M&S: dress the Nation. What do you think.?

Astitchintime

Witzend

One thing I really wish they’d do again, is plain, fine knit, roll neck, long! jumpers. I practically live in their ‘cosy’ jeggings in winter and I do like tops to cover my arse!

Me too Witzend. I have resorted to longer brushed cotton shirts - can layer these with a simple tee for added warmth - but a do have some tunic tops (some bought and some handmade)

Long Tall Sally have some.

Witzend

One thing I really wish they’d do again, is plain, fine knit, roll neck, long! jumpers. I practically live in their ‘cosy’ jeggings in winter and I do like tops to cover my arse!

Me too Witzend. I have resorted to longer brushed cotton shirts - can layer these with a simple tee for added warmth - but a do have some tunic tops (some bought and some handmade)

fwiw, like a lot of other programmes, i do have the M&S recorded, to have a look at. Some time.

AGAA4

I buy my bras and knickers at M &S but everything else is so dull.

Me too.

But did buy some summer clothes in there last year.
The winter stuff, cant remember when I last bought anything there.

They did have a half decent nightwear section, but that seems to have largely gone again.

I do know people who buy some shoes there. Never have myself.

I this year I have bought certain clothes in the Jaeger section but then I used to buy them in John Lewis before they were bought out by M&S.

Thanks, V3ra, I will take a look at those!

@Foxie - actually the leopard jeans are incredibly wide - too wide for me ☹️ But their wide cord trousers are brilliant - not too wide, very soft, good length and so comfy to wear.
I heartily recommend them.
The leopard jeans, alas, will have to go back

I'm like MOnica, I'm 78 and find myself going through racks of clothes in M&S while muttering "Too Mumsy!" I shall keep watching the programme to see if they come up with anything interesting. It's a nice touch having customers commenting on the clothes, but I wish the presenters would stop yelling so much!

foxie48

RosiesMaw2

foxie48

I popped into our local M&S and was surprised by the range, thought it had greatly improved. I bought a pair of bootcut jeans that I'm really pleased with and saw several pieces I'd have tried on if I'd had more time. Apparently 12,000 are waiting for their leopard print jeans to come back into stock!

#smuggranny- I got a pair three days ago!

Are you pleased with them? I was thinking of getting some.

Haven’t worn them yet after reading all the comments about tarty on the Animal Print thread! Maybe tomorrow!
What is good though is (are?) their wide cord trousers. Not too wide and a lovely thick soft cord, may buy another colour.
Honestly they have some good stuff, yes you have to look but on the whole their winter jumpers/tank tops, Borg jackets and gilets and the trousers are all well worth a look.

I thought that the contestants on Sewing Bee had better finished garments than the future M&S clothes designers.

RosiesMaw2
More than one recent fashion feature recently has actually said how M&S have upped their game and are designing and selling many on trend items.

But it doesn't mean its right and it doesn't mean that the stylish garmnts are in store.

I went into their store last week because according to their website thy had a whole range of winter coats. I was in their very big store in central Reading, only one coat to be seen and most of what was in the rails looked dull. I bought a less than itnersting sandwich for lunch and walked out.

RosiesMaw2

foxie48

I popped into our local M&S and was surprised by the range, thought it had greatly improved. I bought a pair of bootcut jeans that I'm really pleased with and saw several pieces I'd have tried on if I'd had more time. Apparently 12,000 are waiting for their leopard print jeans to come back into stock!

#smuggranny- I got a pair three days ago!

Are you pleased with them? I was thinking of getting some.

I used to shop at M&S but last year they closed down their very convenient high street branch in our town, which had a cafe and a food hall.

BlueBelle

Their jumpers all bobble up within a couple of wears

You’re right, but it’s not just at M&S. Unfortunately wherever you shop on the high street it’s hard to find quality knitwear now. I can’t wear wool these days, it’s too itchy, so I look for cotton or cotton blends, which don’t tend to bobble. I searched high and low for a blue wool cardigan with pockets for my mum, I found one eventually at House of Bruar which she was happy with, even though the colour wasn’t exactly what she had in mind. It’s hard work sourcing.

foxie48

I popped into our local M&S and was surprised by the range, thought it had greatly improved. I bought a pair of bootcut jeans that I'm really pleased with and saw several pieces I'd have tried on if I'd had more time. Apparently 12,000 are waiting for their leopard print jeans to come back into stock!

#smuggranny- I got a pair three days ago!

M0nica

RosiesMaw2

Is this not meant to be about the TV programme rather than a(nother) critique of M&S?

these are all reasons why most of us have not bothered to watch this programme - as well as some very poor (and sometmes quite funny(ha-ha) reviews.

But the programme was not about M&S per se - and we have had thread after thread criticising M&S .
Seems some people have missed the point, seen the title M&S and just launched into the same old same old.
More than one recent fashion feature recently has actually said how M&S have upped their game and are designing and selling many on trend items.

Their jumpers all bobble up within a couple of wears

I went to a large M&S near us the other week trying to find a pair of trousers for my elderly FiL and they had nothing suitable.

MissInterpreted same here with my 93 year old Dad!
I ordered these and he's getting on ok with them.
Elasticated waist, pull-on, no fiddly fly zip or buttons.
He likes the pockets with zips though!
I've taken the cord out of the waistband as he didn't need it.
They wash and tumble nicely.

YSENTO Mens Quick Dry Walking Hiking Trousers Outdoor Lightweight Breathable Trekking Work Trousers with Zip Pockets amzn.eu/d/8YjSsdq

Since I was in my early 20s in the 1960s I've bought a lot of clothes in M&S; I remember the days when skirts and dresses came in different lengths, jackets covered my bum and didn't make me look like the Michelin Man and shirts didn't come down to my knees. The clothes nowadays are hideous.

However, I could always rely on them for trousers - not any more though, as someone decided that "short" should no longer actually mean that. Browsing with a friend, I held up a pair of very nice wide-leg jeans, supposedly short length. They were hopelessly long for me but perfect for her - she's 5ft 9in!! They do an Extra-short, but those are never out on the rack and sell out immediately on line.

So sadly M&S has lost yet another loyal customer and whilst that won't bother anyone in the overall scheme of things enough of us are leaving the brand to give some thought to the fact that there are racks of tiny denim shorts or long flappy dresses left unsold ...

I popped into our local M&S and was surprised by the range, thought it had greatly improved. I bought a pair of bootcut jeans that I'm really pleased with and saw several pieces I'd have tried on if I'd had more time. Apparently 12,000 are waiting for their leopard print jeans to come back into stock!

Their website is slow and cumbersome too.
Perhaps they should pay attention to that as well.

I watched about five minutes of one programme but 😴

The OP was asking why they no longer cater to the older ladies market, and that’s what people are responding to? I did watch it, and against the Gransnet tide, I think the strategy has worked, because they were in big financial trouble, and now they aren’t. With clothes it’s each to their own though, so nobody is right or wrong about it.

Babs03

I prefer LandsEnd, Cotton Traders, and Chums.
M&S are ok for big knickers but I don’t ordinarily buy anything else from them.

Oh yes, the Bridget Jones's knickers.

I never did like cheese cutter knickers even when I was a teenager!

I bought some plain, pull-on warm trousers last year for wearing about the house, they were easy to wear and not baggy like jogging bottoms. They stopped doing them, of course

I haven't bought anything in M&S since the 1980's and never heard of the tv programme.