M & S - not a happy shopper!

Our M&S rarely has anything I need. I'd happily buy online to collect from my local store but if you don't pick it up within 7 days (even though you've paid for it) they send it back! Their website is also painfully slow so I tend to look elsewhere now. I also find them expensive which used to be ok because stuff was made in the UK and was quality driven. I don't think you can say that now.

I prefer uniglo ‘s thermals . I have long sleeved tops which I wear dog walking . They’re long in the body , so easy to tuck in . And short sleeve ones to wear under my scrubs when I was working .
They’re popular with skiers as pack really small .

Witzend I also hunted for a sales counter upstairs in the Richmond MS branch. No staff either on the floor to ask. And a rather grubby loo.

Shopping is so disappointing these days.

However a friend bought a very smart denim jacket from Damart and is pleased with it.

Oreo

I haven’t heard this about France, but their HQ is in Bingley, in West Yorkshire.

It's always been a French owned company, it's UK HQ is Bingley, it's overall HQ is in France.
I know point it out as many think it's one of the UK's long standing British companies, their intention l guess, they've had some dubious marketing ploys in the past.

I can never find what clothes I want in store at M&S so always use their app..I have Heatgen vests and Heatgen long sleeved tops in light ,medium and thick styles. All are very soft and warm . But I would say buy bigger than your normal size as especially the long sleeved tops are a tight fit . I made the mistake of buying my normal 16 in the thickest long sleeved top felt like I my body and arms were being strangled . But they do keep me cosy and warm .

I wouldn't buy underwear from Bella di Notte it is very expensive for what it is. Some of their clothes are nice, but their sizing can be on the small side compared with other makes.

There’s a good selection of thermals in M&S in our large food hall. It’s very odd that they didn’t stock them in a high street branch.
Which town was this Astitchintime?

My 10-year-old Damart thermal vests are great and even double as long-sleeved T- shirts when required.

petra

Netherbyg84

Plenty of thermal tops and leggings in larger M and S stores.
I agree finding an assistant on the floor to help you find them is becoming increasingly difficult.

That’s how shop lifters are having a field day: no staff on the floor.

Not to mention nowhere to pay!! Not long ago I was bemused at finding nowhere to pay on the upper floor of M&S Richmond - the checkouts I’d used before were gone , you had to go downstairs, where it’s largely self-checkouts anyway.

I get my Thermal tops from Menswear .. nice and long

JaneJudge

I honestly have never heard of them. I thought it was an American firm but I think I'm thinking of walmart

When I get paid I'm going to buy some socks from there

Walmart used to own Asda but only has a very small stake in it now.

Might be worth checking out Bella di Notte - functions as from a small paper catalogue or can be found online. It's an Italian firm (and the clothes don't appear to be "chinese"). Just tried them out by buying a cardigan from them.

Their clothes probably cost around about what Marks & Spencers clothes would cost if the quality had been kept up to 1970s/1980s standard and the cardigan looks "normal quality" - rather than today's goodness-knows-what country made it quality.

Uniqlo heatech have vests, t shirts with long and short sleeves and long johns. People buy them for skiing and just as a base layer in the cold weather. Very light to wear and pack down really small.

I honestly have never heard of them. I thought it was an American firm but I think I'm thinking of walmart

When I get paid I'm going to buy some socks from there

Marks and Spencer thermal tops are lovely , our local store is only in a small town, but they have a great range, I always buy a few new ones every year.

25Avalon

Princess Diana wore Damart thermals in the cold I believe.

Yes she did!

I have swapped from M&S to Next for my underwear. I looked after Christmas and they had knickers piled up that looked like bits of tat. Thin fabric and poorly made. How things have changed from years ago. On the plus side their knitwear is really good just now.

Primark seem to have lots of thermal type tops and vests and a great range of loungewear.

Princess Diana wore Damart thermals in the cold I believe.

I think most clothes in the UK are made abroad as the overheads are less.

I haven’t heard this about France, but their HQ is in Bingley, in West Yorkshire.

OldFrill

Oreo

Damart is a long established Yorkshire firm that first specialised in thermals but now does a whole range of women’s clothing and a few mens as well.
Their thermals are really excellent and you can either order online or request brochures and then order by post with a cheque or by phone.

Damart is French though operates multinationally, manufacturing in Tunisia, China etc.

M&S clothes are made overseas, probably in the same factories.

JaneJudge

what is Damart?

😁

Well, it was a catalogue selling by post and had a name for sensible warm clothing for ladies of a certain age (my MIL was a keen customer).
However, I've commented a couple of times on rather nice sweaters a friend has been wearing and she whispered "they're from Damart".
The thermal vests are good.

Oreo

Damart is a long established Yorkshire firm that first specialised in thermals but now does a whole range of women’s clothing and a few mens as well.
Their thermals are really excellent and you can either order online or request brochures and then order by post with a cheque or by phone.

Damart is French though operates multinationally, manufacturing in Tunisia, China etc.

JaneJudge

what is Damart?

I’m surprised you’ve never heard of them! If you google Damart you’ll easily find them.

Oreo

The best and prettiest of thermal vest tops among other items are Damart.You can order online.

Oreo I found them before Christmas they were literally the only place I could find V neck thermals and when my youngest asked me what I want for Christmas I sent a screenshot shot over and two lovely ones landed a couple of days after
A black one and a flesh coloured one and they are very very warm although a really thin fine material I have one on as we speak
Janejudge Damart is a very well established on line or ‘catalogue through the post’ store I used to look at is as more for older folk but they do have some nice jumpers and lots of other stuff and I suppose I am older I did have a couple of nice jumpers and they haven’t bobbled as much as Mand S do