Another M&S rant...

Looking for a bra recently, couldnt find anything I liked in the huge M&S range, then I went into Matalan, a shop I have never been in before, as their things cater more for younger shoppers, however I bought two bras for a good price, and they are the best I have ever had, they fit well and have lovely broad side pieces.I will not be looking at Marks bra any more.

Don’t even bother looking anymore - ours is a food store with all the other branches reject clothing stuck at the back! The proper stores are not much better. And as for Sparks ...!

I still buy from M&S quite a lot- I quite like glitter. My gripe is they stopped doing extra long trousers some time ago & their long ones are not quite long enough!
My DiL goes to a M& S outlet shop somewhere near Bluewater & gets me some great things I have never seen in the shops at very good prices. I wish there was one nearer me.

Scribbles I bought the bra you described yesterday, most sizes, 3 colours. Look online. It's comfy by the way.
My first M&S gripe is the nightdress and matching lightweight summer dressing gown my daughter bought me August last year for my birthday. Unworn all winter, both have disintegrated into holes after 6 months of wear and washing. She liked it so much she bought the nightie, which has been washed more often - perfect.
2ndly I searched town for a summer dress to wear to a family do. Found a perfect linen dress on a poster in my M&S, they had never stocked it at that branch. Seriously, why bother advertising it then?

Hi christinefrance, don't think you're missing much on UK site (or stores).

I fear it is not possible to rely on M & S "quality" as I spent 35 pounds on a very pretty cardigan last year only for the front of it to be fluffed up and bobbly after only 3 wearings. After just a light handwash it then went completely out of shape.....very disappointing. Don't bother to look in the store any more!!

To say that M&S has llost its way is an understatement. The quality of all their clothing is appalling and the choice of jumpers is between awful and ugly. Why don't they listen to the customers who were so loyal for so long?

It enrages me that I can buy a sausage roll, but not a decent pair of tights or pants.

I always bought my clothes from M&S but lately sizing is completely different! I have also seen some jumpers in small medium & large?????
Have had lovely jumpers from peacocks & my best friend says the bras in Asda are much better!

Like many on here I used to love M&S but now buy most of my stuff at Bonnemarche, Yours, Evans (occasionally but not often cos even they have started to disappoint) and Damart online. Just bought a lovely waterproof jacket with hood from Bonnemarche for winter.Super value and beautiful fit.

I don't have an M&S store nearby so was actually looking forward to a branch down south when we went a couple of weeks ago. As usual, in and out in 10 mins. My expectations are always crushed. Quality, sizing, descriptions. Women's section shrunk and outdone by Christmas decorations, the mens section not swamped with rubbish and looking good as ever . What is a Roma rise is, goodness knows!! When I even buy online I am disappointed. I will stick with my local shops.
It would be good if M & S could read all these comments

I can’t understand Sparks either - a very snappy older assistant ‘explained’ it to me and I was none the wiser so I don’t bother with it. I’m another that thinks there is nothing much to appeal to my age group. However in the last few weeks I have bought some things that caught my eye and replaced underwear. I looked out casual and comfortable clothes before going away last weekend and realised that everything, even down to my shoes was from M&S.

Look elsewhere...M&S does not do well as far as clothes go....they are frumpy, overpriced and always behind in the fashion stakes. I'm not one for fashion, but I can't even buy a decent classic there. Can't fault their food though....yum!!

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Had a quick scroll through their “new collection” quite a few horrors have picked out a couple . I think their new head of clothing has come from Halfords, so we should see a lot of boiler suits in the spring maybe. Saw a good review of their shoes so I may brave the store to look at those.

I bought lovely warm knitwear in Matalan & Sainsburys for half the price of M&S’s. There was glittery thread in abundance though, I just ignored everything with it in!

In M&S trouser/jeans/jeggings etc I’m a size 10, despite being a size 12 everywhere else.

I like M&S for some things, but oh what the heck is all the Sparks malarkey? I have a Sparks account but I haven't time to manage it. (I can't be the only one who feels like this?) Why don't M&S just do "points", like Boots or Sainsburys? It seems M & S are just doing themselves no favours, these days.

I wander around our largest M&S unable to find anything that I like, and yet if I go to our local M&S outlet (reduced stock) I can usually find lots I want to buy. This tells me I don't like their everyday prices when you can get similar quality at Bon Marche!

Bon Marche have some really nice jeans. I bought some that have a slight stretch to the fabric and the fit lovely

I am so glad to read others who are not happy with what M&S are offering us! I agree with lots of the above views. I do get underwear there, but often look fruitlessly and frustratingly for other things. I HOPE SOME OF THEIR MANAGERS AND DESIGNERS WILL BE MADE AWARE OF THIS THREAD! I would love to say to them that they spoil otherwise good basic designs by adding daft and unstylish frufrus ( if you know what I mean) There are tons of other places where we can buy clothes on the high street - why doesn't M&S do what it used to do : KEEP IT SIMPLE! If it was easy to get simple unfussy shirts and blouses, trousers, scarves and other things in GOOD BASIC COLOURS, BOTH PASTEL AND STRONG , but no glitter or fancy bits, it would be a great place to shop. It would differentiate them from others and be a reliable place to buy clothes. And, while I am at it, why not provide cardigans and jackets which cover our bottoms? I am size 10 or 12 but still don't want a top which comes half way down my bottom.

I've more or less given up with the store. If I do see something I might like they ever seem to have the item in my size - and I have been to more than one store. Is it so strange to be a size 12?

Went to M&S with money to buy knitwear. Looking for jumpers and coatigan - nothing. So disappointed. Went to several shops and found the same so in desperation I went to TKMaxx. I bought a beautiful, warm coatigan for £25 and 2 pure cashmere jumpers, for £25 and £40. Well chuffed. That's me set up for the winter at half the cost. Win,win.

Couldn't agree more. Their reputation does not meet the reality. It is the 'embelishments' that get me - pleasant sweater - back neck zip over heavy so it will never sit right -what are they thinking - and colour sense...

I sent M & S an email when I saw their Spring/ Summer collection. I said I thought I had walked into a fancy dress shop or the pantomime department of the local theatre. Frills and bows everywhere, wappy sleeves and garish baggy trousers. Also why have they gone back to selling so much polyester and m an made fabrics?

I absolutely loathe their clothing stores - SO depressing. Went with great reluctance to their Brent Cross one a few weeks ago in search of some jeans size 10 (I'm skinny) and found nothing. Went the following day to a local Shelter shop which stocks designer rejects and found the perfect pair at a fraction of M&S prices - came out with a smile on my face. Money to charity and fab jeans - brilliant!

Oh dear, am I a frump or something? I bought some new jumpers in M&S last week and I love them! A couple of very plain, soft crew necks for £12.50, perfect for everyday wear. Also a couple of cotton rich 'Aran' style ones, really warm and comfortable. OK, they were a bit weird as they had big buttons on the sleeves - 5 of them on each sleeve from shoulder to cuff . But I just snipped them off. And now I have two sets of 10 buttons in my stash! When you consider the high price of buttons these days, that represents a saving on the cost of the jumpers

But yes, in general, I do agree that M&S have lost their way. I was looking for a navy coat recently, a showerproof one, preferably with a hood. My God, have you seen their range? Absolutely horrendous, nothing but padded, Michelin Man things everywhere. Who wears this stuff?

The stuff I used to buy in M+S I now buy in Bonmarche, although Marks wins every time with underwear