M&S knickers - what’s happened?

[gillefc82]

I’m in my 40s and for most of my life I’ve bought my everyday wear knickers (thongs to be precise) from M&S. They’ve always washed well and lasted but I’ve found that the ones I’ve purchased during the last year or two have fallen off a cliff in terms of quality, e.g. holes appearing around the stitching after only a couple of washes.

Is it just me or are others having this issue? And can anyone recommend somewhere else where I can buy quality, comfortable cotton thongs that will last more than a few months?

I never bought knickers anywhere else, but M&S became ill fitting and badly styled. I do still have a few pairs from there, but lots more from different places. TK Maxx Gap branded ones, Decathlon sporty ones, a few Primark and so on.

Also, M&S jeans have not lasted well. DS's and my own both suffered the same fate. Laddered by the back pockets. I'd hardly any wear out of mine and they were not tight fitting. Really poor performance

Another one hating the thinness of fabric. I have a new white pair that I can read through 🙄. I have some from JL that are better but those are a year old so not sure if they’ve also gone down the pan since.

I buy the M&S flexifit high rise shorts and there’s been no decline in quality for me. They’re comfortable and completely no VPL. I’d be gutted if they changed or stopped them.

The last pack of m&s ones I had, the lace went scratchy straight away. Mind you, I recently bought a pack of Primark (midis I think). Unbelievably awful. I had to throw them all away. They fell down even though they weren't too big! Very odd.

I used to buy the multi packs from M & S. They now fray after the first wash.

I remember Jeremy Paxman complaining about their pants a few years ago, he said the quality had declined. Our turn now for the bad quality.

I bought some a month ago, exact same style as some I already had and the gusset has definitely been made much narrower. A panty liner doesn’t even fit on it anymore. I won’t buy them again and actually returned a 2nd pack of not opened.

I reccomend Innersy brand from Am a zon. Just bought two more packs of High Waisted multipacks, but I’m certain they have midis. One of the colour ranges is called Granny 👵🏼

Narrower gussets !
currently trialing Primark
Not perfect but better than M&S
Sainsbury & Next will be assessed next .

I love their microfibre knickers. They are like a second skin and buttery soft. ❤️

Yep, I'm the same OP. I've persevered for the last couple of years thinking it was a blip, but no. Bought some just before Christmas, half are in the rags tub already and the rest are looking ropey. Sad times, won't be buying anymore.

I hate anything in microfibre, just touching it agitates my nervous system.

I Had knickers bought in the 90’s last for 25 years. Now they last 2 years max.

I was also a midi wearer and eventually found they were now called shorts. Found some comfortable lace knickers that fitted. Hurrah! Stocked up in black and white and went in last week to see if they had them in nude for the summer. No sign of this style anymore so back to the search again. So annoying. My DH has their Autograph boxers. Same style and last for years. Why do they mess round with the women’s styles?

I thought I was washing my wrong somehow . And couldn't get my head around how my undercarriage got bigger . I know I put on weight but down there ?! So glad to know it's a common problem. I also have a skirt that I repeatedly have to keep sewing sections of the hem up .

I bought about 30 pairs of M&D Brazilians in about 2008-10 and they are still just about hanging in there.

I have gone back to look in M&S to buy new over the last few years and the quality of all their pants was so dire, unbelievably bad, so I didn't.

I will go to Sainsbury's, thanks for the recommendation.

I stopped buying mine in M&S. I hated the microfibre ones and Midis in cotton in nude were impossible to get. Plus the quality had really dropped.
I go to Dunnes Stores now.
There too the quality of the fabric isn't brilliant, it’s thin but they are cotton and the fit is good.

Wirapa

I spent all day yesterday picking my new Stripe and Stare knickers out of my bum so that was a waste of (quite a lot of) money.

How do you wear thongs every day? They are so uncomfy

How interesting. I used to love Sainsbury's/TU Brazilians (and their bikinis) but have now turned to M&S because the cut changed (TU is now too skimpy over the bottom for me, I kept having to adjust my knickers, very irritating). I have to say, though, the quality isn't quite what I remembered/expected (but at least they're comfy)!

I’ve still got knickers I bought pre Covid that fit me better and are better quality than more recently purchased ones that don’t fit, roll down, sag and have tiny gussets in poor quality material.

Tu from Sainsburys is my go to, quality isn’t amazing but they are cheap, I buy a 7 pack each summer before going on holiday and just throw them out as they disintegrate, typically last 3 years

It’s not just knickers, the quality of all M&S clothing has turned to shit. Most people aren’t willing to pay for quality, so they’ve transformed into a fast fashion brand.

Yep, like the OP I bought my smalls from M&S all my life (mum did too) then in the last 5 years or so they became really poor quality. I bought a pack from Lovall (used to be LoveLeggings) and they’ve been great so I got a few more packs and they are still going strong after years of use - which is how M&S knicks used to be. I agree they have lost their way, not least with their latest store revamps. It’s so bland and unimaginative that I honestly walked in to the one on Oxford street recently and thought I’d walked in to one of the other random stores by mistake. God knows where they are doing market research but I suspect it’s not with the people who spend the most there. I gather they are trying to to appeal to a younger audience but most people under 30 wouldn’t be seen dead there or in anything with an M&S label. I only know the latter fact due to niece and her friends all working various aspects of fashion.

I rarely bought much from there apart from food in recent years as prefer Uniqlo style (and Primark to great basic T Shirts which I hope they carry on with as Uniqlo seemed to have stopped doing their nice basic t shirt for years now).

Since the refurb I’ve avoided those stores that have been ‘done’ as they just feel utterly soulless and ‘look at me’. I just go to Uniqlo instead now.

I really hope John Lewis doesn’t go the same way as it’s where I buy everything else pretty much!

ive just bought DP more boxers from Innersy on Amazon as thr M&S ones don’t last very long now and tend to rip, plus the last few times we went in there the designs were very dull. DP likes bright colours!
I agree it’s a shame what’s happened to M&S. Was chatting to DP about it just now and we wonder how much is to do with their management recruitment changes that kicked in some years ago.