So M&S have sacked their head of fashion

[Isthebigwomanhere]

They say their fashion needs to move on at a pace according to sky news.
I say they just need to read the numerous threads on here and bloody listen to what people are saying!

I think the issue is that actually getting anything done at M&S is a nightmare, as they're too bloated and fatty, and the beaurocracy is a nightmare.

Has she been sacked or has she had enough? Not sure that we know.

i think they are trying to please too many age groups, and they are really going to struggle to sell anything to my youngsters except maybe work suits and shirts. Hence they compromise on what they provide to what could/should be their core audience, the slightly older people who still want to dress well at a reasonable price point. i actually think they have improved a bit over the last year

I really hope this isn’t a wrong move...They’ve done a lot better in the past couple of years than they had done for a long while before that! I hope whoever the new person is, they very carefully consider what to change and what to leave as is!!

Whoever replaces her, I agree, let’s hope they have the good sense to tap into the absolutely brilliant market research they’ve got right here!

Hopefully this means they plan to stop the per una nonsense.

If you’re listening M&S

Simple, good quality basics that are ethically sourced pleased.
With one or two statement collections a season.
Nothing too out there, just decent staples.

Hopefully I will be able to buy a t shirt that doesn’t show off my bra on the V shape. We are not all 6 foot tall! Nor can we all wear crew necks when we are
Large of shoulder and chest

I bought M&S work trousers this season. Good pockets.

GOOD QUALITY FABRICS.

Get your stock levels right. Anything good sells out of size 10 - 14 in an instant leaving you with size 6s and 20s on the shelves. I’ve worked near 3 big M&S (Oxford St, Moorgate and Fenchurch St) and it’s always the same terrible stock levels.

I read that it was because of production problems that meant customers couldn't find items they had seen advertised when they actually went in. Now I know that has been an issue, but I also thought typical M&S, ignore the actual issue which is that your clothes are awful!

I want nice fabrics, proper cotton, linen, viscose not polyester, and wool not acrylic. Then make these into useable garments (like a straightforward v-neck jumper, work trousers or shirt dress) that are classic and unmessed with, but up-to-date in cut.

STOP chucking stupid frills and fake leather bits all over everything. It adds cost and is horrible.

You can charge more, I'd rather pay £50 for a quality jumper that will last, than £25 for a synthetic pile-o-shite.

Reduce the number of items and concentrate on stocking them all in all sizes.

Get rid of all the daft "collections". I don't want to wander around a massive hangar looking for my trousers in 8 different locations. I want to go to trousers and see what you have.

I don't think it's an age thing - plenty of shops have clothes that appeal to multiple ages. Topshop, Primark, Zara. It's a styleless, messy, quality nosedive thing.

stock levels are a nightmare and online too!!! Things shown as being in stocks and in your basket online and then when you check out- it’s gone! So so so annoying.

M&S please sort it out!

I don't want wool and mohair, I want acrylic jumpers and cardigans, I can't wear wool or anything that moults or itches and most certainly not those scratchy ribbon knit things.

T shirts that don't stop halfway up your neck, I want some with lower necklines and looser cap style sleeves.

I might be older but I don't want polyester trousers, or jeans with a waist that is the same width as the hips, they fall down if you have a waist, even the ones that are meant to have a waist.

I also don't want cotton mix knickers that have pretty lacy elastic tops, they fall down inside trousers, and they are too high cut to fit under the bum cheeks and end up riding up at the arse. Not great to have a roll of soft floppy lace under your belly and fabric up your crack. Use more cotton and less elastane.

Bras that don't have moulded cups, just make them with proper cotton fabric that isn't see through, not memory foam that looks like a couple of pudding basins.

All the above plus the frumpy blouses and skirts reminds me why I no longer bother to look in M&S.

They need to copy uniqlo

The Per Una range has changed, hasn't it? And the clothes have been much better in general.
I think it needs to look at where it's core market has gone. I no longer shop there but that's because the local shop has gone.

When I did shop there it was for socks, tights, underwear, t-shirts, jumpers and cardigans, and office wear. I would pop in if I wanted a dress for an occasion or a smart casual skirt.

What I wouldn't buy from there:
skimpy, flimsy or padded bras in a large cup size - i need comfortable, sturdy bras that are fit for the job
sleeveless anything
three-quarter anything
shirts with roll up sleeves
dresses, skirts or trousers with no pockets
clingy t-shirts,
'fashion' clothes,
polyester clothes unless they are of excellent quality.

Sorry M&S but I am not going to buy 'sawn off' jeans from you no matter how many you have on display.

I actually do still rate them. I buy there quite a lot. BUT although I’m approaching what should be their target market (I’m 43), I do actually like quite fashion forward/trendy styles so I quite like the frills etc and more ‘young’ styles (as long as they are done well and in good fabrics!) so the things that attract me might be alienating others of my age or slightly older.

They’re great for work wear basics. They just need to stop trying to be all things to all women (they’re never going to be majorly catering to 20s-30s, stop trying to do a million things, sharpen up their focus a bit and then DO IT WELL.

I agree, I am willing to pay more for a better quality, better cut and better finish.

I hope they hire @LadyBumclock in her place. That analysis of what they should and shouldn't do is perfect.

Another thing M&S if you are reading. Cut the vanity sizing. Size 6 jeans are too big for me, when I am an 8 everywhere else. The jeans are generally good though.

I have noticed that they are rectifying the absence of pockets, at last.

Per Una has changed hasn't it - I looked on their website recently and was shocked to find that the ridiculous frills had gone and it looked, well, wearable.

The Guardian are reporting that she is going because of stock issues - the actually had successful products and then sold out as they hadn't bought enough, so maybe the do recognise the same things as we report on here.

Isthebigwomamhere
I was just about to start a thread re the M&S fashion boss being sacked quitting and thinking all they had to do was check up on the threads on Mumsnet to see what their customers want , exactly as you have proposed

oh, i like some of their new stuff

Ooh growlingbear I await headhunting. Will it be £££££ do you think? :o

I've always been puzzled that they can't just have the same attitude to clothes as they do to food - quality, nice stuff, a bit expensive but worth it.

Yes Per Una isn’t too bad now.

I have had lovely skirts from them, great shirts, good tops. I have been complimented lots on the outfits I put together with items from there.

Their trouser selection is good. Their jeans and jeggings are good too. Leggings are great quality for the price.

They have done some great shoes the last few years. Very comfortable, good quality, not too expensive.

There are plenty of gems to be found. It would just be nice if it was almost all gems and only the odd dud.

Shame - I think they've been doing better in the last year or so too. I've bought lots of their T shirts this summer and some great work trousers.

They still manage to produce the odd horror which usually gets ridiculed on here

It's the stock level that's really poor - woe betide if you ever want anything that's popular in a size 10!!

I don't buy a lot in M&S but when I do I expect quality at reasonable (not cheap) prices. I don't expect cutting edge fashion but maybe current colours in good quality basics. I don't think M&S has an equal. I'm in Ireland so our Dunnes Stores is getting it's act together and does seem to be providing what M&S did once but they are all about the affordable, reasonable quality basics with small collections from great designers. Dinners Website is rubbish though but their stores are often (not all) good, like Marks.

My mother (70's) buts cashmere polonecks from M&S every year, but couldn't get any this year. My daughter bought linen trousers (long because they are one of the few places that offer decently long basics) and their uniform is the best (long skinny for long skinny ds).