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?!

God, this thread made me spit out my soup. I'm now feeling slightly ill at the thought of bulging crotches & semen infested underwear.
There's definitely no trans men in our tiny m&s. In fact there's no one under the age of 70 there either. Though there are lots of bored older men being dragged around by their wives.

I still buy certain things from M&S. I've just bought a brushed cotton midaxi skirt in black/white check and I really like their thin cotton summer dresses. But the days of going there for good quality basics are over. I can't see the point of my small suburban store either. As they don't stock anything I want to buy. I only find things I like online now.
And yes I love the M&S Instagram accounts. Some make the clothes look cool. I don't believe cavorting models imbues boring clothes with coolness (?). It's just annoying to watch.

I'm not British so I don't have any affinity with m&s or particularly strong feelings about its imagery - but I like that the staff are helpful and you can generally pick up useful basics. I've bought 2 pairs of jeans recently, based on recommendations here, and been very pleased. I'm not keen on the dresses and tops but that's just my preference.
Agree that the kids clothes are great, very soft and with nice prints. Their baby sleeping bags were also a staple purchase at our household. But I think the toiletries smell a bit... cheap?

I think M&S should concentrate on what they do well, like staple basics, and stop trying to be "high fashion". I would go there for things like a black polo neck jumper, vest tops, a plain white t-shirt, but I would never think about them for an "outfit". I wonder if they confuse their loyal customer base by having some things that would be better suited to Zara and Other Stories, but I realise they are trying to capture that demographic.

We have an M&S Food very close by, and I love the food - also really rate their flowers which last very well.

Iamthewombat the problem is, imo, that M&S's £12 t-shirts look like cheap t-shirts. I often pay £30/£40 for a long or short-sleeved t shirt for the cut and fabric.

I get what you are saying, I wouldn’t expect a top quality T shirt for £12 either, but nobody is walking into White Stuff or Reiss or Mint Velvet or River Island or Whistles demanding to know why their T shirts are more expensive than Primark, even though the stuff available from the shops I’ve named is sometimes (not always) crap quality and similar to what Primark might sell. Thin viscose instead of cotton, for example.

If I see a viscose T shirt priced ambitiously, and that happens regularly in eg Whistles and Mint Velvet when I see fabrics that would have been firmly market stall quality in the nineties, I think, “how stupid do you think we are?”, but M&S appears to occupy a special place where some shoppers think that the store has an obligation to both match the prices of the value retailers AND make higher quality stuff. And think that they are entitled to challenge the retailer on it. Weird. Almost as if M&S were a public service run for their benefit, rather than a business.

I absolutely love M&S. My daughter has just grown out of the younger girls range and I'm absolutely gutted as I loved the Roald Dahl range, I bought all of it the last couple of years! Love their kids and adults pjs as well as their homeward. Went into one of their flagship stores this weekend and they have absolutely beautiful Christmas stuff in and all very reasonably priced. Love their food and wouldn't get my Christmas food anywhere else. My local one closed a couple of years ago and I now have to drive to get to a new one opened up. I was absolutely gutted as loved popping in on the school run or during my lunch break to grab something quick for dinner or the kids needed something ASAP. Would be gutted if it closed completely

@AuntieMarys

They don't cater for tall women.

Or short ones. Or busty women.

The shows are ok. I am a size 3 which can be hard to find on the high st so a lot of my more formal shoes are from there.

[quote AllTheUsernamesAreAlreadyTaken]@RampantIvy

Because there are people such as @Rummikubfan who believe it’s the woman’s fault for noticing she was being sexually harassed…[/quote]
Oh, don't talk such utter bollocks. That's not what I said at all.

Until few years ago you had to pay me to even consider buying M&S clothing. Now I buy something a couple of times a year. I buy basic that I then mix with more fashionable clothes.Cashmere sweaters,trousers...this kind of stuff.

M&S is fab.

It always irritates me when it gets a bashing on here.

I will always support and stick up for it. It's got such a fab range.

Teen DS for instance prefers their trunk pants to his Calvin Kleins so is wearing them today

Teen DD is wearing their tights today

I'm wearing their knickers and bra. Will wear their pjs later on. I got so many cool clothes this summer from them.

I just sent an M&S letterbox afternoon tea gift to my DF to share with my DM and they were so impressed with its generous delicious contents. And the delivery people even gave a specific hour time slot in case they might have had a small letterbox. Which I thought was great.

Me too. Same as with other shops. I like M&S and it makes me cross to see it slagged off on here. The blanket 'all their stuff is crap' type threads. I think the stuff is good and the prices are good. Often the cut will let a garment down, but if you wan high end high street go to those shops. Why slag off Per Una or whatever, you either like the range, like bits of it, or it's not for you. I like most of it but it's not my style.

The stores do vary, and they stock what they think will sell in that store, and if your local store doesn't stock it you can order it.

I think the menswear is much better than the ladieswear.

Or short ones. Or busty women

Or slim ones. The only things that I buy in there are knickers, and only then because I usually size up.

My irrational loyalty to M&S baffles even me sometimes, but it's rooted in the glory years of the 70s/80s. There was a 'big M&S' about 60 miles from us when I was little, and shopping trips there were genuinely exciting. The best hand-me-downs were always St Michael, because they lasted several rounds of cousins before falling apart/fading. It was the first store card I ever got and I didn't buy pants anywhere else for 30 years. The 90s weren't such a bad time either, when M&S first got their A/W launches into Vogue/fashion pages and launched some genuine 'must have' pieces. The Italian suit range was fabulous, beautifully cut and quality fabric.

What's gone wrong for me since is a drop in quality, just when I'm willing to pay more for decent not-fast-fashion. The bras are either frumpy, weirdly blowsy like a 70s stripper, or Rosie HW, ie, satin. For some reason, M&S's computer algorithm seems to think everyone in my provincial market town wants to dress like an unspecific bank employee in navy slacks, low-heel court shoes and popover blouses - there is practically nothing else on offer for me to buy.

I wish they'd send us a few of the gems that get advertised, just to brighten the place up, if nothing else. But those Ghost/prairie dresses that look so cool on 20somethings sail very close to the frumpy wind if worn without the exact accessories to counterbalance it, and I'm never sure what they are. It's much easier to buy a fabulous coat, of which there used to be many. Basically I am constantly trying to spend money in M&S but they are making it VERY HARD FOR ME.

And for the love of god, give it a rest with the Percy Pig merchandising.

Something else that's just occurred to me is that M&S has a uniquely personal relationship in my head when it comes to shopping. It doesn't bother me one iota that Zara or White Stuff might not have anything I want when I walk in, but for some irrational and completely unfair reason, I feel disappointed and grumpy when I walk around M&S and there's nothing that appeals to me.

I realise this is wildly unreasonable. I'm sorry, St Michael.

I like M&S and it makes me cross to see it slagged off on here. The blanket 'all their stuff is crap' type threads.

I agree. Let’s face it, is there any shop where you would walk in and like absolutely everything?

Yes, there are but I can't afford anything in them.

Oh, do be quiet. You're talking nonsense.

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie

Oh, do be quiet. You're talking nonsense.

How so?

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie

Just to be clear. You think me pointing out your victim blaming warrants reporting, but a male entering a women’s changing room and subjecting a lone woman to sexual harassment is the woman’s fault?
Your boundaries are very interesting.

I'm looking forward to seeing the Jaeger stuff in store, although it's online from Wednesday. I also lament not buying everything from the first few Autograph ranges, still. The beauty department is good, and I've had some shoes that I like a lot... but while I ought to be within their sights, it's a bit hit and miss.

I am far more likely to see something I like and can afford in M&S than most other shops.

I have a soft spot for it I must admit. Always by my Christmas food there, love the food generally and the homeware. Parking/entry/exit at mine though is a nightmare. Only one exit/entry so spend half an hour queuing. It smells of wee I'm not sure why and its too hot giving it a general air of a retirement home lounge. The cafe is good - great food - but a bit too open and noisy. Then there's the women's wear. Dear god. I just swish they'd simplify it. Quality fabrics, good cuts, no frills, classic with a twist design. I also wish they'd remove the chuggers and greeters from the doorways - there's not enough room and it's irritating to be pestered when i want to be left in peace.

I think your relationship with M&S depends on the type of store you go to. Our local, small town, one rarely has any of the nice tops/dresses etc so I just use it for basics and collecting online orders. The massive one in a shopping mall 35 mins away feels like a department store in its own right and I always end up spending loads - finding nice housewares and non-frumpy clothes.

We can walk to our food one and it is always a nice treat