Oh Marks and Spencer's...!

[itsmeitskathee]

I used to love you. Not for high fashion but for sensible, useful things that were easy to wear and formed the basics. Tights, tshirts, simple work dresses, pyjamas, pants.
And I know it's been going downhill for ages but today I couldn't even find the basics.

Bodyshaper tights in plain colours. Where are you? If I'm looking for bodyshaper ones, it's because I'm not overly body confident. So offering me patterned bodyshaper ones(spots/ tartan and stripes ) is not helpful. No plain ones at all.

And knee highs - no black or dark colours except in the most expensive range.

And so many polyester dresses. Surely I'm your target market - which means hot flushes are a reality - so polyester is awful.

Just so disappointed. No staff to ask for help. Couldn't find a basket without trailing out to the entrance and where were you hiding the mirrors?

Who can I complain to?

I had the same problem recently. Our M&S which is massive had one rack of tights. There was a sign about lack of stock due to some issue with their supplier.... Bit weird. Needless to say I came out empty handed...

I went to the Sauchiehall Street one a couple of weeks ago, I have never seen so much yellow

Is that what I'm expected to wear this year ?

70 Sauchiehall St M&S looks like a sea of diarrhoea! It's not nice at all. There are probably about 8 people in Glasgow who suit that shade of mustard.

I hate the way M and S decree what colour we have to wear every season. I don't suit autumn colours or yellow or lime green or orange, so I don't buy clothes in that colour. Loads of people have had their colours done and know what suits them.

I get fed up with seeing something in a style I like and then finding it is only available in orange or lime green. They really have missed a trick. They should have basics in colours that suit everyone.

I will not be dictated to what colour I should wear.

I've been looking for brown 100 denier cotton tights, used to be an M&S staple, no more sadly

I went into marks for a yellow/ lemon top , couldn't find anything in that colour

The lack of staff is something I noticed recently too. The staff I ended up hunting down to ask where the fitting rooms were looked really miffed that I'd bothered her by asking her a question. The person in the fitting rooms was a bit sour too. I actually did manage to find a lovely dress for N interview though. It isn't yellow ! There were also loads of tights! The one I went to was in Home Counties.

Rockaby did they have bodyshaper tights?
Ours had lots of body sensor ones but the only bodyshaper ones were patterned. For them across the road in Next in the end.

The yellow/ mustard is foul. I can't imagine it suits many people but it's all in cheap fabrics too.

Oh, I didn't actually look for those itsme, was just looking for the cheapest available.

I've found it much easier to order pants & tights online when they have 20% off. The branches never seem to have sufficient stock.

I'd also like to know who to complain to. Why are all the tops too short?! If they are the right length on buying (usually only just) you then lose a few cm after washing. Not enough cotton and wool. Too much man-made polyester crap.

Yes! The tops are so, so short! It really irritates me that they have a huge petite section as well and no tall section. I'm not that tall, but I like longer length tops.

Dp was laughing at all the awful mustard yellow yesterday.

Re: tights - they used to do good footless tights, which I wear with socks and ankle boots as am tired of getting holes in the toes of normal tights. Neither of our two huge local stores seem to be stocking them anymore.

Being positive though (and I admit it's hard to be positive about M&S sometimes!)
This skirt is beautiful, but was far too long for me.

Love this jacket but wish the khaki had silver buttons not gold.

If you're v tall and v small of bust (ie not me) this dress is gorgeous and a bargain.

Remus I would have thought that thin leggings are pretty similar to footless tights.

Love the dress (being tall and flat chested)

Haven't seen any leggings that are anything like the footless tights - they are like 60 denier or so. Definitely couldn't be worn as leggings.

Please try the dress on/buy it - it's so pretty.

Where have all the mirrors gone? In both ladies and gents departments?

I'm 5ft 0, tried on lots of tops all far too short.

The petite section is way too short on me.

My nearest store is inverness. There is literally no stock of anything useful in nightwear or underwear. No bras above a C cup, no decent tights.

Last pack of tights lasted one wear each.

For a while there they didn't stock kids shoes got asked to use the massive iPad thing in the corner. Because coming back into town with kids the following weekend, yes that's what I want to do

The food section is ok but hideously overpriced.

Because we're a northern out of the way store the selection is shit. Firmly aimed at the over 80s. It's my only real option in a town of tat shops.

Rant over

I bought 2 tops and a skirt and liked lots in M&S today. I wouldn't enter any shop and expect to like most things.

I would have possibly bought several things yesterday too, but they had no size 12s in any of them.

This is the dress I got btw. It's very nice on (I think).

www.marksandspencer.com/colour-block-lined-short-sleeve-shift-dress/p/p22491733?image=SD_01_T59_9068D_Y4_X_EC_90&color=BLACKMIX&prevPage=plp

I think the yellow mustard colour is a fashion thing, rather than an M&S thing ( though I guess they really don't need to follow).
M&S have always been funny with tights and claims of manufacturing problems, I got fed up of not being able to buy DD school tights in winter, we buy John Lewis ones now and they are better quality.
We are Northern but have a very good M&S, tbf there's always something I would happily buy, but often too pricey or out of stock in my size. I've had some good buys from the sale rails though and the food, especially the salads are lush. Gym wear is nice but priced on a par with decent sports brands, which is daft, when you can get similar elsewhere for half the price.
I would like good quality basics though, short sleeved Tees that don't shrink and don't have weird elbow length sleeves etc.

I wouldn't expect to like everything but can usually find things in M&S I like. But today's trip was so annoying I just want to tell them.

The 'please order it on the giant ipad' thing infuriates me too. If I've gone to the shop I'd like to try it on! Not come in a few days.

How can we give feedback? Will they take it on board?

They have loads of wrap dresses but nothing suitable time wear under them. What's the plan there?

This is really odd- went to the Manchester City centre branch last week and it was fantastic. I got lots of new bits, an amazing white frilled shirt and the cult pale pink bell-sleeved jumper they did recently. In fact I was totally in love with lots of the stuff they had, and stocked up on those body shaped tights in a black 100 denier (love them too). Maybe it's the store you went to? But generally loving M&S at the moment. (I'm 30 btw)