Another M&S rant...

I buy from Boden too - when there are special offers! But their range suits all sorts of ages, lasts a goodly long time and generally washes well too. I have visited M&S but only to buy knickers [the no VPL type] and also a couple of cushions. I found the shop I visited HUGE to the point I couldn't find the undies and then I couldn't find where to pay. I felt myself becoming panicky when I couldn't find the way out either!!!
Sadly I agree about Next too. Their range is quite dull at the moment and there's also a lot of glitter which I don't go for - cooking the dinner in sequins is not really my style . Childrens clothes are nice though.

Lostmyglassesxx - a really helpful post, thank you. As you supply them, will you please will you find a way to connect senior M&S managers and designers with this thread? It will be for their own advantage!

Their aim to get people to buy online is all very well, but until they sort out the constant changes to the sizing/lengths it isn’t going to go well. Who wants the faff of constantly having to return stuff because it doesn’t fit, even though you already have things that size that do. To be fair, they are not alone in this, I buy regularly from Boden, but only when they offer free delivery and returns as you just never know.

This year the M & S trousers fit me, last year hopeless! Have got some good plain jumpers from Bonnemarche. If I could I would buy all my thicker jumpers from House of Bruar.

My biggest grip is sizing. When I bought twp pairs of jeans, from the same M&S 'brand' on the same rail, the same size but different colours one waist was an inch narrower than the other! Unfortunately I did not realise this till I got home, having tried on the one pair that fitted. Size 16 knickers that were bigger than the size 20???

Being a larger size and only just over 5 feet tall I was a fan of M&S elasticated back trousers as they were usually all I could find that fit and were comfortable. In recent years though the choice has reduced and some of the fabrics are truly horrible. Now however the local M&S (along with the outlet section) have closed so I'll have to drive to the next town where parking can be an issue. I hate shopping online for clothes as I do like to try things on so I'm not a happy bunny either.

I still love M&S, jeggings are brilliant fit, bought a couple of lovely jumpers a couple of weeks ago. 2 packs of briefs, super fit, wouldn't buy any where else for underwear

I also use an M&S Outlet , hit & miss whether you find what you like but I've had some really good buys. I do also look in ASDA, Next is terrible (worse than M&S).

Do it ..!they need valid comments and constructive criticism

I still find jumpers on the German M&S site. As I now can't bear wool next to my skin I am satisfised with the cashmillon jumpers which I have in all colours and their button through cardigans which I wear as jumpers and don't undo the buttons.
Of course here there is never any danger of seeing these simple clothes on anybody else. For real style or good jeans I go to German shops or their internet pages.
My style has always been very simple and I like a good necklace or a silk scarf to contrast with the plain navy or black jumpers,

Possibly different stock in their French shops. When in France I always look in Kiabi, it is a bit of of a curates egg, but I have bought some very nice clothes there, and also in Leclerc,

Over twenty years ago I wrote to the CE of M&S to tell him what was wrong with women's clothing. It has not improved since. I pointed out the more mature woman does not want to look like a set of curtains. Even currently every item is over designed, over embellished, in vile colours. Recently I told them to look at MeandEm, Cos, Jigsaw, L K Bennett, Karen Millen clothing for inspiration. My advice evidently considered useless.

Is there something wrong with me? I could quite happily dress myself all year round from M&S. It beats the C&A shop in Carcassonne by miles. I actually like many of their clothes. Not everything is suitable for someone short and dumpy like me, but I generally find something I like.

Just received an email from M&S inviting me to join their In Touch community 'where my voice will be heard by senior management and changes made', oh the irony.

Bought my jeans in M&S for years then they stopped making relaxed skinny ! So they lost massive numbers of older customers , they don’t seem to know who they want to dress.

* Lazigirl* M&S is the last shop I would go to if I was looking for decent quality clothes. Last year I bought two pairs of cotton/linen trousers from M and Co. I also bought a pair online from M&S. The M&S trousers were more expensive, thinner and creased badly as soon as you put them on and after wearing them less and less over two summers they have been donated to charity. The two pairs from MandCo remain as good as ever.

As I have said before I have never liked M&S but use them on occasion as a shop of last resort, but my consistent experience over the last 10 years has been of poor quality clothes that fail on all the grounds you mention as them not doing

I love M&S food and trust their quality, storage and sourcing.
I buy some clothing from there but am quite selective. My taste is probably dull but prefer my clothing to last and not bobble, shrink or fall apart after a couple of wearings. I think M&S generally has gone down market and more budget because this seems to be what many consumers demand, and there is massive competition from supermarkets and cheaper shops selling clothes for peanuts. I look in other shops such as Next and find the clothing much worse.

Thanks Losstmyglasses. Interesting to hear from the other side. Especially good point about everyone happy to say what they hate but not so clear on exactly what they want. Distilled essence from this thread seems to be keep it simple and use natural fabrics where possible. However, that would sound desperately dull to a business trying to keep up with a fickle market. If they did stick with the old styles they'd be accused of being boring. Can't please all the people all the time!

Several people on GN have been in touch with M&S and have received no joy, I regularly contact them on FB and have not had a reply either.
I no longer buy the clothes and last month I visited the food department to buy finger food for a party, the entire lot went into the bin. Everyone agreed that the food was not pleasant, had way too much seasoning, I felt like taking the very expensive inedible food and dumping it on the CEOs desk.

My daughter (31) won't go to M&S as nothing has ever fitted or looked right from about age 16, so the young end is not covered and I don't buy much any more for all the reasons stated.

Thanks for the heads-up, Hm999. I'll have a look.

I supply m ands
Have worked with them for years
Believe me it’s not easy .for suppliers customers or buying teams..!
I wouldn’t expect the average consumer to understand the workings of a big corporation and what the process is form concept to the shop floor ..how the product is manipulated and changed for a myriad of reasons ..cost quality concept sales response strategy.. and, believe me they start off with
lovely designs..but they have lost their way which they will never regain... they are only as good as their buyers and executives ..and not everybody wants to work there or can fit in..they have chopped and changed customer profile and product identity so many times ..over the years .but they are truly trying to address the criticisms ..the flared sleeves are fashion, they cannot sell a sea of identical product ..glitter is fashion...any store has good and bad product otherwise the sales would not exist with markdowns..manmade fabrics and polyesters are price driven and they are what the mid market retailer sells...there is cotton in the summer ..they can’t sell all silk and wool.prices would soar ..the viscose and polyesters they sell are not bottom of the range fabrics ..they are rigorously tested..
A soup eating sleeve on a top is not the criteria for product design..although it’s aconsideration in the range as a whole .. I will defend them to an extent as I think it’s an impossible task to satisfy the broad spectrum of customers.and nobody says what they do want ..only what they hate ..!
If you look you will find nice things ..not everything..but there are some nice pieces ..look on line ..get an overview ..the stores are depressing and not a stimulating environment I agree.the staff are dull ..sorry staff ! .the challenge for any big street retailer is to get the customer in the store..make it inviting and interesting...that’s the biggest challenge and Archie Norman says he needs to get more online sales..when the general trend for retail is to get people back in stores and make it a pleasant personal experience..

Also all but given up on MS apart from food. Never have anything in my size - I thought 14 was average - and always got told "But you can order it on line." I would also agree that some staple clothes have changed in actual size. I did pop in this week to get a particular pair of slippers. They were available in every size apart from 7 They really need to get their buying sorted out. At the end of every season there are always masses of small or larger sizes. This should tell them something but clearly not as it's been the same for many years. Rant over. Glad it's not just me

Who is their buyer - some of the stuff is truly awful for the young, middle-aged and elderly. I am retired I have a little disposal and like to look nice but casual. They should be able to sell me something every time I go in - they can't. Employ me I'd love to buy for them.

Have just been round our large M and S this afternoon and even with a 20% discount couldn’t find one item I couldn’t live without. Just bought some food,which I do still like ,but not cheap!

Pam Dixon I have usually found the wide fitting footglove shoes very good and bought a pair of flatties there recently. I agree there are a lot of shoes that are not to my taste too, and I couldn't get my feet in many of them. I would feel like the ugly sisters trying to get my foot into the glass slipper!