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?!

Maybe that’s why I like them. I don’t actually go to stores except for the Simply Food ones. Their website is good enough.

I want to like M&S, I really do. I'm the right demographic I suspect and I go there looking for basics, knitwear, trousers etc. Nothing fits though. Nothing at all. Maybe shoes but I’m not tempted.

Honestly I’ve tried shopping there for over four decades and I can count the stuff I’ve had on the fingers of one hand - an anorakky sort of coat in the 90’s, a pair of jeggings I wore a couple of times, a multi pack of pants and a scarf. The coat was great. I still miss it. The rest just didn’t fit well. Too tight on the waist and too baggy on the hip. The scarf was ok

I really need some simple v neck cardigans and I know I should go and look there but I also know they’ll be too long or short, the sleeves will be too tight and they’ll give me static shocks

It’s a shop I really want to use. I want a one stop clothing destination.

@DukeofEarlGrey

How do you feel about M&S?

Can't stand it, only time I go in is when my grandmother wants me to take her for her annual Xmas trip that she insists all the family must have M&S vouchers

I’d like to know why Autograph was watered down. The clothes are still good, albeit they are now only available online, but they lack a bit of the designer-y edge they had when the range was first launched. I loved it. I was the best dressed woman in the office thanks to dear old M&S!

Perhaps people resisted paying the prices or thought that M&S wasn’t exclusive enough to buy higher end clothes from.

I had a sleeveless top from Autograph, which I must have bought in about 2001, that I wore until it fell apart. I mourn it to this day. I bought it in black then went back and bought it in purple. It was designed by Tahari (US designer) but they also had stuff designed by Jasper Conran and Katherine Hamnett etc.

The shoes are still good, particularly the boots. I was eyeing up some combat-style boots in Russell & Bromley for £350 until I realised that M&S had some very similar, in nice leather, for £90 or something.

Can't stand it, only time I go in is when my grandmother wants me to take her for her annual Xmas trip that she insists all the family must have M&S vouchers

Your hatred of a shop that sells a wide variety of clothes, homewares, food and wines seems a little extreme. Why so much hatred?

Just coming here to echo comments about horrid colours and prints! It ruins so many items. They seem to go for quite harsh colours often paired with black or white which look awful and really cheap. I never see any clothes nice enough to buy as I live in one of those places where the branch doesn't seem to have the nicer items in, just endless awful 'workwear' tops and crap quality knitwear.

However I have had plenty of pairs of shoes from there over the years; they're hard-wearing and decent quality for a reasonable price. Some of their shoes are a bit plastic-y though. I buy quite a lot of children's clothes there especially now my nearest John Lewis closed, also food bits, greetings cards, random homewear bits. DH doesn't shop there at all.

The jeans aren't bad at all - they've neatly filled the gap that Gap's demise (ho ho) had left.

(And yes, I know Gap is now online only but they never ever ever have any size 14 straight leg jeans in stock. I've given up.)

Blimey, someone in M&S market research should pay us for this thread. The trans subplot notwithstanding, there seems to be a lot of consensus about what M&S is doing for better and for worse:

Good: Homeware, menswear, childrenswear/school uniform, gym wear, underwear (knickers, tights and socks), pyjamas, FOOD, jeans, shoes and boots, good quality classics when they can be found.

Bad: The demise of Autograph, quirky 'touches', any/all things Per Una, cheap fabrics, attempts to be 'fashion', odd sizing of trousers/bras, strange colour palettes.

We want: a return to good quality basics, even if we pay a bit more for them; consistent sizing/trouser lengths, classic clothing for adult women, even more steps towards sustainable/ethical clothing.

There you go, M&S!

@DukeofEarlGrey they never listen. We've done countless threads like this over the last ten years and nobody EVER admits to working for them or having any hand in their dreadful women's fashion line.

@DukeofEarlGrey

Blimey, someone in M&S market research should pay us for this thread. The trans subplot notwithstanding, there seems to be a lot of consensus about what M&S is doing for better and for worse:

Good: Homeware, menswear, childrenswear/school uniform, gym wear, underwear (knickers, tights and socks), pyjamas, FOOD, jeans, shoes and boots, good quality classics when they can be found.

Bad: The demise of Autograph, quirky 'touches', any/all things Per Una, cheap fabrics, attempts to be 'fashion', odd sizing of trousers/bras, strange colour palettes.

We want: a return to good quality basics, even if we pay a bit more for them; consistent sizing/trouser lengths, classic clothing for adult women, even more steps towards sustainable/ethical clothing.

There you go, M&S!

I totally agree. We’ve had numerous threads about M&S over the years and many have said exactly that - get some MNetters (many of whose are their target demographic), do some market research, bung us a cafe voucher as payment, and they could sit back and watch their profits soar.

But no - instead they offer us ribbons on dresses and bright blue boots with kitten heels.

[quote TheBullfinch]@DukeofEarlGrey they never listen. We've done countless threads like this over the last ten years and nobody EVER admits to working for them or having any hand in their dreadful women's fashion line.[/quote]
Huh... More fool them!

Also, Per Una didn't come out of nowhere. Someone is responsible for it!

@SirChenjins They could pay us in kind using inspiration from the 'M&S nibbles' thread.

@DukeofEarlGrey

Blimey, someone in M&S market research should pay us for this thread. The trans subplot notwithstanding, there seems to be a lot of consensus about what M&S is doing for better and for worse:

Good: Homeware, menswear, childrenswear/school uniform, gym wear, underwear (knickers, tights and socks), pyjamas, FOOD, jeans, shoes and boots, good quality classics when they can be found.

Bad: The demise of Autograph, quirky 'touches', any/all things Per Una, cheap fabrics, attempts to be 'fashion', odd sizing of trousers/bras, strange colour palettes.

We want: a return to good quality basics, even if we pay a bit more for them; consistent sizing/trouser lengths, classic clothing for adult women, even more steps towards sustainable/ethical clothing.

There you go, M&S!

As I said before I have suggested a web chat. They aren't interested. Too arrogant. They think they know better.

I have just remembered I saw an article on the mail about five women who had picked an outfit from m and s and how amazing the clothes were.

[quote DukeofEarlGrey]@SirChenjins They could pay us in kind using inspiration from the 'M&S nibbles' thread.[/quote]
I like it….

When I was pg with fs in the mid 90s I bought a pure wool swing coat with a fur collar for £99. It was divine and its swish was glamorous. It adorned the shoulders of two cabinet ministers when they were pg and was passed onto someone who is now a consultant paediatrician from whom it never came back.

I bought something similarish from John Lewis last year. It doesn't have the swish of that £99 coat and was originally priced at £189. I bought it in the January sales for £50.00. However I'll caveat that with the fact that my wedding ring in 1991 cost £160. It has just been valued at £2k. So realistically that £99 coat from M&S should probably be about £600 now! I guess we get what we are prepared to pay for.

Having said all that, I bought a plain navy Autograph frock for £59.95 in 2018 with a really whizzy belt. Looks like a sack on the hanger; fantastic on though.

Realistically in the mid 90s I happily paid £45 for a summer dress and £120 for an Italian wool suit that would have cost £120 and £299 respectively in Austin Reid. It all went very wrong somewhere.

A year or so ago Per Una seemed to have a reboot of sorts. They had a lovely denim shirt dress and a skirt that had a real Toast vibe. I managed to buy neither as my size was never is stock. Then I looked again the other day and the frills end embellishments were back.

@SunshineCake1 I am related to one of the ladies in the Mail article.

They got to keep the clothes. Except they weren't allowed to take them home on the day. The clothes they were sent appear not to be the same quality as those they were photographed in and also the cut and fit isn't the same. The lady is disappointed.

[quote peekychew]@SunshineCake1 I am related to one of the ladies in the Mail article.

They got to keep the clothes. Except they weren't allowed to take them home on the day. The clothes they were sent appear not to be the same quality as those they were photographed in and also the cut and fit isn't the same. The lady is disappointed.[/quote]
Can someone link the article pls? I googled but couldn't find it.

I remember having lovely merino wool jumpers and cardigans over twenty years ago priced at about £35.

They have some decent fine merino wool crew necks in at the mo for £30, a mix of v boring colours (black, navy, grey), brights (orange and fuschia) plus some wishy washy pastels. The decent merino made me very happy. If they could find their way to adding in some nicer colours and making their long, relaxed sleeveless tank tops in something other than static-inducing acrylic I would be even happier.

I got a beautiful pair of loafers the other day. Only 45 quid and they look v expensive.

I love it too and again, I think it's because of shopping there with my Mum. Going to bunk off work for an hour tomorrow and have a sneaky look round the big Marble Arch store tomorrow.

I long for the M&S of the 1990s when they did amazing Italian wool suits and knitwear.

I also hanker after the M&S quality & cut in this period. I’d pay for that quality.

Also booked my M&S Christmas food collection slot yesterday. Not done it before so excited!

www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-9970493/M-S-bosses-invited-Mail-readers-honest-verdicts-new-collection.html

Here is the article.

M and S do send out e mails to people with links to proposed styles - what you like/hate about them and how much you would pay for them . I get them - have a look on their website for a link . Much of the stuff I have never seen appear so maybe they listen ?

Love about M and S - the jeans as they are perfect length for me being only 5 foot 2 . Bras - I know that my size with them will fit - go anywhere else and it is hit and miss . I do find however that they rarely have my size in stock so have to order . TBH I love all the underwear sets in general as I love a matching set .This Winter they have some great stuff . I have already bought boots, shoes and one of the faux leather coats . I am not willing to spend over 200 pounds in more "trendy" shops to get the same boots . I have bought dresses both MS and the Ghost MS X. Very happy with my haul . Have had great cashmere in the past too. Bought a wonderful smelling candle for a friend there today - Lime, Mandarin and Bergamot . Their 15 pound cotton hoodie is the loveliest material too. Disappointed currently with their nightwear range ( too many PJs even all Summer) and some of the knitwear I saw going out today . Love a sausage bap from the cafe to round it off !