M&S Oh dear

[katie2bumps]

Quick visit to a fairly rural m&s today in Scotland. Racks of the dreaded pink dress for £10 in every size . Sale made quite depressing viewing.

Found the autumn preview. The wide leg tweedy trousers and shirt remind me of a photo of Katharine Hepburn - a real 1940s Hollywood look. I'd give the cravat a miss.

I realised this week I'm coveting a long raincoat and I remembered seeing this one. I'm going to try first and get a second hand / vintage Aquascutum or a similar make but if I can't, this might do the trick.

I really like the check coat too although it might be a bit too distinctive for its own good.

And I like some of the chunky jumper with floaty skirt pairings.

I'm less keen on the dresses but then I'm off them at the moment. Mind you I think That Dress looks much better and less crackly in navy. I won't be buying it but it no longer hurts my eyes.

How it really looks and wears will depend on the fabric and cut. They seem to be trying to keep their prices down so you do wonder how much they'll have compromised. But they used to do tailoring on a budget very well - I remember those Italian wool suits too - and I just hope they haven't lost their touch.

Sexy pics. I'm in sunny parts so can't see the detail too well, the shirt's lovely but I've got this seasons b/w stripe and the sleeves are hell to get into a coat.

Not specific to M&s but are we to be plagued by another season of those awful taco shaped shoes?

Don't worry I believe coat sleeves are going to be extra long too

Of course it's for Vogue so it's heavily stylised and fashiony and who knows what it's going to be like in real life. I was just disagreeing with all the posters who thought the preview was hideous. I've not seen the shoes mind!

The checked coat IS "too distinctive". Do you really want people to know it's from M&S? The advice seems to be to go for classic colours and fabrics. Oh wait - they don't do these...

I've had a couple of nice pieces from the Best of British range but they are few and far between.

No I wouldn't be bothered about people knowing it was M&S, not if it looked good on me. I was more concerned that I might get bored seeing it everywhere.

Was in a fairly rural scottish m and s yesterday. Racks of the buggers for sale still £10 . And They have gone on to make the same dress in several patterns. Oh dear

Photo of the sale

at tacco shoes.

Do we know who is in charge of M&S womens wear these days? Can we get a roll call of shame for head honcho and buyers and bombard tgem by letter/fax/twitter/FB etc. telling them to stop it with the fugly clothes and JUST BUY CLASSICS FOR GODS SAKE!

I think it's still Belinda Earl isn't it?

See I for one, wouldn't just want them to do classics and that, I think is the essence of their problem: they try and please everyone. They're he only shop I can think of that still tries to do that and it's why I still have a soft spot for them even when they get it wrong.

I like the red tweedy things but I bet I'll go to M&S and in RL the colours will be off and the fabric will be nasty.

This is new in....oh dear.
link

I admit I'm apprehensive about the fabrics. I guess their problem is that if they went for better quality, the prices would go up too and I can't see that going down well somehow.
I wish they'd do a 'premium range' like H&M, not that my store would stock it - we've only just got Autograph here.

Yes to a premium range - Autograph used to be this, with lots of silk and cotton.

That yellow dress is truly revolting.

I still think Autograph are pretty good but you're right, even there, the fabrics are going downhill.
The trouble is, it's hardly a good time economically for moving higher end but that's how they used to be known: well made, good fabrics, the odd fashiony piece - but also expensive.

Some of the new late summer range has landed in my local M&S and my over-whelming thought was, I just don't know how to wear this. There's nothing I looked at and instinctively wanted to try on - it all felt as if it was made for someone else. And this isn't the high fashion line they lead with in that Vogue spread, this is the frumpy middle of the road 'mainstream' selection they deem appropriate for the rural Midlands. I want to love M&S. I want to buy clothes there. Please show me something I want to buy.

Meanwhile, the sale rails fester away in the corner of the store, a nightmarish herbaceaous border of jarring florals.

Autograph... 'used to be..lots of silk and cotton'.
Alas not now...100% polyester!! E.g.
www.marksandspencer.com/elliptical-hem-long-sleeve-maxi-dress/p/p22508445?image=SD_01_T42_8022T_R0_X_EC_90&color=YELLOW&prevPage=plp

www.marksandspencer.com/floral-print-tie-back-maxi-dress/p/p22506098?image=SD_01_T42_8066T_D4_X_EC_90&color=PURPLEMIX&prevPage=plp

I remember those fabrics too. But I also remember M&S being a lot more expensive, in real terms, than they are now.

I saw someone wear the pink dress last week . Definitely not better on