£500 M&S order - want to know what I bought?

[Mumsanetta]

I know I’m not the only one who thinks M&S are having a great season so thought I would share my huge order - see the photos in the post below. It’s a mix of work wear and casual wear.

I’ve chosen pieces that will work with my version of a capsule autumn/winter wardrobe and will compliment the following items that I seriously love:

Bottoms
Hush leather culottes
Dorothy Perkins leather pinafore
H&M high waisted black trousers - I sized down for a more fitted look
M&S Black leather leggings
Primark midaxi leather pencil skirt
Primark black slip dress which I will wear as a skirt

Tops
H&M brown/grey sweater
Part Two Gertie black and white striped sweater
Stitch Fix Editor’s Cut oversized light grey button cardigan (no link)

Shoes
White chunky Fila trainers
Fitflop tan Allegro flats
M&S Chelsea knee high boots

Accessories
Accessorize black cross body bag
Accessorize jewel initial necklace
Accessorize layered gold necklaces

Some stuff is sold out or doesn’t have any links because it’s old. Please can you share what’s in your capsule wardrobe to give me some ideas!

Not a fan of the leggings, sorry, but if I was, I’d wear them with a longline black jumper.

£500? Pretty tasteless to brag when so many can't afford to feed their kids

That argument could be applied to just about anything. £90 for a weeks food in Aldi when people in many countries can’t feed their families. Electricity bill high - be grateful,there are people who don’t have any electricity where they are. You’re thinking of buying your kids lego sets for Christmas? Bit braggy OP at a time when some kids won’t wake up to a single satsuma. You could go on indefinitely along these lines.

Agreed. And as for the plastic leggings...

Yeah a longer jumper sweat shirt or a vest top underneath or a cami to create some layers!

I did see this shirt on the M&S site yesterday, it's abit longer than the one you have on - I think that would look great! I quite fancy one myself! 😀

I think you look good in the leggings and white shirt, but maybe a t shirt underneath would balance it, plus a chunky necklace...

As someone who wouldn't think to try most of what you've got, I'm actually having an absolute whale of a time looking at all of it. Maybe I should be getting my impulse shopping needs out through living vicariously!

I think you're going to look really well put together and stylish. Enjoy 😊

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie im willing to try a long line jumper or shirt as suggested by @shoeawsome. I could actually layer that white shirt with a tunic for a more up to date look.

@PomegranateRose im so pleased to hear that! I take a lot from the S&B board so nice to know that you’re enjoying this thread!

I'm enjoying the thread too & look forward to seeing some more of your outfits!

It's good to see real people in clothes you wouldn't necessarily pick up yourself!

I'm your size and that photo of you in the black trousers and white shirt is fab

I've been looking at pleated trousers - these M&S ones and the similar Uniqlo ones

I have the wide leg M&S jersey trousers with an elasticated waist in a few colours which I wear to work.

They so comfy and versatile especially in the winter.

Thanks, sorry, I misread and misunderstood. Hope you’re happy with it all when it arrives!

I’m also a size 16 but I need colours, neutrals wash me out. Lovely styles though.

@HappiDaze i have the same M&S trousers in navy and black from last year and I’ve worn them so much I’ve had to replace them! I find the sizing a bit weird though - I have to buy size 18 short instead of my usual size 16.

Reporting back! I collected my order today and tried everything on instore. It was a mixed bag …

Of the 18 items I ordered, I returned 14 and swapped 2. The 2 belts were too big in size L so I swapped them for size M. The trench coat is beautiful - heavy, fits well, not too long for me but I did size down to a 14. It doesn’t gape at the hips despite sizing down. I have added a picture of me wearing it so you can see.

The skirts were all a horrendous stretchy material and didn’t fit well. I was so disappointed in the order and quality of the items I spoke to the store manager, who was absolutely lovely and agreed with my complaint. He told me that he had had a similar experience and suggested I write to head office so that they know customers are spotting the drop in quality. I had used a one off 20% off Sparks voucher for the online order so the store manager offered me 25% off anything I found instore - I took him up on it and spent an hour trying on new stuff, some of which was recommended here.

@Vikina I got a ribbed roll jumper but went with this mocha mix version.

@shoeawsome They didn’t have the longline white shirt to go with the leather leggings so I will have to order it online but I did find a grey marl knitted vest that I think will work well over the shirt.

@Poblano-The wide leg trousers fitted beautifully! I got them in black size 16 regular and also in cream. Not entirely sure I can pull off the cream without some very heavy duty pants though.

I also got this black coat (in size L) so I can lean into my inner Instamum / hun -

And this epic Christmassy jumper. The picture doesn’t do it justice -

@DwightShrutesgirlfriend they didn’t have the wide leg jeans instore, sad times.

Thanks everyone for sharing your recent buys, your recommendations have (clearly) helped me a lot!

@Mumsanetta The jumper looks lovely!

@Mumsanetta I had the ‘pleather’ midi skirt delivered yesterday and I quite liked it. I’m still deciding on whether to keep it! It wasn’t particularly snug. I’ll try on again today!

I have the grey tank top from last year and have worn with leggings and a shirt under.

Take no notice.
All the cool ladies wear leather.

I’ve got a couple of the ‘horrendous stretchy’ skirts for work. I find them really useful, but not as good as the ones that Whistles used to do so well but seem to have moved away from, sadly.

I bought the minimal long skirt from Weekday, the fabric is amazing, really thick, almost like neoprene, it is very long though & I would size down!

https://www.weekday.com/engbp/women/skirts/women-maxi-skirts/product.minimal-long-skirt-black.1199640001.html?utmm_source=Lyst%20UK/EU&utmmedium=affiliate&utmmcampaign=1&utmcontent=10&utmmterm=1454163&ranMID=42326&ranEAID=gcdL/ATRVoE&ranSiteID=gcdL_ATRVoE-WACb4ZB5C07Pdj6Yn4RdUQ

I bought it from the H&M site, not realising it was from Weekday - I had been in a Weekday store the week before, and walked out because I felt so old & out of place 🤣

But I will definitely look at their stuff on line in the future because the quality of the skirt is great!

I really like that trenchcoat on you op. I'm sorry so much of the rest was disappointing but I've found that's pretty typical of M&S at the moment: one or two inspired things (I got a trenchcoat with a hood earlier in the year that's great) and then a load of stuff that I think looks good from a distance or on a screen but then I get close up and walk away. Good on you for telling them.

Ohh this is lovely , I have ordered this

I think I want cardigans but in real life they're annoying . This would fit the bill nicely .

I've ordered that cardigan too! 😀

I have a job interview on the 15th & think that will be perfect!!

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie careless choice of words on my part - I have bought these skirts since I was 24 and they used to be lined and in a more suit type material with matching blazer. Bit annoyed that they have decided to change them as they used to be a wardrobe staple.

Thanks @Floisme, I usually go for a shorter length of trench coat and I’m really enjoying the different look of the maxi!

@Carpediem15 I too am tempted by the cardigan, think it would be lovely as styled on the model!

Whilst returning some items I picked up these wide leg cargo jeans. I don’t usually wear relaxed jeans so taking a bit of getting used to but so far I like them. Weird sizing though as I had to buy a size 18 regular.