been streamlined and are better themed now so they look more distinct as you walk round the shop floor. They probably still need to make some decisions about how many collections they need. I'd say Autograph, Limited and then a core collection. Get rid of Per Una. Then you have core stuff in the collection. Autograph replaces classic - this actually has some of the better cut stuff women seem to want. Limited for the younger end of the market. However, I suspect Per Una must be financially worth it or surely it would have gone by now?

Just checked they still have 6 collections for women!

[Tisgrand]

How about they just use some models in their 40's, 50's and 60's, there must be loads of them around? I think using famous faces can be a turn-off for lots of people but I'd love to be inspired by seeing gorgeous women who are around my age wearing gorgeous clothes...

[IWannaHoldYourHand]

Wolper I don't think those models look 16 at all. I think they look about a decade older, at least.

[Floisme]

I wonder if we're missing the point and that they're not chasing teenagers but making a grab for the young, professional-but-hip-at-the-weekend market?

IWanna you said M&S fills a hole for you at the moment - how much do you shop there?

[gunting]

I don't know... I'm young (ish), professional and I work at a design agency... The clothes just don't appeal to me even though it seems like I'm the kind of person they are targeting.

[IWannaHoldYourHand]

Quite a bit. I'm currently wearing an m&s shirt, and wore a blouse yesterday. I'd say about 1/4 of the things I buy are from m&s.

[LegoRuinedMyFinances]

God those models looks awful in those clothes. If models can't pull them off what hope do the rest of us have. Not a fan of Alexa as I don't understand what she does.

I do like Zara - stealing their buyers and designers would be a good starting point for M&S.

[Floisme]

That's interesting, IWanna, what about your friends, do they shop there too?

Belinda Earl's no fool - Jaegar had a terrible, stuffy image and look what she did there. I'm sure she must have a plan even if we can't see what it is!