Marks and Spencer....back in the day

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My 3yr old and 6yr old Grandsons wear summer shorts and matching shirts that their Daddy wore when he was their ages. They're fascinated when I dig out photographs of them in the same outfits.

These clothes were worn by their Daddy; then passed to a friend for her son (same age but much smaller child); then back to be for my second son; then back to her for her second son!!

Must have been laundered nearly a hundred times but the colours are still bright and wonderful and the whites ditto. Not one button has come off.
The only things that have faded a bit are the labels!!

All made in the UK of course. Standards and quality took a dive when they moved production abroad and hasn't really ever recovered.

Remember those massive signs on the stairwell walls - Over 90% of our clothes are made in the UK
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They did have lovely clothes, and sometimes different clothes in the large west end stores. Since there was no website nobody could tell that your new clothes were St. Michael. They used to have lovely nightclothes too, most of them seem to be jersey now which I find far too hot.
I long for the days when they did excellent basics: simple underwear, nightwear, jumpers, linen trousers and T-shirts.

My mum and aunts always raved about M&S clothes as they used to have labels stating British made, whereas other shops clothes were made abroad. I still love their underwear and sweaters. Dresses can be a bit hit and miss, but I might just be fussy.

Still wear a couple of classy M&S cardigans dating back a good few years, and recently received compliments on one of them when worn at a funeral recently! Unfortunately I rarely find anything I like in M&S these days . A lot of the fabrics and styles look and feel cheap and are unflattering. It's probably an age thing...

BHS winter coats were always good, and I also remember when they had food counters selling cheese and bacon.

Years ago M and S made the vast majority of their clothes in the UK. They were very well made, of high quality and on trend.

I worked in Leicester then which was awash with factories and many made for M and S. The main one was Corah and it had it’s own factory shop where very slight seconds were sold so you could get great bargains.

I don’t even bother looking in M and S now, boring clothes which are poorly made and skimp on materials.

As a younger person M&S clothes never fitted me. They were too wide on the hips and too tight on the waist. I much preferred C&A, Dorothy Perkins, Etam etc. Granny and Mum always went to Marks and used to comment on the quality.

More recently I’ve found the only thing I buy in M&S are jeans as I can always find some that fit. We have a Marks end of ranges store nearby and they have great bargains, if it’s what you’re looking for.

Went into town to look at their dresses and the only only I liked was a striped number but as I rarely wear dresses I wasn’t paying over £100.

I’m not a great shopper but enjoy charity shops, especially in Bristol. Loads of great stuff at great prices.

I had a friend who worked in a sewing factory that made underwear for them , probably 40 years ago, the quality control for St Michael brand had to be spot on, the stitching and the cut exactly right otherwise it would be rejected. The factory shop had some great seconds though.

lafergar I was one of those "older" ladies in M & S at 16 and a Saturday girl. Main station was children's clithing (underwear and socks really) but did rotate to jumpers occasionally.

Oops children's clothing!

When I was young (and I’m older than many of you) M&S was considered rather downmarket, like Woolworth’s. It didn’t stop people buying their underwear there, and often other clothes too., if they were fairly neutral and not obviously M&S.

I have always bought my trousers in M&S and could guarantee that a regular length would fit perfectly. However recently I find that they are much too short or alternative styles are so long they flap over my feet. Why?

I have a black M&S merino cardigan, that I still wear occasionally- it’s probably about 25 years old. But it was a real treat because it was properly expensive - I find it interesting when people are nostalgic over clothes in the 70s/80s. I was in my late teens and 20s then and I remember clothes being so expensive - and cheap clothes were not nice because there were so many horrible artificial fibres.
I was given some M&S vouchers in about 1985 and I went in to buy a pair of trousers and a shirt at the same time - it was such a treat! (Cobalt blue corduroy trousers, with pleats into the waistband, and a fuchsia cotton twill shirt in case anyone is wondering!)
If we’d have been willing to keep on paying higher prices for our clothes, it would still be possible to manufacture them in the UK, but people always want more and cheaper.
I don’t buy many clothes in M&S, but I do like the Autograph range and their merino sweaters are still good too. As my income improved over the years, I can afford to spend a bit more on my clothes fortunately but tend to buy less and better wherever I can.
I like some M&S food (apart from the lack of organic ) and also I think their home stuff is still very good - I bought a new bottom sheet recently and it really is nice to sleep on.

I thought I read one that sooo carefully - it should say organic meat. You can tell that I didn’t make a living as proof reader 😂😉

I agree about BHS. What a good all rounder it was. There is nowhere now to find table lamps and other lighting. I also had some lovely dresses from there. Was disgraceful what happened to it and staff who were robbed.

As a young mum in the early 70s I couldn't afford M and S clothes. My little son called the store 'Marks and 'Spensive'.

17:22Geordiegirl BHS still sells lighting on line.

They prided themselves that nearly all their clothes were made in this country. It was hard to choose what to get as there were so many things you liked. I went in the other day and there was nothing for me.
The cafe, you have to order on a screen, the cups are thick pot ones, no saucers and you can’t find staff to advise you. It used to be such a treat.

4allweknow

lafergar I was one of those "older" ladies in M & S at 16 and a Saturday girl. Main station was children's clithing (underwear and socks really) but did rotate to jumpers occasionally.

I'm well into that "older lady" category now.....and some!

Love M&S always have even as an older woman still love a wander around.

My mother made most of our clothes but everything else came from M&S because they were well designed, well made, British and a reasonable price.
Clothes were passed down between siblings and cousins and still were when my girls were children.
Nowadays children have vast amounts of clothes, all cheap and made in Far Eastern sweat shops.

There is nowhere now to find table lamps and other lighting.

Geordiegirl1 I've had our table lamps, floor lamps and ceiling lights from The Range and, unexpectedly, Matalan!

Did I imagine it or did M&S used to offer a basic alteration service? I seem to recall getting trousers & skirts shortened in store in years gone by.

Not anymorejust trying to be all trendy abd cater for the young,who are not interested!

Grandma70s

When I was young (and I’m older than many of you) M&S was considered rather downmarket, like Woolworth’s. It didn’t stop people buying their underwear there, and often other clothes too., if they were fairly neutral and not obviously M&S.

My mother only ever bought plain items from M&S as she said the patterned clothes were identifiable as being from M&S and identified you shopped there. She also turned their carrier bags inside out as she said they didn't pay her to advertise for them. She was a seamstress by trade, could run up a bespoke ball gown from a pair of curtains and tailored any bought clothing into unique pieces that fitted her perfectly.