Marks and Spencer....back in the day

SueDonim

My sister worked for M&S when she was young. I can’t recall which department she was in but they treated their staff well. There was a canteen upstairs for breaks and mealtimes and a weekly hairdresser came in so they could get their hair done. There were staff extras, too, days out and so on.

Yes, my DB's friend's girlfriend worked for M&S, as a young teenager I thought it sounded a wonderful place to work. They
had hairdressers and all kinds of extras included.

Many years ago we met a couple on holiday who had a firm which manufactured swimwear for Marks and Spencer. They can't have made a fortune from that because, like us, they were camping in a muddy field in Cornwall!

A friend of my mother's used to make egg custard tarts from the eggs which they couldn't sell if they were cracked in their egg sizing machine in the market in Torquay. She ended up opening a factory in Okehampton and selling fruit tarts and other produce to Marks.

Frankly no, “back in the day” my recollection was of St Michael and St Margaret (in Scotland) pastel woollies, blouses, knickers and American Tan tights!
The clothes were much more interesting in C&A (remember Yessica?) Marks was for Mums and Aunties and many of my clothes (alas) came from the local Co-op drapery shop. Or for a treat Patrick Thomson’s on the Bridges or even occasionally Jenners.

As a student I worked in Woolworths on Saturday. I loved it especially they trusted me to do stock taking in the massive area upstairs. The only thing I hated was the smelly BO uniform, never washed. My college friend worked in Marks. My wages were pathetic but I learned a lot about the work ethic and quickly realised I wanted my own business. All the jobs along the way, working for other people, gave me the courage to go it alone age 37, pregnant and with a bucketful of knowledge. I have a Marks red fleece that appears like new but must be 35 years old. Will check tomorrow if it’s St. Michael.

They used to proudly advertise that their clothes were British made. No longer unfortunately. There were several clothing factories in Yorkshire that made clothes for St Michael. I used to visit their factory shop where they sold “seconds”.

Skydancer

I bought a size 12 St Michael skirt in a charity shop. But I couldn’t get into it even though I’m a size 12. I think sizing has changed over the years.

Not necessarily the sizing, maybe one’s own ‘shape’.

I say this from my own take on the issue. I had a very nice St Michael cotton/linen type midi dress, it buttoned all the way down the front, bought many years ago. I loved it, but although I was still the same size, it just clung a bit too much in the wrong places as time went by, so reluctantly it went to the charity shop, where it soon sold, I think.

RosieandherMaw

Frankly no, “back in the day” my recollection was of St Michael and St Margaret (in Scotland) pastel woollies, blouses, knickers and American Tan tights!
The clothes were much more interesting in C&A (remember Yessica?) Marks was for Mums and Aunties and many of my clothes (alas) came from the local Co-op drapery shop. Or for a treat Patrick Thomson’s on the Bridges or even occasionally Jenners.

Way, way back in the day, most of my clothes were made by my mother. I recall a smock dress as worn by Val Singleton on Blue Peter, Mum copied it with the addition of some gold braiding.

Choosing a pattern from a big heavy book and memorising the number to give to the assistant. Much touching of fabric and negotiating then took place.

Oh how I longed for Richards or Clocktower.

mum used to save up for a St Michael item usually jumpers etc for work. a real treat for her. the quality was superb.
saying about shops Littlewoods was great. lots of clothes yarn and then a nice cafe for a meal or tea and a cake. the staff were cared for well, dentist, hair dresser, chiropodist, shopping times etc. in those days you had a job and stayed until retirement

I have never really been an M&S shopper. Originally there clothes were always good quality, but dull. Designed for people 20 years older than me. The occasional diaamond among the drab, but not often.

The thing that used to annoy me most was, back in the 1960s, when computer based stock control was first coming in. The papers and magazines were full of articles saying how the M&S customer could now be confident that when they went to their local M&S it would always have their size etc in stock. Except whenever I went to M&S, usually there flagshp store in Oxford Street, whatever I wanted, my size/colur/length was never in stock because either, it was a very popular size/colour/length and sold very quickly, or there was not much demand for that size/colour/length so they did not have many in stock.

When the M&S offering did improve, under Stuart Rose, the quality went through the floor, so I still didn't shop there.

Oh gosh, I'd forgotten Littlewoods. That was a sort of bargain basement M and S. And yes, a job for life.

My mum used to love M&S, I still do. When she passed away last year, I was clearing her wardrobe out. There were so many old M&S clothes all like new, although I’d seen her wearing them many times.
I also remember visiting the food hall and her buying their bounty bars about six individual ones, they felt such a treat.

I use M & S for everyday jeans, T-shirts & linen trousers, shirts and dresses.

90% of my gym wear is also from M & S

I use the Food Hall weekly.

Was in their cafe on Saturday with my nearly 8yr old GD for a drink and cake (her choice)

Astitchintime

Yes, just like BHS and Woolworths were. Same staff on same counters……always someone to help…..and those intimidating ‘floor-walkers’ 😱………not much shoplifting back in the day!

I still well remember seeing a school friend close to a city centre M&S - she barely paused to gasp, ‘I’ve just nicked a jumper!’ - and fled, evidently petrified of having been seen and followed.
This was in the 60s. I think a few of them were at it!

Larsonsmum

I loved BHS rather more than M&S. my very favourite clothes shop in the 70s was Richards.

Ooh yes, I loved Richards. I still have a lovely black jacket (sort of 1940's style) in my wardrobe. It was part of a suit but who knows what happened to the skirt. I bought in 1980 for an interview. People remark on it. I suppose it's vintage chic now.

RosieandherMaw

Frankly no, “back in the day” my recollection was of St Michael and St Margaret (in Scotland) pastel woollies, blouses, knickers and American Tan tights!
The clothes were much more interesting in C&A (remember Yessica?) Marks was for Mums and Aunties and many of my clothes (alas) came from the local Co-op drapery shop. Or for a treat Patrick Thomson’s on the Bridges or even occasionally Jenners.

PTs and Jenners! Those were the days!

I was on the jumper counter at BHS.

I loved it when people came in and asked for advice about matching with a new skirt or about buying a present for their wife or daughter.

We were proud of our counters and had weekly staff meetings with the manager to review sales and gave opinions on what should be stocked.

And we were expected to take our uniforms home and wash them!

All the clothes were made in the U.K. My SIL worked for awhile at one of their factories in the Leicestershire area. If you wanted to state your size you could say “I’m a M&S 14” as that was the standard size that never changed. You could go around the store and pick up dresses,skirts etc and there was no need to try them on. In fact there were no changing rooms. You could always change them easily but rarely needed to do that. The styles were so good that you could walk around and you were spoilt for choice. Now I walk around and tend to go out empty handed. Of course I am old but the materials are not up to much and the styles often resemble the post war dowdy things on offer.

PS. C&A ‘s was a place we haunted when I went to work as the clothes were cheaper than M&S . Had so many good buys and being young everything looked fine on me. So missed C&A’s when it closed down in the U.K. Was pleased to shop there years later when abroad.

flappergirl

Larsonsmum

I loved BHS rather more than M&S. my very favourite clothes shop in the 70s was Richards.

Ooh yes, I loved Richards. I still have a lovely black jacket (sort of 1940's style) in my wardrobe. It was part of a suit but who knows what happened to the skirt. I bought in 1980 for an interview. People remark on it. I suppose it's vintage chic now.

I used to wear Sandra Dee dresses when I was a teenager, they were fashionable then, and my mother had an account at a small corner dress shop run by two elderly sisters. The clothes were kept behind the counter in cabinets and huge drawers and they'd bring out a selection for you to see.

Then, when I was about 16, I found Richards and C&A! This was pre-mini-skirt days but clothes were trendy. And jeans became 'in'!

Lovetopaint I remember once going to M and S, must have been slimish and earning......getting a load of stuff in navy and white. All of it fitted, all of it looked good.

During my teen years, I remember Marks and Spencer as being full of frumpy clothes, big knickers and boot faced middle-aged assistants. I once went for an interview for a temporary sales assistant at the Oxford Street store. I had tied my long hair back in a pony tail and the woman interviewing me walked behind me and picked it up disdainfully and said "If you wish to have the privilege of working for us you will have to you hair cut, this will all have to come off." I replied that I was not prepared to do that and the interview ended.

Later the same day I went for an interview at Harrods got the job and kept my pony tail. I worked there as a temp several times after that.

I don't think I have ever owned any clothes from Marks and Spencer but I like their food.

I’m old enough to remember when most of the clothes were made in this country

Those days are gone, so suck it up. However, I would like the sizing to be standardised. Two garments supposed to be the same size can be very different.

&larsonsmum do you remember the advert?
“Richard Shops are filled with all the pretty things; lots of pretty things to wear; Hey there, pretty thing, why don’t you pretty up, come buy your clothes from Richard Shops “
Wouldn’t really work today. It’s not really acceptable to call us things!

Oops posted before I proofread:
It should be @larsonsmum and the second line should read:
“hey there pretty thing, make the world a prettier place, why don’t you pretty up…”