Anyone else think M&S have upped their game?

[sillytops]

I'm not sure if it's because I recently turned 40 or if M&S have improved their womens clothing?! Lately I've found so many great work clothes in there, I have their fine knit jumper in every colour, their wide leg black lined trousers and even the jeans are a great fit for me.

I also recently got some beige tailored trousers and there is so much on the website I like the look of.

I used to hate M&S clothes but maybe it's now my age and tastes changing?!

I love the M&S jeans, I think they are lift and sculpt or something but they make my 50's + arse look so much better!

Not in the Knickers department. I would like nice, silky pretty knicker that are not all cotton comfy pants and are not a thong but would like my arse covered in something other than a nylon mesh thank you very much.
Bring back the old satin High Legs please M&S. If it ain't broke don't fix it.

Interesting. I have been an M&S stalwart for at least the last 20 years. I wouldn't dream of buying my jeans or underwear from anywhere else, and indeed the majority of my clothes and shoes are from there. I went looking for some basic t shirts, shorts, and perhaps a casual summer dress last week and came out with precisely nothing. There was literally nothing I even wanted to try on, let alone buy.

Still the same old same old out of stock problem. Click on something you like and surprise surprise nearly every size is out of stock. Waste of time. And their packaging is dire.

One of the few places I can buy bras in my size (now 40G!), I also like their trousers, particularly the jeans. I also buy a few tops but hate that a lot of stuff is Viscose.

Also buy their wide fitting shoes.

I don't mind viscose , it's a (mainly) natural fabric , better than polyester .

Only downside with M&S is the number of times I see someone else wearing it especially a distinctive pattern.

A couple of years back they did a range ( blouse , dress,shorts, sleeveless top) in a beigey linen with either a leaf or feather pattern.
I really loved but but resisted as it would be all over the place (it was) and I look like a baglady in linen.

I think it's still pretty mixed.
I love the side striped trousers & the cheesecloth wide legged summer trousers. The plain jersey bootleg/wide leg look good but aren't very well made and fall apart after one wash.
I got some linen mix t shirts and they're rubbishy in style & synthetic in feel.
The Muslin PJ's dont fit across my shoulders in size 16. I'm a standard size 14 in h&m.
So now at 58 my go to shop is h&m online. Simply because the linen shirts/ t shirts fit me.
And I can't forgive them for making nearly all the knickers styles synthetic & not reducing the price.

I stuck up for their price increases but I collected a pair of jeans literally today that I paid £22.50 for online. The tag says £19.50. They refunded the difference! They're on a hiding to nothing if they don't start removing the tags before shipping.

I used to get dragged around M&S by my mum when I was little and I HATED that shop and now as an adult still go in there to traipse around after my mum. However, recently have bought a pair of (subtle) black snake print jeggings which are the best fit and quality I’ve ever had (bonus, my mum bought them for me 😆)

also, after searching for summer shoes for DD , looked in primark which was rubbish. Again went in M&S , for my mum , and browsed around kids section while waiting and found a fab pair of Velcro tie- dye shoes for DD and only around £11 which I thought was a very good price.

Maybe I’ll be shopping in there more, after swearing I never would!

I really rate the sportswear. Nice thick leggings that don’t fall down, great tops and, the holy grail, longer sports shorts for women (called “trecking” shorts) that you can run in without feeling like you’re only wearing pants.

I also love the linen balloon trousers (though I wish they hadn't added the belt to them) and the black fisherman sandals - amazing bargains. I also love their balloon jeans - a totally different shape after years of skinnies, but they look so modern and are fantastic quality. You do have to be very selective and the best stuff is online, but they definitely have upped their game.

I agree OP. I like quite a few of their summer dresses and tops at the moment.

Just bought These shoes

I bought a blazer and ankle grazer trousers today as I need them for a work event coming up and hadn't bought any smart work stuff for several years. Fashionable styling, reasonably priced.

Next had very poor size selection in jackets. M&S had lots, though predominantly black and I would have preferred navy. A lot of the stuff in Next looks horribly cheap. In M&S lots of tops are in that crinkly fabric they use a lot and I'm not keen on it. That said, there was plenty of choice I was happy with. Lots in Autograph and Jaegar I like, but I wasn't prepared to pay Jaegar prices for the things I wanted.

@Waxlyrically those shorts are very interesting! Are they made of leggings material?

Not sure if they'd be too short to cover my flabbiness but im tempted to order some

@dolphinsarentcommon they are perfect for my flabbiness; just the right length to cover it and not so long they are unflattering, (I’m 5ft 3). They are a fairly light wicking material with a draw string waist -a bit like tracksuit material. I am so fed up with super short or tight sports shorts that I almost can’t believe I’ve found them!

@Waxlyrically thank you. I'm 5'9 so may be quite short but I'm still tempted to try them. Like you I can't find any shorts for walking in so might be worth it.

I bought these shorts last week and they were so comfortable I bought them in black and navy yesterday.
I also have the sandals in the pic which I bought last year and they have worn very well and still look like new.
www.marksandspencer.com/twill-printed-pleat-front-shorts/p/clp60539435?color=BLACKMIX&prevPage=srp

I have only bought school uniform in there for the last five years or so but will take another look at the womenswear. It used to be a garish sea of polyester so it’s good news if the clothes have improved.

Yes, I noticed this a few weeks ago. Went in, bought a black zip up hoody and jogging bottoms plus two T-shirts. All perfect. Great cut, colour, finish etc.. Very pleasantly surprised. There's normally a lack of sizes (10,12,14) but they seem to have ordered more than usual. You normally only see size 8, 18 and 20.

I don't think M&S has ever been a garish sea of polyester although I do think that by trying to be all things to all people they have missed the mark from time to time. You know they've changed for the better when you like something in Per Una because it isn't embellished to hell with a handkerchief hem, etc.

I surprised myself the other day by finding a fantastic Storm Wear Leopard print coat & the Pink & khaki side striped smart leisure pants. Me & Em style for a fraction of the price. The trousers are sturdy & made of a substantial fabric. Plus as a 5ft 3 shortie they fit perfectly in a Short with flatform trainers. The leopard print is warm & flattering with a touch of Pink in it.

I went bra shopping in M and S the other week having previously tried before the first lockdown and ended up going elsewhere to find what I wanted as Marks was so shambolic.

This time it was like a totally different shop - bras clearly set out in area by type, plenty of stock in multiple sizes and all of it organised by size and colour so it was very easy to find what I wanted!

I’m going to go today to check out the bras.

Have also seen a dress and some trousers I want to look at.

Nope. Walking through the clothing department to get to the food court, have to cover the eyes of DC as to not permanently damage their sense of aesthetic.🙄