Another M&S rant...

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.

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.

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!

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.

* 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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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,

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,

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

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).

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.

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???

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.

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.

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!

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.

I always buy my jeans in M&S. Not always the best quality but they fit perfectly as they aren’t loose around the waist

Did you get a reply to your M&S email NemoNanna?
I too used to buy a lot of their clothes - not anymore - hardly go in store now.
I also got a super longish checked jacket/coat from TKMaxx for £25 - feel great in it.
Bye bye M&S.

MOnica. I meant food quality not clothing. I find it difficult buying clothing because I prefer things to last but quality seems to be the last thing on offer in any shops these days, and all the criticisms levelled at M&S can be levelled at almost any shop on the high street. I occasionally buy from Boden, but quality bit hit and miss and I also like Toast and Jigsaw, all quite pricey but I am concerned that for us to buy cheap, workers are living below the poverty line whichever brand you choose. I know that the more you pay doesn't necessarily mean ethical. What a dilemma.

Have changed my allegiance from M&S to Sainsbury's, bought a lovely navy trench raincoat for £40 and a beautiful blue herringbone wool 'biker' style coat for £45. Bye - bye M&S!

I went into Sainsbury's for the first time in years. Got quite a few bargains for DH and I. I was pleasantly surprised at the quality.

I like a lot of M&S food unless it has too much coriander in it, their new veggie stuff is great and the salads are always fresh.

I buy bedding sometimes too from M&S, and the stay cool stuff is lovely.

The clothes...well I have some lovely classy jumpers I bought in 2010 and they are still wearable but I bought 2 cardigans last winder and they are pilled and unwearable out of the house.

I wish also they sold sensible black skirts, in wearable lengths and not figure strangling.

Sometimes so little fabric is used in their clothes I think its the savings on fabric which are causing their clothes to be unappealing.

I have bought 2 long cardigans in navy and black with a waterfall front, they are smart and good value.

I can't find any proper trousers with wide legs and admit I am wearing wide leg black joggers with everything, everyday!