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!

Having not been in an M&S for years, I recently bought two fabulous pairs of effectively summer colour shoes to go with office dresses or tart up a pair of jeans they were kitten heel and courts. Just came on to say buy these and they are no longer on the website.

I walked around London in them and they were so comfy.

Mind you, when I bought them four weeks ago, they had heavy cable knit sweaters on show, so the head of fashion is no loss.

Also we have a mahoosive M&S near us, when my DS was first born I would make a trip over to it, to get some dinner stuff, it put in an afternoon. They got rid of the fresh food counter, lasagne, nice salads etc, etc., I stopped going as often and now eighteen years later they are back.

They really are in a state of flux.

I also buy a lot of clothes for myself from M&S but it can be hard work wading through the crap. Did anyone else get a survey to fill in sometime in the last six months? I gave very detailed and long answers so hopefully they are listening.

Yes per una has improved and they have increased the amount of clothes in cotton.

This winter I want a women’s merino and pure wool jumpers that match the thickness and quality of the men’s. The last couple of years the choice has been between expensive cashmere or nasty acrylic with the odd tissue thin merino thrown into the mix. Also despite having two primary schooled children I only buy bits of school uniform from M&S, outside the baby wear I don’t rate the kids clothes.

Someone should tweet them with a link to this thread! I agree they should go back to doing quality staples with the odd bit of fashion stuff. I'd buy loads of them if they had decent quality stuff. Good black trousers in proper thick quality fabric that you used to be able to get 20 years ago. Not flimsy shiny crap.

The problem is everyone says, “good quality pieces don’t mind paying more”, but the reality is there is no sizeable market for this. Vast majority of fashion sales now are cheap, mass produced.

Then you have a smaller high end market.

They should just focus on food, underwear and some of their toiletries.

Just remembered the survey was about Sparks but I managed to bring in lots of other problems into my answers.

Who ever invented Sparks should be the next head to roll.

Well I can’t see any improvement of late. Their website is full of dull and droopy clothes, the majority of the shoes are fugly and cropped leather trousers ffs! When are they ever going to look good?

In recent years the sizing has been all over the shop (excuse the pun)! In the past I used to buy 29in inside leg trousers and knew that they'd fit without the need to alter them. Now they list them as "short" , "regular" and "long". What "short" means is anyone's guess , but I have yet to find a pair that is actually short enough.
They have also stopped the "fuller figure" tights.

It's such a tricky role to get right. Supply chains are so long and collections planned so far in advance that even if someone joins tomorrow, their first proper collection will not be ready until A/W 2020 at the earliest. But I bet they'll be blamed if the next few launches don't land.

Better basics please M&S. I used to get gorgeous work wear from there but now it's all very odd.

I had the sparks survey. I slated it.

Also why are the M&S mens so much better in terms of fabric quality? My DH and I practically live in M&S chinos and shorts in summer and there is a noticeable difference in quality. See also pyjamas, I just buy men's ones for me now.

We used to supply them and they were complete bastards. They care for nothing other than their bottom line and there is no way on earth they will shell out for well-made items in good quality fabrics. To be fair, noone does this affordably atm ad its just impossible.

I love Sparks! I can’t understand what everyone hates about it.

I actually saw something I liked in there, today, too. A simple light summery striped shirt in 3 colours. A little on the thin side but perfect from when I'm wanting to cover up on a sunny day, as my skin is rather sun sensitive.

Totally agree Headstand
I've got a few menswear things for myself because the quality is so much better. Knitwear and socks mainly.
There's just FAR too much of the womenswear that it's hard to find the odd decent thing.

My size is NEVER in stock I store in ANYTHING I want to buy. Size 8, size 8L ... gave up ages ago even bothering to look.

Fabrics are MINGING.

Anything remotely nice with natural fabrics usually Autograph) is TOO EXPENSIVE.

@thedevilinablackdress yes completely agree with the knitwear as well. I have so many gorgeous M&S mens jumpers as for some reason the women's are always thin or weird colours or cut in a bizarre or unflattering way.

This is their next focus group right here

The Sparks card is so damn convoluted.

I should be their target market. I’m middle aged, ‘middle class’ and dumpy. I only get leggings and knickers from there.

Don’t get me started on the shoes!!!

Plastic is NOT NICE !!!!

But as someone who prefers to buy non leather shoes as I’m vegetarian M and S can be relied on for that.

Yes to putting similar things together. If I go in looking for a pair of black or navy trousers or a dress, i want to go to the trouser section or the dress section.

Men's dept is so much better. They have a much better idea of what the target market is.

Think of ironing the garment. Those skirts with lots of panels are a pig to iron as are shirts with lycra.

I really hope they listen to Mumsnet!

M&S are doing their best to alienate me at the moment - their target customer - middle aged mum!

I want:
Decent quality fabrics - no polyester (looking at you Boden). Really happy to pay decent but not silly money for eg a good quality cotton or wool jumper.

I don't want 97 versions of the same thing - all I wanted was a basic plain white t-shirt.

Decent basic bras - more bras without padded cups. I hate these.

Knickers - at the very least ones that cover your bum and don't ride up!! Make them all cotton and comfy.

And do not - when I ask where I can find something ask me "have you checked online" if I wanted to order online I would, but I am stood in the shop!!!

School trousers- I am currently bewildered as to why there are no navy school trousers in a 25 mile radius of my house (and I live in a big city!). And no I don't want to order 9 pairs online to get the ones that might fit!!!

They should take note from whoever does the beauty section - decent products - decent price - great quality. I have swapped a lot of my usual products to M&S versions.

Bit of an essay but quite cathartic!!

'They need to copy uniqlo'

Agree. Uniqlo have got it right.

My fellas mum buys his pants from there every Xmas (saves me buying em) and he says the fabric has gone downhill-some he owns are still going strong 15 years later
The newer ones have been binned after 18 months
My dad bought some pj’s in the early 70’s for a fiver
My man told him that they had cost him a lot of money but it would be worth it-she wasn’t wrong-my mother binned them in 97
That’s what they built the company on-clothes that lasted
They went down the tube when they chose cheap fabrics and daft ideas in what we want

@BlueberryFool123 I was just going to say exactly that. So many people (not necessarily people on this thread I hasten to add) claim to want good quality, natural materials sustainably sourced and garments ethically produced... But the reality is, they're not prepared to pay for it.

I think M&S are totally aware their customers want good quality fabrics, but know that they'll baulk at having to pay £80+ for a top or trousers. Which is why they faff about trying to fool us with "cashmilion" (wtf?) etc. I do agree that a good quick win would be to lose the frills and ruffles etc.

V-Necks, for the love of god, please, v-necks. I am rather top heavy and high neck tops are hell. And that goes for slash necks too.
And while I'm at it, three quarter sleeves length sleeves please - we're not all six foot tall and size 8.