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

Yes - I've noticed that too. The quality of M&S food has declined massively in recent years so they're probably having to work harder to keep customers.

Actually I don’t agree, I find the food excellent, but agree with rhe poster you quoted. Who didn’t actually say the food has declined in quality as you did, they said they are getting influencers to promote fatty sugary food, which they are. But it’s a small percentage of their range.

They come up with a load of items they try to send viral, the most recent one being the custard cream spread, but their actual food, is still excellent. I buy a lot of it from Ocado and the quality is fantastic. But they price it accordingly, it is far from a low to mid price point. Unlike their clothes.

@Notsosweetcaroline Mine are pretty decent cotton! Cos do a thicker cotton but twice the price. In the heat, thinner cotton suits me. I’ve some high quality cotton shirts too. I don’t know why people don’t look on line for details but post incorrect info on here. I’ve posted an array of cotton dresses in this board over the summer because posters are incapable of searching for cotton!

The quality of cotton is not just about the thickness, a good quality cotton is smooth, denser,and absorb dye better due to the length of the fibres. It also holds its shape

low quality cotton as you guessed is thin, can’t hold rich colours and will lose its shape quicker ie become stretched out.

Same here with the merino jumper. The sleeves are really snug now, which is weird. Agree re Uniqlo for merino or cashmere, and also cotton trousers sometimes.
I also want M&S to use far less polyester, it’s in bloody everything, and it’s often the only reason I don’t buy something. I don’t want polyester trousers, polyester jackets, polyester shirts … they are doing some great shapes and colours, as everyone is saying, make them a bit more expensive and out of cotton or wool, or viscose satin rather than polyester .

The food has got better I think. I have coeliac disease and they do some great gluten free options, plus lots more simple pantry stuff with minimal ingredients.

I remember the seasonal "what the fuck were they thinking?" M&S threads!

Always made for amusing reading, followed by the fun of seeing if you could spot the items 'in the wild' at your local store (or on a mate).

Simpler times.

I went round a reasonably big store last week and thought quite a lot of things looked good. <Disclosure: I like brown and burgundy> They didn’t look as good in close-up though and I was a bit dismayed when I picked up a coat and realised the heaviest thing about it was the hanger. But at that price point, I’m not surprised and it’s not a mystery why they cut corners. I’m afraid I don’t agree with posters who think enough people would be willing to pay what it would cost for higher quality.

I sometimes wonder what it must be costing them to keep all those stores open.

@Floisme You only have to look at the demise of higher end high street brands to know there are not enough people willing to pay more! It’s blindingly obvious. A few like Jigsaw are hanging on but other better clothes stores on the high st are often H&M group or Zara - so not British. M&S on line stock loads of other brands and if you want silk or wool, there is Jaeger in the M&S stable.

I did have hopes that the Jaeger label would become the M&S high quality / higher level design range but I’ve been pretty disappointed with it so far although I possibly haven’t seen enough of it.

Yes it’s really dated stuff.

Yet the likes of me and em have taken off.

@Floisme I quite like Jaeger. Wool trousers, heavier t shirt tops, more interesting knitwear. Not so keen on the large geometric patterned dresses but if you choose wisely, the fabrics are good.

Me and Em don’t have a branch in every town. They don’t try and cater for all ages, bodies, tastes etc, in fact I’d say they’re unashamedly aspirational. I don’t think that’s a good comparison.

I don’t agree. The jeans sizing is ridiculous and last year I bought a winter coat which ripped after a few weeks. Exchanged it for a different one which also ripped and the manager said no one had brought any other coats back.

I didn’t say they did. On an online forum when someone quotes someone else and responds, it means they are responding to that particular point. In this instance I was responding to the comment the higher end brands are dying off.

me and em are mainly on line with some flagship stores. Physical shops is really not the barometer.

I see what you’re saying @NotsosweetCaroline- I was just making the point that I don’t think M&S are in a position to copy Me and Em. I think the best we can hope for is that they might be able to develop Jaeger as their high end offering alongside their day-to-day range.

@Floisme Me&Em have expanded into the USA. They have tiny high street presence here. Two stores in London but not sure where else. Profits around £20 million but the women who shop there don’t want to see the same clothes on others and pay for that. They are only doing women’s clothes with a relatively limited line. It’s nothing like M&S. I think they don’t do larger sizes and some women definitely won’t fit into Me&Em. Neither will they interest the posters on this site who won’t shop on line as mostly they sell on line.

And certainly not at £275 for a jumper. It’s all well and good saying that natural fibres are worth it but not when that’s a large % of your monthly income.

Absolutely and I wasn’t suggesting they did, or comparing, as said, I was responding to the one quote I posted, which was about high end brands declining and I pointed out this wasn’t the case and brands like me and em have taken off.

Anyway i also think they need to do more with the jaeger brand , I find it very dated , I have looked a few times and I’d not consider it.

Yes!! It’s so tight in the arms!! I should have learned my lesson when the other one I bought a year ago got a hole within a few months, but the colour was so lovely I thought I’d overlook it. Also bought a pair of trousers that looked good in the shop, but did a cold 15min wash before I wore them and the colour faded (in a streaky way). Such a waste of money.

They've got rid of the classics though... I could always get a perfect pair of black trousers and a perfect A-line long black skirt in Marks' Notbyi mention the pants and tights and accessories Now I'm lucky to find anything decent (outside of the food hall?, obvs)

You’re slagging off M&S quality and lauding Pull & Bear? 😂

There are still some higher quality bits in the Autograph range. I picked up a silk shirt and skirt set last week that I’ve noticed has barely made a ripple on social media, despite being that slightly higher price point/well cut/stylish natural fibre combo I’m always seeing people shouting for.

@LadyMonicaBaddinghamHow many A line black skirts do you need? There’s plenty of black trousers and even wool ones. I’ve no idea why you cannot find them on line.

Wool is not a bit more expensive. It’s going to be £100 for a pair of trousers. Lots of others are under £40. Some well
under. I like wool trousers but there is a place in my wardrobe for non natural fibres and quite a few are now recycled which is not a bad thing.

Oh and guess what, Jaeger did a very nice wool rich A line skirt. I have one.