Is M&S really having a moment?

[friedaddedchilli]

I keep seeing/hearing that M&S is having an amazing season, but I'm not getting it. Browsing the website I see nothing special. What am I missing? What have you bought recently which has really thrilled you?

Not read all the comments, so may have been mentioned, but the head of womenswear was a buyer for Topshop, which I think has a huge part as to why M&S has improved so much.
This has made the brand feel on trend again, and not just aimed at “older women”.

Eugh l can't get on with endless polyester, it just makes me sweat

Part of my job is managing influencers, they will say any old shit frankly. I don’t even really know why it’s a thing and I’d rather have no part of it tbh.

All I've bought is knickers. Can't remember the last time I bought anything else from M and S

One of this season's big colours seems to be brown which I'd never wear.

They have some really nice stuff on line! The new Autograph range is fab!

I get all my jeans from Marks and bought a lovely dark green jumper last week

I’m 52 and love clothes. I didn’t think I’d ever shop in M&S but some things are great though agree with PPs that there’s too much polyester. I think they appeal to many ages now so while I like some things, other items I’d never wear but my mum & her friends love. I don’t know of anyone under 25 who’d shop there as of that age most want fashion / the right brand and not classic styles but work colleagues in their 30s pick the brand odd item up there which I don’t think would have been the case years ago.

Their jeans are great for the price though trying to get hold of size 10 regular length carrot jeans is proving impossible! Had some in a size 12 but lost some weight and they are too big now but when they did fit they looked great. Just wish their stock levels for things like this would improve - they know these jeans always sell out so why don’t they make more of them!! I’m checking their website constantly and always have a look on the off chance if near a store.

I have bought a couple of things this season including jeans. However, the fit and sizing is all over the place recently. Some size 10 jeans were enormous, but I had to take back a pair of size 12-14 cotton pyjamas for being too small on the bottom. I won't mention the bra sizing issue because that is not a new thing.

The older I get the less I seem to get on with M&S 🤷‍♀️. I don’t get it really. I go to all sorts of M&$’s (new ones and old ones) and just don’t think the stuff is that great, particularly the polyester and acrylic knitwear at this time of year. The jeans are all very high rise even when purporting to be mid. The colours are either too sludgy or too bright. The sizing is all over the place. As PPs say stock control is weird, you’ll get a whole rail of size 12s. I don’t think they generally cut for large busts either so that doesn’t help. I wish them well and am glad they are getting back on track but sooner or later I will stop even bothering to look.

It’s pretty much my go-to for basics and everyday type stuff. I’ll confess to being influenced by instagram tho as the women I follow are a similar body shape and size to me. The website is awful and I’d never buy based on what the models look like.

I used to buy quite a bit from m& s but not so much now, specially jeans, I'm petite so can't wear high waisted, and most of their jeans are, today I tried a pair of the famous barrel jeans lots of people rave about, I tried the size 12 as I have put a little weight on around my waist, but they were too big and the size 10 too small, I did manage to buy a 3 pack bras that I like, half price, so it wasn't all bad.

I've bought a fair bit from M&S this year, including (my new favourite) a ridiculously versatile black poplin midi skirt, a pair of indigo barrel leg jeans which I think look great and a gorgeous winter coat. But I do think it's hit-and-miss, with lots of polyester/ acrylic dross in weird unflattering colourways alongside the gems, and I take no notice of the bloody 'influencers' with their 'outfits of the day' and 'hauls' (yay capitalism).

I'm 52, in case anyone wants to confirm their prejudices.

I have no interest in influencers. I used to follow a woman who did fashion for my age but she posed with such a smug expression on her face I just wanted to hit her 😁

I guess they have a good PR department

I prefer to buy in store and try on but their sizes are very limited. My daughter loves their trousers for work but they no longer do them in short (why?) So frustrating 😫

I work just behind a large M and S. oft n go through it to get lunch etc. can confirm there is loads of good stuff. Particularly knitwear

I bought a soufflé yarn jumper last winter. It bobbled after the first wash.

Yes, I think their current range is gorgeous!

There’s one near my office and I often go in to pick myself up some lunch and have a little browse. Some of the stuff pushed right to the front of the shop to draw people in is nice but honestly beyond that there is a lot of shapeless drabness.
Still, I do find the occasional thing in there to buy and they do seem to stock a reasonable array of sizes at least. I got some brilliant denim boyfriend shorts in there over the summer, actually ended up buying another identical pair as I liked them so much.

So interesting. I’ve never knowingly watched an influencer (no Tik Tok or Insta account) but perhaps they’ve managed to infiltrate me somehow!

Nope. This is trotted out every year by influencers getting paid to say it.

Good for work trousers. That’s it.

I bought 10 things on-line in the sale.

Some were dupes, as their sizing is unreliable.
I kept 1 .

Their trousers/jeans are particularly bad. I used to be a 12R, but now order 12R, 12S, 14R, & 14S & hope that one might be right.

Well presumably they do as it's compulsory to indicate a paid as

I'm not stylish enough to follow fashion influencers but I assume the rules apply to them

I agree about the work trousers, I have several pairs I wear on rotation and find the sizing very consistent even though they are different styles

I do like the new Autograph stuff. I bought this skirt.

https://www.marksandspencer.com/satin-pleated-midaxi-wrap-skirt/p/clp60748096?intid=mobile_app_pdp_share