To think M&S are finally on the right path?

[wheresmymojo]

M&S online are now stocking special collections by:

• Sosandar
• Ghost
• Jaeger
• Hobbs
• Phase 8
• Nobody's Child

They seem to be adding new brands reasonably frequently that all actually fit with a good target market for them.

I'm suddenly seeing loads of things on their website I actually really like!

I love pinafores and dungarees. Not floral ones, though

Tbf yeah I've just had a flashback to refusing to wear floral jeans back in the 90s .

@Parker231

www.marksandspencer.com/pure-linen-floral-midi-pinafore-dress/p/clp22526579?color=MULTI

Does anyone wear a pinafore -£65!

I see loads of people wearing pinafores at the moment, including my 13 year old, who loves them, and her friends.

M&S seems to go in and out of being loved. Maybe that will always be the case. I agree with the comments about basics, and that they should ensure they are always good on them.

I think it's marvellous that there are people on this thread sharing details of their shopping trips this week . The start of freedom. On that note ...............

@RosesAndHellebores

And colours. They need to appreciate that not everyone can wear on trend colours. As a winter I cannot wear: brown, beige, yellow, orange, khaki, cream, etc. Pick up so many nice things in those colours that I would buy if there was a black, teal, deep crimson, etc.

Yes to this with bells on. I often find lovely clothes in spring - in yellow, orange and lime green (bleurgh), so I pass them by and wait until they get something in that suits my colouring. I agree that they are missing a trick here.

As far as I know the two M and S stores near me still have single sex changing rooms.

I think m&s new collections are great - love Hobbs and jaeger and m&s itself has some great looking items. I don’t understand all the comments about natural fabrics - m&s is as good as anywhere for using natural fabrics and it’s cashmere is great.

I hate the look of sosandar. I have no idea who would look good in their skintight leather dresses unless maybe a size 8 tall model. Looks really cheap.

@NotAnotherPushyMum that's great that your 13 year old is wearing pinafores - I'm sure she looks fab but I'm a mid 50s woman with big boobs, a pinafore is not going to look good on me

I'd like to see M&S trying a little bit harder for women who have ££ to spend who don't want to wear what a 13 year old is wearing.

When I was younger I used to I look at women in their 50s and wonder why they were so fuddy duddy. Now I am in my 50s I know why... it's really hard to find clothes that are flattering, suit my size (14-16) and shape (pendulous menopausal boobs) and my age. I'm not ready for elasticated trousers yet!

@RampantIvy try this site for colours: www.kettlewellcolours.co.uk/products/all

I saw that pink Ghost dress or something that looked very similar when I went in for the food hall last week. I remember thinking as I walked past that it was a really difficult shade of pink, I think you would have to have a particular colouring to look good in it.

@RosesAndHellebores

M&S does still do niche basics. The unlikely candidate is Per Una jeans which fit me perfectly. I have tried on up to 30 pairs of other brands in a good department store and none of them fit.

In the last month I have ordered white jeans from: Boden, Seasalt, (and their linen wider leg versions too) and sent them all back. I have just tried on a pair of M&S PU ones and absolutely perfect. My biggest gripe about M&S trousers is why they never have "long" in stock - they always have to be ordered.

Couldn't agree more!

@JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn - thank you for the Kettlewell recommendation. Looks fabulous.

@PattyPan

I saw that pink Ghost dress or something that looked very similar when I went in for the food hall last week. I remember thinking as I walked past that it was a really difficult shade of pink, I think you would have to have a particular colouring to look good in it.

Pale pinky florals do suit me, but not hot pink or neon.

Very dark hair, pale skin, rosy cheeks here.

Will update if when I do end up getting it.

I want to buy from them but they keep creating collections that are hard to like. If you scroll through Autograph you would be hard pressed to say that those items all belonged together - such random variations. I would like it to be a like Banana Republic of old.... a destination for great trousers, blazers, trench coats etc in classic styles rather than chasing trends and doing a poor job of it. I know that the “influencer” Wears My Money” has been raving about the new Per Una collection and it does look a lot better than their previous be-ribboned items but it’s still not my style. Recent purchases that I’ve liked were the Boyfriend jeans and a pair of camel wide leg trousers ( might go back as I’m not sure how to style them). I was gifted a couple of dresses and the fabric was shit to be honest. Some of their tailoring is thin and very poor quality .... as you would expect trying to sell trousers for £20. I have a couple of vintage St Michael items and the quality is so much better. People have to be prepared to pay higher prices though which I just don’t think people are prepared to do.... too accustomed to fast fashion.

I think M&S bought Jaeger, didn't they (as opposed to the other brands they have started stocking).

So in effect, Jaeger is now just another of the M&S brands, alongside Per Una, Autograph etc.

It will be interesting to see how it turns out - will they stay true to the Jaeger quality and styling?...

@RampantIvy

As far as I know the two M and S stores near me still have single sex changing rooms.

What! There are actually designated female and male separate fitting rooms (like they used to be in all stores), and they are signposted as such?

Or, the fitting rooms are where they have always been - near to men’s and women’s clothing ranges, but the signs have been quietly and subtly altered and now just read “Fitting Rooms”?

I haven't been into the big M and S yet, so I will look next time I am there.

My local store is huge - Brooklands in Surrey. Having trekked all the way there I was disappointed to find that they no longer stock Autograph; I particularly wanted two things from that range. I saw some trousers I liked - but as usual they had nothing between an 8 and a 20 on the rails so I did a food shop instead.

It was my first shopping trip since stores opened again and I was really looking forward to it. The actual experience was utterly deflating; my mind shot back to when I was last there in 2020, having exactly the same thought: "FFS, why did I bother?"

@RosesAndHellebores

I agree. M&S classics are fabulous.

Jeans- will never buy any others, perfect fit and length, (if you can get the long!)

Cotton t shirts

Jersey shirts (I have a navy one that I adore and it was £26 unlike the White Company ones rocking in at about £50+ and being far cheaper fabric)

Cashmere

Polo necks and merino sweaters.

Sure, there's the ubiquitous polyester garish patterns, but have you seen Hush? Jeez Louise. There's such a lot of snobbery about M&S. If the same polyester monstrosity was on Hush (who I see as THE overpriced polyester flagship) people would be salivating. Likewise, stick a photo of dungarees on Cos it Baukjen on here and people bill and coo.

Horses for courses.

May I beg to differ about their cashmere - I think it's thin and doesn't hold its shape.

Really? Maybe I've been lucky. Though thinking about it, DD is 17 and I bought mine before she was born!

Cashmere, Polo necks and merino sweaters. I'm a mid 50s sweaty menopausal woman. The thought of wearing any of those makes me choke on my HRT 😜🤣

I'm 55 but well past menopause and am more likely to be sat with all of those and a hot water bottle!

ha ha - I'm nearly 61 and don't sweat much at all any more . But even 40 years ago M&S had too few natural fibres. I recall a pure silk blouse in about 1984 was a rare find. It was £25.
Some of the dresses I now buy would have been completely out of the question in my 40s and even my 20s.