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Original poster

Have we had a slag off M&S thread lately?

108 replies

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 31/07/2023 11:35

Because I went today and it was shit.

I wanted a bra. Found six that I liked. Not one available in my size.

Plain black jersey midi skirt. Would’ve been perfect but they had ONE in the entire store- size 18.

Denim maxi- they had a size 8 and a size 22.

Everything else was either a horrible colour, shape, fabric or all 3.

Why do they make it so hard to spend money there?

OP posts:
ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 31/07/2023 11:36

I never even think about M and S anymore. The fabrics are all crap. I can’t wear manmade fibres. All their hoodies are poly cotton.

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 31/07/2023 11:39

Don't even bother anymore (altho I have no idea where I am going to shop). Hate the self service tills and the shoes I bought at the beginning of summer gave me massive blisters - M&S always seem to manage to make shoes that rub or have an uncomfortable seam right where you don't want it. No good giving feedback because they ignore it.

HappiDaze · 31/07/2023 11:39

There's not much left anywhere as it's the change of seasons.

I bought all my Summer clothes when they first landed.

Just get them to look up your item in your size abs order it in online

ThatDayIBecameFree · 31/07/2023 11:49

I never ever think about M&S for clothes at all - and I must be their ideal demographics.

There's a thread on here with a truly awful dress from there and it sort of epitomises everything that's wrong really - sappy pattern, shapeless, no clear picture of who would wear it. Just belatedly jumping on trends and somehow making them slightly worse.

Mercurial123 · 31/07/2023 11:58

M&S hasn't been great for years, though it seems to get plenty of love on MN. However, I still love their food.

JADS · 31/07/2023 12:08

Nah, M&S make my son's school trousers (the additional needs versions). You can't ever say anything against them to me. I also got some nice basic linen shorts from them which were perfect.

Their jazzy ranges though - not a fan!

jinnytoo · 31/07/2023 12:12

Their tights are still good, but the underwear has gone downhill.

I bought a multi pack of seamless knickers. Great and lightweight fabric, but one by one they've had to be thrown away because they've come apart at the seams somewhere. I think they lasted a few months in all. I only wore them occasionally.

jinnytoo · 31/07/2023 12:13

Can't fault the food!

Sagittariusrising · 31/07/2023 12:20

@jinnytoo I agree with the knickers. Elastic coming away around the top and legs on a few pairs within months. Their knickers used to be much better.

I've bought a couple of lovely linen dresses and also a couple of cotton ones this summer and they are gorgeous. Same with their linen blend and linen trousers. It pays to check their website on a regular basis as their stock levels seem all over the place.

Edwardandtubbs · 31/07/2023 12:21

I'm going totally against the grain here as I gave up on them years ago and then recently needed some vest tops so decided to give them a chance (as H&M have discontinued the ones I like) and I got a big haul - 2 pairs of shorts, linen tops, vest tops and a couple of dresses. All in 'regular' sizes. I was astounded and very happy!

I have to say though a lot of their dresses are still vomit inducing floral prints and I had to hunt to get my treasure.

HappiDaze · 31/07/2023 12:22

They had some lovely clothes at the start of summer

I haven't looked lately because I don't need anything till the autumn winter stuff comes in

Fancylike · 31/07/2023 12:23

jinnytoo · 31/07/2023 12:12

Their tights are still good, but the underwear has gone downhill.

I bought a multi pack of seamless knickers. Great and lightweight fabric, but one by one they've had to be thrown away because they've come apart at the seams somewhere. I think they lasted a few months in all. I only wore them occasionally.

This happened to me! Shredding at the legholes after a wash.

HappiDaze · 31/07/2023 12:24

My DS prefers their trunk pants to his Calvin Kleins. My basic knickers from them always last for years. I find the elastic really good

Rathouse · 31/07/2023 12:25

Sagittariusrising · 31/07/2023 12:20

@jinnytoo I agree with the knickers. Elastic coming away around the top and legs on a few pairs within months. Their knickers used to be much better.

I've bought a couple of lovely linen dresses and also a couple of cotton ones this summer and they are gorgeous. Same with their linen blend and linen trousers. It pays to check their website on a regular basis as their stock levels seem all over the place.

Knickers with elastic remind me of being a kid! I haven't worn them for years! Boux avenue do a lace knickers with no elastic in or get yourself to primark and buy the seamless knickers range so so comfortable! Reasonably priced too.

Sagittariusrising · 31/07/2023 12:27

@Rathouse Perhaps elastic was the wrong word 😀It's the trim around the top and leg holes. I actually pulled a whole lot off from one leg on a pair of knickers.

TheOldLadyOfThreadneedleStreet · 31/07/2023 12:29

I’ve always bought under wired bras from m&s, bought 2 earlier this year and the wires popped out after a couple of months of wearing every week or so. Never had that happen before, their bras used to last for a long time. Not impressed. Elastic has gone on a multi pack of briefs I got at the same time top. Quality has really gone downhill. Where else would be good? I can’t dislike M&S though as they are employing my DCs, they have part time jobs there. And I like the food and get the odd bit of clothing there too. But I will look elsewhere for my undies.

lopsyl · 31/07/2023 12:30

Bought a thermal long-sleeve top from there last winter. Realised too late that it's long enough to wear as a dress. Cut really, really weirdly.

M&S, why can't you even get the basics right?

I don't bother looking at the rest of it. From a glance, I can see it's all hideous, garish crap. Anything that looks remotely ok is bound to be in some shitty manmade fabric.

M&S should be like Uniqlo. Great basics in good colours and materials. But it doesn't have a clue what it wants to be or who it wants to cater to.

Wherethewildthymeblows · 31/07/2023 12:31

Now that you've identified what you would like to buy, why not go online and get it there? That's what I do. I like to see the item 'in the flesh' so to speak, to be sure I like it, but invariably I can't find my size so I go home and buy it from the website.

Grannyknowsbest · 31/07/2023 12:34

I use for Grandson..especially boxers .. Tops and joggers and shorts and pjs.
( Clarks for trainers) and buy my sheets there because they are deep fitying and lovely to sleep on.but clothes for me have been a no go for years.
I used to love the bras but non fit me anymore ( huge boobies here).
Other than that l just use the food hall.. great food at great prices.

SirVixofVixHall · 31/07/2023 12:36

I bought dd a pack of knickers a few weeks ago, one pair has a hole already after two wears ! Quality in the knickers has definitely gone downhill. DH bought himself some socks at the same time, they were at the slightly more expensive end of the range but they went strangely baggy immediately and are now bobbly and look years old.
But like a Pp I bought a really nice linen dress last Summer that has worn and washed well. It was the autograph range, and the linen is weighty and good quality. I wish they were more consistent with quality like they used to be.

LookItsMeAgain · 31/07/2023 12:37

Their stores are most like a "browse in real life" location and not really a "buy what you see" place. I use it to gauge whether I like the look of a garment, the feeling of the material and whether I think it'll look ok on me. I then go home and order online in my size and about 2-5 days later it's delivered to my home.

YesLittleElephant · 31/07/2023 12:38

I purchased two pairs of pyjamas before Christmas. They seem to have done away with regular sizes and are now doing S, M, L etc. My last few pairs of M&S pyjamas have lasted 4 + years. These two pairs shrunk after one wash, and were so skrimpy on fabric that they were useless. I ended up throwing them out!

My local store - which is massive - does not carry any larger sizes. Mostly you can't get anything bigger then a 16. The changing room has one accessible changing room. If you've got a buggy you're expected to go in there, which is totally unfair on anyone who might come in with a wheelchair which has happened at least twice whilst I've been in there.

Clothes are all horrible. It's the fabric that pisses me off. I want clothes in good fabric that are well cut. They had a few lovely designs when I went in on Friday, but the fabrics are just so cheap and nasty.

Wherethewildthymeblows · 31/07/2023 12:39

I don't recognise some of thr complaints here. My knickers and bras last for years. I wouldn't consider buying them anywhere else, nor socks or tights. Or jeans for that matter. I struggle to find tops, skirts or dresses I like, but that is more to do with current trends than quality. And a thermal top that comes down a long way? That is entirely the point of thermalwear! It is no use if it stops short and creates a draught around the middle. New shoes always have a propensity to rub.

No I don't work for M&S but I struggle to find another all round clothier that provides quality clothing at a price I can afford.

UpToonGirl · 31/07/2023 12:42

If I buy from m&s I tend to shop online and order to store, I then just take it all into the changing rooms and take it straight back if it's no good. Otherwise I struggle to actually find anything in the stores, or if I do, not my size.

I have just bought a long length shirt dress for holiday from there but returned about 5 other dresses I had ordered at the same time. I also found a lovely pink straw bag when I was actually in the shop, probably awful by mumsnet standards but I'm looking forward to wearing it on holiday, first time in a while I've felt like that about an m&s purchase!

CopperSeahorses · 31/07/2023 12:43

I love them for their adaptive clothing, I have a little one who is tube fed and is still in nappies (and always will need pads) so wears their bodysuits, the M&S ones are much cheaper than lots of the alternatives and wash really well. They are also one of the few places that sell shoes/boots that go over the top of his orthotics more easily and they cost far less than the Billy Boots that come from the States. Very few places cater for parents of children with additional needs so the fact that M&S do means I have a loyalty to them.