Do you think M&S will consult us now?

In past years the Marks store near Marble Arch end was the flagship store - not sure if that is still the case - but the one called Pantheon by Oxford Circus was a MUCH better store to shop in - I always hated that Marble Arch store and could never find anything.

It was The Pantheon that I was in!

I thought that was in Rome?

Saw some pictures of Twiggy modelling some of their stock and even she looked frumpy in them!

I tend to spend the winter wearing a black woollen polo necked jumper. Once I put on a polo neck it's there for the duration as I feel cold when I take it off. Always used to buy one from M&S [and they last forever] but they don't seem to sell them now. I thought their new shop in Paris was doing well, though? I don't know what I'd do if they stopped selling Per Una jeans .

sunseeker, I am no model no where near, never have been, so I try not to criticise folks for their looks, but I actually found myself thinking that the other day. If Twiggy can't look good in stuff with her name on I found myself thinking....then what hope have I?

Tegan M+S did have ribbed polo neck jumpers autumn/winter 12 I noticed a rack in the Hanley branch in a sickly shade of beige . However I do think that clothing that won't sell at any of the other branches gets dumped on Hanley or Crewe.

gillybob judging by the amount of 80 year olds that flock around the Per Una dept there must be an awful lot of hippies in Crewe.

I agree Per Una was great when it started out I also liked Indigo too but not any more.

Reddevil3 I also like side zips much more flattering if you have a tum.

I couldn't see much that I recognised in the Paris shop. Nor indeed much that I would want to wear. I expect the food is doing well, though.

I was a fan of Indigo too Sook but have you seen it lately?

I think M&S has totally lost its way in most departments and needs to get back to basics and try to understand the age group/type of person each department is aimed at.

IMHO they are trying to be too much to too many and as a result are becoming nothing to anyone!

gillybob.....nail hit on head methinks. Yes I too beieve they try to please everyone instead of being brave enough to have an identity. I suppose its historically based really, M&S used to be a bit of everything BUT it was always of superior quality. Hence Grandma, Mum and I could always find something. Remember their 'Junior Miss' range? Nowadays, with the wider variety of shops it would be sensible for them to take a cold hard look at their real customer base and keep with that.

I've found a website that sells lambswool sweaters in every colour [none in black at the moment but I've ordered one in navy to check the size out]. I've been browsing the internet for months looking for one and, hey presto, today's the day!

Tegan, 'Woolovers' is quite good.

That's the one I've found. I've ordered a small size cause they're unisex and the sizes are quite generous. They do some lovely cashmere ones as well but the moths love those as much as I do . So, in the past few weeks I've found some ankle boots that fit my mutant feet, I tried on an old pair of walking boots at the weekend; not sure why I stopped wearing them but they're absolutely fine and dead comfortable and now I've got a woolly jumper. Sorted .

You're sorted Tegan....its so sweet when the little things give us such great satisfaction! Bit like me finding a teapot I'm happy with!

Sorted ; what was all that about? Should have been . Mind you, came down to earth with a bump when I got to the checkout at the Co op just now and my purse wasn't in my handbag [I'd been to several shops and the bank] but I'd thrown it on the car seat. Phew. Heart's still pounding a bit because I'd just taken some money out of the bank for my son's birthday.

Awww Tegan, know that feeling. Had to pull into a layby the other day just to check where purse was because it was not in the bag on passenger seat. I was rummagingAND driving! Found myself thinking...'calm down or you will crash the car over something so silly'. Trouble is I do suddenly get very anxious about such things and need to find out NOW!

Yes; once that niggle kicks in it won't go away. I reached a stage where I was scared to look in my purse last thing at night in case my credit card wasn't there. I once drove back to a cash machine late at night only to find the card [after I'd phoned cardguard and cancelled it] lying on the floor by the phone. Also used to worry about whether I'd set the burglar alarm at work. Sometimes used to go back, find that it had actually been set then get home and worry that I'd turned it off and not turned it back on again. I can only get worse as I get older as well....

Sadly Per Una went down hill as soon as George Davies left. Most of my favourite clothes date from when Per Una started, the designs and fabrics were so much better.
If you look at the reviews on the M&S website they are full of complaints about the nasty plastic belts and jewellery that are added to the clothes. Naturally M&S continue to ignore them.

I've tried saying:'You can keep the frippery', even that doesn't work! Local charity shops are full of discarded M&S necklaces and belts.
Tegan I once resorted to the Mens Dept for sweaters, they still do nice lambswool ones, but even the Small Man's a bit generous.

Oldgreymare....I'm lucky...being of a tall and 'sturdy' build as I can wear the men's belts that M&S do. They still do classic plain all leather belts that work well on 'below the waist' jeans. I have also found their men's jumpers usefull, the slightly higher V neck is mitigated by a necklace or scarf, (though never anything by M&S)

Another problem is men's clothes. Since my husband put on a lot of weight, because of the steroids he took as part of his chemotherapy, I have been unable to buy trousers for him in M&S. He can just get into their XXL polo shirts but the trousers don't go above 44" waist. As most of the women's clothes go up to 22 now I would have thought they'd extend the men's sizes a bit.

I was mooching in M&S today and found, to my surprise a new range of T-shirts with longer than the usual cap sleeves. They are almost elbow length. The range of colours isn't very big yet. I bought a mint one and there are black, white, navy and purple versions, but the lady at the check-out told me that they are planning to expand the range of colours. Only at Christmas time have I seen the place so busy. They must be doing something right!

For donkeys years I have bought most of my clothes at M & S and really been happy with them. However, a few weeks ago I ventured into Exeter with a wad full of money burning a hole in my pocket..............I also came out with the same money in my pocket!!!!

It seems to me that they are trying to cater for the youngsters......have they ever seen young people shopping in their stores? I certainly haven't!!!! There is nothing new and exciting for the 'over 50's'. Summer tops are all the same as they were last year, the year before and the year before that! What happened to collars?????? I couldn't find a nice up to date blouse with a collar. I also hate t-shirts!!!!! Give us a few alternatives..................Please!!!!!

I think they should design nice chic clothes that we can look both fashionable, smart and not like some old drab woman!!!!!!! Trouble is........where is the alternative. Just who caters for us that dont put huge price tags of their garments? I despair..... Now, where did I put my old sewing machine??????????????

Yup deeda my DH would shop there if there was anything that fitted. But menswear is run for and by a bunch of skinny guys. Last time we tried there was, in a huge menswear dept, not a single assistant there to help if one happened to have a question like "Do you have any flat fronted charcoal business trousers in a 42 waist and a long leg length?". Just one woman supervising the fitting room, who could not move from her post and actually "assist".
Someone (with a rugby playing husband) gave me the tip that Tesco do chinos and jeans that fit men with big thighs. He got some chinos there (Ok for work but they don't last long - but they wouldn't at the price) and also some black jeans. First time he has had a pair of jeans that fitted!