M&S is cool, but we knew that, didn’t we?

[jellybobs]

Interesting article on the BBC website today. I’m actually really surprised that it’s not done a London Fashion Week show before.
Certainly over the last few years it’s become one of my go-to places if I decide I need new jeans, a particular kind of dress etc. It’s even acceptable to my 16yo DS who’s very particular about where his clothes come from and has quite a small list of “acceptable” high St brands he’ll deign to go into!

Is it cool to wear M&S clothes now? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cje3rk4p39zwo

I rate these , fit well, good shape, non visible under clothes. And wash well. Also v comfy,

https://www.marksandspencer.com/body-invisibles-wired-strapless-bra-a-e-/p/clp60783871?color=JASPER#intid=pid_pg1pip48g4r4c4

https://www.marksandspencer.com/body-invisibles-200-ways-to-wear-bra-a-dd-/p/clp60783963?color=OPAL#intid=pid_pg1pip48g4r2c1

See I disagree, I think due to the floor space they can have different ranges, which they do, basic, autograph, and jaeger. They have the space and the foot fall to achieve it. But it’s either low quality offerings or dated at the higher end.

I don’t understand why you are explaining my own post to me. I said I don’t buy knitwear at M&S because they sell lots of plastic jumpers. You are telling me that yes, they mostly sell plastic jumpers. It’s a bit of a waste of both our time isn’t it.

Oh, dear. Conversations don't have to be limited to disputes and information, do they?

It’s a shame when style and beauty threads have an underlying edge to them! Whether that’s mockery, snobbery, inverse snobbery, jealousy, false accusations of jealousy, superciliousness or snide comments. If I want that, I head to AIBU ;-)

There was one recently on ME+EM. I was surprised at the defensiveness and strong emotions it elicited!

@Goodwitchglenda You are ignoring the wool and cotton they do sell though. However you can easily pay £100 for merino elsewhere and £200 for cashmere. We all make choices but M&S are competitively pricing their natural fibres which makes them worth a look.

Yes Ivenow learned people are very protective over brands they like. There is another thread where the op is rankled as she is considering a co ord set of cardigan and jogging bottoms and seems to be pissed off everyone is not saying it’s fab.

i don’t think even M&S employees themselves would be as defensive as some folks on here, where simply as people say it’s quality is low, to manage the price point, they are accused of being snobs, and in one odd post, lying.

@Notsosweetcaroline I see lots of wool coats at Jaeger. I cannot see how they are dated. No, they don’t like Ted Baker but classic coats last.

I don’t mind people not necessarily liking a style of clothes but the assertions in here that there are no natural fibres is 100% inaccurate.

I’m sure there are items that are fine, and to someone else’s taste

I meant look like Ted Baker!

I’m not ignoring, I’m choosing not to purchase for the main part, but did buy three linen dresses last season. Their quality seems good. You do have to be vigilant though - they make claims of natural fabrics but mix in a lot of plastic.

@Goodwitchglenda Yes, I’m discerning too! As I am elsewhere!

I've just bought that first bra for a holiday and after wearing it I will be buying more to wear with the straps. I'm a life long underwire person since the Wonderbra days but am now converted .

You always see the people on here who claim to know a good seam, was raised by a mother who was a seamstress blah blah . Being the age I am yes my mother made and knitted all of our clothes as there was not just the availability then and it was cheaper to do. So most mothers were seamstresses to a degree in a certain time span. I myself used to dressmake especially when I lived in a country where choices were limited and not to taste. I rate M and S for what they provide - clothes which nod to current trends and are of decent quality. Not all of them as I don't like eg air yarn I think they call it but that's my personal choice. I don't expect a store to cater exclusively to my taste. M and S are my go to for dark indigo jeans as they do high quality ones in short leg lengths. I do shop at other places too. I love looking good but I'm not obsessed with it. I possess the finances to spend large amounts on clothes but I rarely do - when I say large amounts I'm referring to a link on here earlier where single small items were above 500 pounds. I don't do that . It doesn't sit well with me when you're paying for a label and for other reasons. I buy from certain online stores which are pricier than M and S but in the end a Me and Em double cotton cheesecloth dress wears out as quickly as one from a cheaper store. Obviously certainly fabrics differ. I don't keep clothes for donkey's years. The same goes for handbags - there's a thread here on a " status" handbag . Personally I don't want a status handbag especially when you see so many fakes around now. I spend up to 500 on a good leather bag but that's it. I actually haven't bought an M and S bag as most of them seem to be not secure enough for me. I was dipped one time funnily enough when using a LV bag when I used to buy . 🤷‍♀️

Maybe some of the dissatisfaction comes from people who might just want to go into M&S & buy pretty much their whole autumn/winter wardrobe there?

I don't know if that's the case, I'm just pondering that perhaps that's part of the reason why so many people are disgruntled by a drop in overall quality. They're frustrated at having to check the "wool-rich" labels for actual content etc, & having to hunt through the clothes to find the better stuff. It probably has become a bit more difficult?

It doesn't bother me as I've always liked to mix & match different brands, cheaper/more expensive, high street/designer (though not so much & only sales/second-hand!!!), vintage & new. I love the element of discovery - it's fun!! And I've always been a label checker re fabric content & care.

But for those who don't enjoy shopping like that, they may find it more of a chore than it used to be - especially since most other department stores have now disappeared or declined hugely in range & quality.

Oh, & I do think if you know how to make clothes, or have a relative who did, it does make you a bit more discerning/educated about buying clothes & where they've taken short-cuts/economised etc. I don't think that's bragging or snobbery as such - I think it's very useful knowledge?

It's funny, I used to make most of my clothes because it was much cheaper than retail, even using better fabrics. I've been reluctantly wondering whether it's time to clear a large enough space to start again, not for want of cheaper clothes but want of affordable garments in good materials.

I've recently been obsessed with an idea of mine for this. I'm not going to get around to realising it, though, so am now sharing my brilliant find for MN dressmakers to buy it all up! It's 98% wool, 2% elastane, £21.
https://www.dalstonmillfabrics.co.uk/stirling-tartan-wool-with-elastane-blueberry-ice.html

They are surprisingly really good aren’t they, give a nice shape and they work strapless as well, stay up relatively well. I’ve tried more expensive ones but these are my go to.

Much better shape than the wired ones I've bought before !

Why aren't you going to realise your obsession? Go for it!!!

Time, space, energy (I sound like a Star Trek officer). I appreciate the sentiment, though!

I get it. I have many, many unrealised plans & ideas ...!!!

@EleanorMc67 Do people really shop in one shop for everything? I’m surprised if they do. I’d always check high st brands for what linen rich and wool rich actually mean. Price is often the giveaway! But classy fabrics command a higher price. It’s just that simple.

I’ve bought a couple of the air yarn pieces last year. Found them warm and cozy. They are good enough for the money. I quite like a mix with wool and a man made fabric for longevity.

There’s even a lambswool sweater arrived now. I think keeping an eye on what’s new pays dividends too.

I think some people will do, yes. Maybe not all the time - but if they think, damn, I have a night out on Friday & I have nothing to wear, then I know a couple of people who'd just rush into the big M&S on Princes St & hope to grab top/trousers/footwear & they're done.

They're not especially "fashion-y" people - but they want to look current & not spend either too much money or too much time on the search.

And I don't think that's at all uncommon, going by a few current/recent threads where it's obvious that a lot of people treat it like a one-stop shop for something new to wear (assuming you're in a city or near a retail park that has a big one with the full range).

Some have bought pretty much their whole autumn/winter wardrobe there, by the sounds of some posts - so I'm just surmising that those might be the people most disgruntled by an overall drop in quality & having to expend more effort on finding the good stuff.

What is a "fashion-y" person @EleanorMc67?