Let’s dissect M&S

[DukeofEarlGrey]

Prompted by another thread in which M&S has been described as the cockroach of the British high street (something about being hideous but invincible) I wonder why it is that I find M&S so... comforting?? I haven’t bought any clothes there except pants for years and yet I still enjoy a semi-mooch around and feel reassured that it’s there if I need it... What is this bizarre place in my heart for M&S?!

Jeans, swimming costumes and gym leggings all great. And have been for some time. Maybe its hard to simplify the styles of the other departments to make good value/quality basics? If not, they should just replicate what they are doing in the good departments

@bananagram18

I really rate M&S and I do think there is an element of people thinking it’s not cool to like anything from there. Jeans, shoes, boots, swimwear, knickers (I hate their bras), and some coats are excellent value and quality. I have a friend who is ultra snobby about clothes and only buys from Anthropologie etc and she’s always asking where I got my jeans, tops etc. Their online site is great and has much more choice than in store.

I agree about people thinking they are too cool to buy from M and S.

I don't get the bra hate though. The choice in the Meadowhall branch is huge. They have expanded the size of the lingerie department to two or three times what it was last year.

I buy most of my clothes from M&S online now. You have to do a lot of searching but they do have a great range online. People are always surprised when they ask me where my dress, jeans, boots or sweatshirt is from and I say M&S.

Yes, their furniture is excellent.

I can't believe that no one has mentioned that M&S's changing room policy is to allow people to use the one for whatever gender they identify with. Plus there was a definite phase where you'd click on a pair of knickers on the website and the reviews would be from men describing in detail about how it fits them. I'm sure there have also been incidents of customers finding "deposits" on women's underwear where they have been "tried on" and hung back up.

For this reason I won't give them my money. Unfortunately MIL and SIL do all their Christmas and birthday shopping there, and my granny has given DS a voucher bless her, so I will have to get him some clothes.

I absolutely adore M&S. I get almost all my clothes there. I love their modern branches especially their cafés with balconies. Food also amazing. And gorgeous lingerie.

Admittedly I'm unadventurous and wear mostly block colours.

My only criticism is that their shoes are almost always lined in plastic even expensive ones. I like leather linings.

I would be devastated if M&S went bust!

I'm in a rush so not read the whole thread. I've got a massive soft spot for M&S, largely down to childhood memories of trips and later on rows there with my mum. So I really want them to do well, so much so that I get pissed off sometimes at all the point-and-laugh threads about them. That said, I rarely buy there.

The last time I was in a decent branch (local one is pitiful) there were quite a few things I liked the look of but just the feel of the fabrics put me off. In its heyday, M&S was never this cheap. It wasn't as pricey as Jaeger, and nothing like as fashionable as Chelsea Girl but it was solid, reliable, very occasionally inspired, and known for treating its staff well. Those days are gone so probably no point harking back to them but they've lost their identity and unless they can carve out a new one, I think they're going to carry on floundering.

I think their current jeans selection is good - gives me a bit of hope.

@BlairWaldorfLovesShopping

I can't believe that no one has mentioned that M&S's changing room policy is to allow people to use the one for whatever gender they identify with. Plus there was a definite phase where you'd click on a pair of knickers on the website and the reviews would be from men describing in detail about how it fits them. I'm sure there have also been incidents of customers finding "deposits" on women's underwear where they have been "tried on" and hung back up.

For this reason I won't give them my money. Unfortunately MIL and SIL do all their Christmas and birthday shopping there, and my granny has given DS a voucher bless her, so I will have to get him some clothes.

Ewwww

Oh fgs. Trust MN to find a way to get anti-trans comments into a thread about fucking clothes.

I like M&S. Some of there clothes are not great but they do have nice stuff in there. Plus it's so calming, open aisles, no loud music, spacious changing rooms.

Zara is like a chaotic mess, I want to like it but it's 90% frilly pastel crop tops or garish dresses all made out of cheap material. It's messy, loud, long queues, dirty changing rooms. I need to go to M&S to recover from the stress

I just feel no matter how bad other high street shops get, in a world of boohoo and PLT, I'll always be able to find a good plain t-shirt in M&S. There's always gonna be PJ'S, underwear, bras that are wearable and comfortable. Pray we always have M&S

I do wonder who they get to design the women’s clothes.
Why don’t they get customers to do it 🤷🏼‍♀️

I like M&S. I'm 43 and a size 14 pear, and whether I look large and frumpy or more slender and sleek is hugely dependent on the cut of things. M&S usually cut well for my shape. I got some wide leg jeans from there a couple of weeks ago and they're perfect. I go to a large city store so we get all the good stuff which I think can be a problem with smaller stores.

I don't like the move to try to compete with Primark, H&M etc, as the price drop has affected the quality for some pieces. I got two lovely drapey crew neck t-shirts from there recently, which hang really well, but have bobbled really quickly. they were £8 but I'd have been happier to pay £25 and have them last.

That being said, my 14yo got a gorgeous grey cocoon coat there when she was with me the other day. It was I think only £15 more than the ones we'd seen in H&M, but was twice the weight and properly lined, so well worth it.

@GoodnightGrandma

I do wonder who they get to design the women’s clothes. Why don’t they get customers to do it 🤷🏼‍♀️

I suggested a web chat with them years ago..

Kids clothes are ace. And the shoes they do for kids are great too.

I quite like their pyjama bottoms/lounge wear trousers. And pants. Sports bra v good and reasonable price.

The problem i have though is that in general, for ladies clothes, there is always one thing wrong with the item. Eg I loved a cardigan there but they had really ugly and cheap looking gold buttons. Or a t shirt looked great but the neck was just too high.

I'm wearing a really warm jumper from there, bought this summer online in the sale. Love the colour and slash neck line. Balloon sleeves are fun. But the length is just two inches too short. Not obvious in the photos or reviews. It would be perfect but for this one thing.

Its always just one thing wrong. Like the fabric makes my teeth itch. Or there's a random nipple pocket. Or they've put on shit buttons.

I used to love the Autograph range - that range never suffered from the "one thing wrong". Mostly because I think all the wrong bits went to Per Una, which was "all things wrong".

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie

Oh fgs. Trust MN to find a way to get anti-trans comments into a thread about fucking clothes.

Not anti-trans, just anti-men wanking in M&S women's changing rooms. Because that is what the policy immediately led to.

I used to love M&S for children's wear but I think the quality / choice has gone done somewhat over the last couple of years. That said I saw a lovely pair of Harry Potter Pjs in store at the weekend. I buy my pants and socks from them but rarely clothes as I find the sizing doesn't work for me - ever since they changed to catering mainly for 'pear' shapes.

@AllTheUsernamesAreAlreadyTaken

Oh I get most of our bedding and towels from there too! The Indigo range was lovely. I still find the odd Indigo item on eBay.

Yes I loved Indigo

I’ve read on here that there are trans women doing the bra fitting in M&S.

@GoodnightGrandma

I’ve read on here that there are trans women doing the bra fitting in M&S.

Don't be silly.

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie

Oh fgs. Trust MN to find a way to get anti-trans comments into a thread about fucking clothes.

Not wanting a strange man’s semen in the clothes you’re trying on/ buying is anti-trans? Everyday is a school day.

I met a clothes designer, who said it was her job to design clothes for cheaper than last year; but there comes a point, when it is not possible to make it any cheaper and she quit.

IMO, many high street women's clothes shops, including M & S suffer from this. I would prefer to pay whatever it costs to buy the same clothes at the same quality as last year - not the same price, but thinner material! I agree with PP that I buy bras, jeans, some t shirts (but I prefer V necks and some years M & S is all crew necks or whatever), jumpers and coats. However, what I find frustrating is that I might go there for say a classic navy cardigan; but everything that year seems to be mustard or other weird colours.

I am in what should be their target market; but feel they try too hard appealing to young women in their 20s or 30s - when I know DD2 would never shop there on principle. DD1 and DD2 both wore a tea dress from New Look for a wedding this summer, nicer and cheaper than anything in M & S, and as far as I could see, just as good quality!

Why would there be semen in a bra ? You think men would be wanking off in the ladies changing rooms ?
God help us what goes on in the mens changing rooms then ....

However, what I find frustrating is that I might go there for say a classic navy cardigan; but everything that year seems to be mustard or other weird colours.

I agree. I often see something in a style I really like, but only available in colours that don't suit me.

I don't like v neck t shirts, or wide leg jeans (Levis or Wranglers for me) or slash necks or balloon sleeves. I like plain fabric and can't stand trousers that are supposed to flap around my ankle. And simple crew neck jumpers.Oh well!

I sometimes change a shirt's buttons. I think that their shoes and bags tend to fall into the one thing wrong category quite often. Generally excellent and good value but maybe the clasp or eyelets look a bit cheap.

God knows what customers would design. I'd put pockets in all skirts, dresses and pockets, and get rid of the little button inside the sleeve for rolling the sleeves up. I'd bin all sleeves that weren't full length, apart from summer tops and t-shirts. As for bras, if it's a C or larger cup, narrow straps need to wider.

I'd also do a range of skirts and trousers for older people who are not as tall as they were but weren't of petite proportions. i.e. their legs might be shorter but not their torsos (not that I need it but older relatives have mentioned the difficult in getting a short enough inside leg.

I liked some Per Una things. I like their knitwear, jeans, footwear, athletics, kidswear, food, beauty