Marks and Sparks - done to death I know but...

[keiratwiceknightly]

I was in the Brum store yesterday. Birmingham was absolutely PACKED, uncomfortably busy in places. All the shops we went in were buzzing and there was a real Christmassy feel to the place. Went into marks to use the loo and browse for my a present for my dad and it was a desert. There were more staff than punters on the 3 brightly lit floors.

The offerings were either cheap looking, or frumpy Nan-stuff, or too try-hard trendy but with some detail that stopped them working. I saw one item that was well-cut, attractive and well-made in the entire store, a wool, lined grey mini skirt that I'd have bought if I'd been shopping for me.

Empty and unappealing on one of the busiest shopping days of the year in the second city. I felt really sad that m and s will be the next BHS and they won't listen to anything we tell them!

I got fantastic cleavage-promoting swimwear from them in the summer. They can still do good things, it's just hit and miss and they need to identify and focus on the hits.

“I buy pants and pyjamas regularly too.”

I wish they would offer pyjama bottoms with different leg lengths. They are always too short on me.

“They lost their way when they tried to go after the younger shopper, who is already more than well-served on the high street”

I think you have hit the nail on the head there GraceMarks

I buy bras ( no other local shops stock 32Dd or 30E) underwear for the whole family, PJs, school wear, sports wear, cashmere, beauty products and sometimes food. I avoid fashion items and hate polyester. Most of the dresses are too long ( I have never seen that red dress despite searching for something along those lines) and I hate embellishments. I live close to an out of town store so pop in regularly- it’s my nearest shop! I can’t buy work wear there- nothing quite works.

They just need to send my family with 4 generations a checklist. Currently we've hardly brought anything other than school shirts and a super soft jacket from nightwear. Odd pairs of knickers.

Coats are hideous this year; jumpers and blouses beyond boring . Boots desperate. Cosmetic jewellery, embarrassing. Menswear overpriced . Few bits of nicely designed makeup but I'd never buy as pricey for not being a quality brand.

Next clothing on the slide too.We need a mix of Warehouse, Zara if any bosses reading and a good mix of 'Mrs.M+S' to view potential designs as there is no such thing anymore. M+S gone that downhill over last 10 yes, there is no Mrs.M+ S! No one wants to be her.

I wish M&S would look at Massimo Dutti - this is on a par with Autograph range at M&S yet it is so much more stylish.

I think a bit of continental flair wouldn't go amiss.

Distribution is a major problem.

The red dress I linked to on page 1 - which seems a couple of other posters like too - has not been distributed across stores. I clicked on 'find it in store' and found 1 in the whole of Herts and London, thankfully my size and in Watford. I hit upon it in store by accident, it was on a rail of odd things. Being that it seems to be sold out in smaller sizes, everyone is obviously buying it online, as it still seems to be out of stock in stores. It never was in stock in stores. Major fail M&S...

Also the sizing is on the large size. It has a concealed zip at the back of the neck, yet it's easy enough to put on without using the zip and it's not exactly red, but a bit orange-y (descriptions not quite accurate).

That's one item - multiply that by the whole range of clothing M&S have on their website and potentially they're losing out to buyers who can't actually buy their things in store. Just why....? They've been told, but they don't listen.

Lonicera they used to do pyjamas in different leg lengths, but not last time I shopped for them.

I bought this coat and I love it. I actually chose it over the Joules one and the Seasalt one. It is just so nice and simple and slim fitting. It is expensive for M&S but I think it is a good thing that they are starting to offer quality pieces again at a higher price.

www.marksandspencer.com/padded-jacket-with-stormwear/p/p60177986?extid=ps_gglpla_Women_1343583060_54232712579&s_kwcid=AL!2750!3!262241066635!!!g!563494092174!EFKW&device=m&cvosrc=ppc%20shopping.google.Women%20%3E%20Clothing%20%3E%20Coats%20&%20Jackets%20%3E%20Jackets&cvo_pid=54232712579&gclsrc=aw.ds&&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIw6eX88yF3wIVSrDtCh393QIAEAQYASABEgKFNvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds&pdpredirect

I know they did Pussgirl, but not any more. Although that is academic now as I get too hot in pyjamas these days.

I normally only use M&S for underwear and wine.

However............ this weekend I bought 2 pairs of M&S high waisted skinny jeans - a total bargain at £19.50 each. There is a really good selection in a variety of colours and lengths and I was amazed at the quality - I normally buy Top Shop jeans but they are nearly double the price. I was surprisingly impressed as was my teenage daughter who couldn't believe they were M&S either!

I've surprised myself by buying two midi dresses this last month - have worn them and have had compliments for both (and as they are probably half the price of the Mint Velvet ones I also love).

Sometimes its the styling that makes the difference. If someone had told me 12 months ago I'd be wearing midi dresses with (various pairs of) M&S ankle boots I'd have laughed in their faces! Yet I wouldn't wear them any other way right now and I'm pretty sure that's what makes the difference and makes them more 'on trend' (to me anyway).

A previous PP mentioned their t-shirts. I have a few and find that they wash well, iron easily, and aren't too clingy.

I have a big warm padded coat from them, and an Autograph jacket, which I love. I wish I could afford more of these.

Also bought a very well fitting pair of skinny petite jeans from them last year. However they were then discontinued. I also liked their 5 pocket jeggings (and I know there were several threads on here praising them) but they were also discontinued. There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason as to why they keep changing their jeans ranges.

^a PP, not a previous PP

M&S's colour palette suits me this season, so I think they're ace

Love the lavender coat. I've also bought a pair of teal ankle boots. And I have my eye on the dark orange court shoes.

Their website is horrendously clunky to use. In store, it’s just too much of a faff to go and check in about five different locations for the correct size of whatever item I’m looking for (black work trousers for example) because of all their stupid different brands/labels. The quality and colours and styling are usually totally off beam.

I increasingly find myself buying from John Lewis’s in-house labels. They do the quality and midpoint pricing thing that M&S used to do, they tend to be fairly classic in their approach and have broad age appeal.