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?!

I love M&S for some reason. I don't quite understand it.

Got a very comfy pair of Chelsea boots there the other day. I will wear them all winter with everything! Paid £59 which I was happy with.

I live in their Mia tailored trousers for work and usually buy knickers and food. Yesterday I bought a long cardi to keep me warm in work which is still blasting the air con

A few years ago M&S just wasn't on my radar. I considered it dowdy, boring and not fashionable at all. I don't know if it's age thing or a case of them upping their game, but nowadays I'm a regular online shopper. Clothes for me, clothes for my DC, beauty range and homeware. Yes, there's some garish or grannyish stuff but there's plenty that's not. I find on the whole their stuff is sensibly priced, washes well and lasts. I'm an M&S convert.

[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]
That is so stupid. The women will tell all their friends this then no one will buy the new stuff! How thick are they?

My issue with women's pyjamas at M and S is that they only do one trouser length, which is well above my ankles. I'm tall, but not that tall at 5'7".

My issue with their nightwear is that the really nice stuff is poly or poly mix. Although I bought a lovely lightweight, lace trimmed wrap for £22.50 in the summer. Only available in grey though but had a matching nightie that my boobs slip out if

M&S would be my go-to for many things but their quality is so poor.

When DM was my age M&S was £££ but their quality was really good, most things were still made in the UK and their clothes were reliably classic.

I have money to spend, I'm middle aged, I want to buy good quality pieces that will last.

The market has contracted over the past year, I wish they would extend their Autograph range to petites. I wish they would would bring out a range of good quality, reliable basics, ethically and sustainability produced and charge a fair price for them.

I completely agree about the tank tops @boatyardblues. It’s galling that they do lovely lambswool sleeveless V-necks for men for £29.50. There are gems though: a pure cotton Toast-ish blouse with a Peter Pan collar for £35 and gorgeous buttery leather biker boots (Autograph) £85. I found a pair in my local Marks but they were half a size too big. I dithered about ordering online and now they are sold out.

Does anyone else remember how in the 80s and 90s if you shopped at the Pantheon or Marble Arch, sometimes a short rail of something fabulous would appear and you'd snap it up. A few months later a cheaper, less swishy version would appear throughout the stores. I'm sure they tested prototypes in those stores.

A Blackwatch tartan dress with removable white collar;
A wool crepe pleated skirt in emerald, hyacinth and navy that could pass for Jaeger's that season;
A grey wool dress with an embroidered bodice panel, mandarin collar and very full skirt.

All at least £25/£35 40 to 35 years ago though. Also remember paying £25 for a cashmere v necked sweater in about 1979 and it was lush - not like the thin stuff they sell now.

Oh and "The Knicker" full briefs that were fab quality and so well fitting in the early to mid 00's. They were £8 and worth every penny.

gorgeous buttery leather biker boots (Autograph) £85. I found a pair in my local Marks but they were half a size too big. I dithered about ordering online and now they are sold out.

You cannot hang around with the good boots at M&S. A lesson I have learned through bitter experience. I start checking online in August!

@RosesAndHellebores

Does anyone else remember how in the 80s and 90s if you shopped at the Pantheon or Marble Arch, sometimes a short rail of something fabulous would appear and you'd snap it up. A few months later a cheaper, less swishy version would appear throughout the stores. I'm sure they tested prototypes in those stores.

A Blackwatch tartan dress with removable white collar;
A wool crepe pleated skirt in emerald, hyacinth and navy that could pass for Jaeger's that season;
A grey wool dress with an embroidered bodice panel, mandarin collar and very full skirt.

All at least £25/£35 40 to 35 years ago though. Also remember paying £25 for a cashmere v necked sweater in about 1979 and it was lush - not like the thin stuff they sell now.

Oh and "The Knicker" full briefs that were fab quality and so well fitting in the early to mid 00's. They were £8 and worth every penny.

Yes! My first job was in an office block across the road from the Pantheon M&S. We'd be in there most weeks looking for the designer 'inspired' goodies you never saw anywhere else.

Love M&S. Although I am lucky that we have a really fabulous one where I live, it's the best store by far on my local high st.

They don't cater for tall women.

I quite often buy their jeans, because they are longer than the competition (especially hate stores where the only option is 28”), you do need to try their jeans though, the online measurements are not always accurate and their long varies so much anyway.
16yr old DD has bought a few things there, she's loving the frills and flounces that other people are criticising, they are fashionable apparently (and tbh I see the same look in New Look. And her school uniform always came from there, I gave up on other brands as M&S was the only one that lasted and didn't need ironing.
I love their winter boots, but oddly never like the summer shoes.
I get DD's underwear from there, but not mine as I love Curvy Kate bras and Tu knickers. The pp who mentioned she would prefer thicker straps for C+ bras, would be something I'd hate - also hate bras that have rows of back fasteners more than two wide (and I'm an E cup).
DH no longer fits their shirts as they seem to have altered their sizing, which is a huge pain in the arse, as he lives in M&S. At the moment Tu are fitting, but formal work shirts are a pain. I like the menswear jumpers for me (and have had some success with the jeans).
The exercise wear is OK and they have finally discovered thigh pockets for leggings, but I tend to buy elsewhere.

And there's a lesson on why there's a preview button🤦

RosesandHellebores and TwilightCafe, you are completely right. I used to work freelance for M&S in the 1990s, and knew the organisation and people in it well. The merchandisers working in Baker Street used to place their trial ranges at Marble Arch to see how they were selling and they would haunt the store at lunch and after work (a short walk/bus ride) to watch customers trying, buying and styling the garments. Then they decided what to roll out and on what scale. Marble Arch was well worth visiting regularly in those days!

I've just bought cord jeans in long and annoyingly are slightly long on my 33" inside leg - they usually fit.

I actually quite like M&S. It is very split-personality though, and the balance depends on the store. Some smaller local ones are still leaning towards 'beige clothes for grannies'; the 'fashion' stuff is hit and miss. Basics are good - I go there for things like plain black trousers or leggings as their size 10 short fit is totally spot on for me, although quality has gone a bit downhill lately - I've had a few falling trouser hems in the last couple of years, and a t-shirt that developed odd washed-out patches after one summer.

I bought 13-year-old a very nice Victorian style blouse there the other week which she is obssessed with and is wearing all the time at the weekend.

I love it as well- also as a size 18/20 it is one of the very rare shops I can literally walk into and get my size off an actual rail. Next are useless for this! I love a full department browse as well- it's like a mini department store - very cosy- I also think they do Christmas well, and their fragrances/ toiletries are great recently

Thank you @XingMing . The grey dress never took off. The tartan one in watered down version was around for years

Underwear and jeans always , though agree that weirdly the short got longer a few years ago and now I have to
Turn them up.
They do do some odd things though , my local has food hall at the back and woman's used to be in front so you would always have a quick browse on the way past. Post Covid they rearranged the whole shop and you now walk through mens and womans is off to the side , which you have to make a conscious effort to go to .
Seems so daft , what bit of consumer research were they looking at to do that !

It's because men will not be as willing to seek out the clothes as women, I think. Tesco has the men's clothes at the front then the women's and children.

@Sleepinghyena

Used to buy clothes there in teens and early 20's. Haven't bought very much at all in last 15 years except bras, the odd pair of shoes, and more recently socks because they come in different sizes. Their short length trousers got mysteriously much longer a while back, so won't be buying any more of them.

Same - the only things I've got recently from there have been their jeggings - black and denim which are good - I prefer Next black cropped jeggings though to M&S.

I did however buy this cami set in the late summer and love it as it's so flattering:-

www.marksandspencer.com/allure-embroidered-cami-set/p/clp60473767?color=GREENMIX#intid=prodColourId-60473768

But got some body contour tights which were awful and their knickers (multipack) aren't nice either, I go to Sainsburys or Tescos for them now.

So it's very hit and miss for me and I don't generally shop there now.

@Iamthewombat

gorgeous buttery leather biker boots (Autograph) £85. I found a pair in my local Marks but they were half a size too big. I dithered about ordering online and now they are sold out.

You cannot hang around with the good boots at M&S. A lesson I have learned through bitter experience. I start checking online in August!

I agree with boots - there was a lovely pair of green mock croc (I think?) or suede Autograph boots approx 2-3 years ago which I didn't buy when I saw them and regretted it as they then sold out.

@IShoveLula

It's because men will not be as willing to seek out the clothes as women, I think. Tesco has the men's clothes at the front then the women's and children.

Do you not think though that men won’t browse either ? , just walk straight past . There must be some complex algorithm that factors in likelihood of woman browsing on way past and purchasing something they hadn’t intended vs men spotting something they need on way past that they otherwise wouldn’t have ? It’s the impulse purchase but I think I’m getting at. If I walk past a nice jumper on my way to buy an iced spiced bun , I am likely to grab it , whereas if I’m just going for food, I won’t bother to to divert to another area and hence impulse purchase gone. Men seem possibly , statistically, more likely to go with the purpose of buying something and less likely to impulse buy ? I realise this is both incredibly sexist and based on my experience so apologies ! Would be interested to see before and after sales figures though !

Do you not think though that men won’t browse either ? , just walk straight past

Yep. Unless he wants something in particular DH would just walk past.