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!

They’ve been doing a bit better I thought, although I agree they still have too many unstylish low quality pieces. Their beauty revamp has been good.

I think that there are quite a lot of people who will happily pay £60-100 for a good quality jumper. But, the quality has to be there!
M&S cashmere seems to do really well and that is often around the £80 mark - they always seem to sell out of the popular sizes quickly enough.

Given the selection of clothing last time I went in, I'm surprised that there was anyone in this role in the first place.

For cashmere to be 80 then wool has to stay at 40.

They used to do skirts and dresses in different lengths... can we have that back please... I don’t want midi/shin length it makes me look frumpy

I’ve actually had some fabulous stuff off them in the last couple of years, which I’ve had lots of compliments on. And a cracking merino jumper this spring, which came in under £40 & hasn’t sprung a single hole in many washes, which is most unusual.

But if I see another ‘waisted’ summer frock I’ll scream - they really never seem to get those right. And I do mourn the days when they actually used UK manufacturers as standard - so many jobs went to satisfy shareholders

Oh, and slim Mumsnetters - PLEASE don’t go on about ‘vanity sizing’ - it’s depressing beyond words for those of us who’ve ended up on the wrong side of a 14!

I actually think their range has improved massively this last year or so. Love the bralets, and I've bought two summer jackets this season (an oversized denim one and a loose open front linen/cotton mix Per Una one in washed black), worn both loads. Also a (viscose) floral midi which gets me compliments every time I wear it. Plus they are doing some excellent earrings, and the Veja dupe trainers are superb, really comfortable. I've just bought a pair of linen/cotton cropped trousers for my holiday too.

Still plenty of gripes about the website, stock levels etc., and there is definitely a lot of dross, but you can't please all of the people all of the time, as this thread so clearly demonstrates. (And FWIW I was keen on those cropped leather trousers! )

I would personally like the layout of my local store sorted out to make it easier to find the good stuff.
Also would like the beauty stuff put with the fashion instead of upstairs with the cafe so everything just smells of coffee

@SinglePringle yes, yes and yes to the bras!

I was advised (by an 'older' family member) that this was the best place to get a decent maternity bra. I was a 36 e before pregnancy and they went HUUUUUGE when pregnant. They tried to sell me a 38 dd. STOCK BETTER BRA SIZES.

Thank god for places like bravissimo

Hobbs and Jigsaw are loss making. French Connection owned Toast and sold it last year. It made £1.5m profit and has 12 stores! It’s not remotely M&S territory. Boden makes a profit. It was struggling 4 years ago. It has permanent sales. It has a few shops and is mostly on line. You simply have to look at the sheer size of M&S to see the problem. It’s not comparable with any of the above but has to compete with them.

Yep, the more I think about it, I want the womenswear to be like the menswear. Fewer ranges, better quality, basics tweaked in colour/shape over the seasons and years.

Also food is bought by everyone every week. Clothes are often bought by disposable income after food is purchased, mortgage paid, bills paid etc. Just because people treat themselves to M&S food it doesn’t mean Aldi and Lidl won’t do well. People like bargains. They use M&S for convenience or a treat but that doesn’t equate to popping into the clothes store to buy a wool pullover every week. The latter is totally optional and there is a great deal of choice. For M&S high quality food, less competition.

Scrape the shite sparks card. It’s pointless
Or at least make it worth while!! Free cake and coffee like John Lewis do

We dont even get a Sparkle card in Ireland

For me the M&S ship has sailed. I never go in, never search online. It just doesn't feature on my eye line. Not even for pants or school uniform. And I'm 46. So I reckon I'm target market.

May as well give up now M&S

If you’re listening, M&S, for the love of God keep making your £17.50 linen trousers.

Although my MIL went into mourning when out local shop closed. Even with that demographic I think it was more about the food than the clothes!

I want pure cotton nighties.
Colours not designed just for the autumn colour wheel
Trousers in long
15 years ago or so they sold fantastic, swishy wool crepe trpusers that were half lined for £39.95 - where did they go?
Need blues, turquoise, whites and jewel colours. Fab Per Una frocks and separates this year but in the wrong colours.
Am old so like big pants. Sainsbury's Tu big pants are half the price and better.
1990's did fab Italian wool women's suits for about 40% the cost of Jaeger.
Bouvht a fab wool swing coat in 1995 for £99.
That sort of quality no longer exists.

Sparks - Schmarkz - can't be bothered.

Not shopped there for ages but last time I ordered some clothing which was for my parents it all went back as the quality was dire. Winter trousers so thin you could wear them on your summer holiday!

I agree with quality basics. I like very simple lines, v necks or scoop necks, straight leg jeans that are slim straight legs not semi flared. And yes to a range of colours. If there's a style I like I would buy in different colours.

I also think they've improved in the last couple of years; I bought some of the sell-out jeans & like their active wear. Wouldn't buy knickers anywhere else. I often use the offers on my Sparks card eg sale preview, 20% off.

Yes to cotton, quality items in nice colours as well as the classics. I really had to search so many labels to find cotton basics a month or so back. So many over sized vests, not in cotton. A size 8 looked like it would fit an 16-18. I can't see anyone who shops in M&S buying this type of thing. It would be something a teen would wear to a festival with a bikini or bandeau top underneath.

Also the same top in different colours in different zones. It could be a store level issue merchandising issue but it's annoying.

I would also like to say M&S please sort out your search on your website. It's really hard to find things without going through the painful menus. Think about actual words customers search for and if it's boys pants then all of them should show and vests should not be the first thing showing up as an example

I tired to search sunsuits earlier in the year. I believe this is a common name for kids swimwear with the UV. Nope nothing on M&S , but I could find them the longwinded way eventually. But online shopping is meant to easy.

I think the M&S web site is easy. Choose the section. Choose the clothes, eg tridents, jeans, dresses, etc put in your size and colour and off you go. All sorted. It’s better than many others to be fair!

Also lots of the trousers have S, Reg and L lengths. It’s a huge shame skirts and dresses don’t. I think it’s very expensive to do that but I would value it. Perhaps more petite and tall ranges would help too.

I don’t like non leather shoes but they sell! There is are huge numbers of leather ones to choose from I cannot see the problem. However their long boots are not so fashionable.

The executive who was removed came from Halfords! That well known clothing store. She clearly found insufficient support in making sure supply lines were up to scratch. The did a winter jeans promotion and ran out of jeans. It just seems this business is too big. The shops are too big. I wonder if they can continue the way they are currently set up. They are the super tanker of the high street but they need to become a fleet of nimble frigates.

tridents!!! Trousers...

I'd pay £60 for a decent jumper. But it does actually have to be decent. I resent paying lots of money for poorly made stuff in cheap fabrics.

Speak to whoever does kids wear. Every season there's at least one collection in kids which is nice quality, flattering on trend colours and good from age 5 to 55 (if you can fit into age 15 lol) . scale up those!!!