Marks and Spencer....back in the day

I remember buying my jumpers there. They weren’t hung up as they are now, but displayed folded on counters like Woolies had.

I worked for marks and Spencer as a management trainee in 1974. They were a wonderful company to work for nd treated their staff very well. I too wish I had kept many of the clothes I had from that era. I still have one dress that is really vintage no and I still wear it at 68. Thanks for the chance to reminisce

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.

I remember it being thought of as downmarket too. My Grandmother used to say their stuff was 'beer at champagne prices'. Not that she was a snob or anything.

Used to go to the Marks stores and there were endless number of clothes I wanted to buy. They were always well made and simple yet elegant. Now I go to M&S and cannot find one thing that I would wish to wear. M&S abandoned the simple, elegant good quality , basic wardrobe clothes and instead offer extra “fashionable” stuff that few would wish to wear. And they wonder why their fashion does not sell. Seems they could ask any of us for advice.

Yes lafergar I remember my older sisters buying and wearing dresses that were very popular and seeing at least one other woman wearing the same. But individual styling always wins out!
At junior school my friends and I would often pester Mum for the same dress from M&S, we loved it 🥰

OldFrill

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.

Oh my word Old Frill, I do recall my mother shushing me in one shop and telling me not to mention we were going to try elsewhere. It was considered bad manners! The horror of turning up somewhere in the same shop bought outfit as somebody else.

The little ritual of asking for something and somebody bringing you a range of what they had available. Going away and "thinking about it"

How I miss that time in my life.

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.

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

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.

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!

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.

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

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!

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.

17:22Geordiegirl BHS still sells lighting on line.

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'.

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.

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 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 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?

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.

Oops children's clothing!

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 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.

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.