M&S teen parka - drawstring not working, anyone else?

[stickygotstuck]

Hello

Just got a lovely parka for DD from M&S, the Stormwear hooded teen parka. All good and DD likes it, except it has a drawstring which will not budge when you pull it. I have ordered two sizes, the same issue with both, so I don't think it's a fault.

I thought it could be just for decoration, but there are two rows of stiching all the way round the waist. And the site does say "drawstring for a perfect fit to the body".

I wonder if it could be like jacket pockets that come stiched closed but you pull the thread and hey presto, they open up. But I don't want to yank and break it (have tried applying moderate force).

Just chatted to customer services but they only know what the site says, so no help there. Has anyobody bought one and had the same issue?

The drawsting is what kees the cold out so quite keen to find out. Thanks!

Anyone?

You could return it in store and ask the staff to have a go and if no joy return it because of being faulty.

Can you feel the cord going all the way round the body? If it’s a fake one it will stop short of the opening.

If it’s the right one I’ve just looked at, it seems that it’s elasticated just one the front and to make the perfect body fit is just having the coat done up and tying the draw strings tight.

Thanks for the responses!

lsisizzie, that's what I'm not sure of. The stitching is there but the cord is very thin, more like a ribbon, and I cannot be sure by touching it. But if the stitching is there for decoration it's totally useless, because it's the exact same navy colour and not visible at all!

You are right about the picture, it looks like you can just tie the ends. Only that's not very adjustable at all for a slim preteen. Also, none of the pictures show it cinched, so it's looking suspiciously unlikely .

Yesterday, I may have to do that but that's a hassle as the closest clothing shop is a way off for me. We order online and return to a food hall, which is reasonably close. Hmmmm, maybe I could return it to an 'outlet' type M&S? We do have a closish one and I'm going that way next week. I may not be able to return it there, but the staff may be able to enlighten me.

It really is a nice coat, so I think she'll keep it either way. It's a shame that it's not as warm as it could be just because of that.

It looks suspiciously like one we had from Gap last year that doesn’t ‘draw’ through. The tie is a bit short on ours too.

I think they don’t really do anything. But I don’t know how much air wafts up around the waist?

Thank you Greyish.

Yes, it's looking likely. I didn't even realise this type of 'drawcord' was a thing! They shouldn't call them drawcords, they don't 'draw' much! What's the point of them? And of the stitching?

As for waftyness, I never had cinched coats until a few years ago and I could immediately tell the difference in warmth levels. My cinched coat is thinner, less wintery than my wafty ones and it does feel warmer, especially if you are outside for a while. So I've been getting DD too cinched ones ever since and I may have spoiled her. I'm thinking of the cold, wet winter mornings waiting for the school bus! Assuming schools stay open, but that's a different subject...

I can aways fatten her up, but probably not worth it .