marks and spencer

I am exactly the same gangernan.

I walked around M&S at the beginning of December and said to DH that there was nothing at all I could think of buying anyone for Christmas. I have always bought my mum something nice to wear but ended up in Debenhams this time. I couldn't even find a pair of pyjamas I liked.
The M&S colours are drab and I am no longer sure who the various collections are aimed at.

Same here. I have gone over to House of Fraser now. I don't see anything in M&S that I would want to buy. I don't know whose custom it is trying to attract.

Me too they couldn't give it away before Xmas dire colours and shapes - not every one has straight thin legs M & S and can we please have some nice mid calf skirts like Per Una used to have?

yes, Debenhams for me too now gillybob - I used to buy my mum a pair of pyjamas from m&s every Christmas, but no more!

Yes the same here. In early November I saw a dressing gown that I wanted to buy for my grandaughter for christmas. I tried to buy it on line but they never had it in stock inspite of me looking everyday on their website. I eventually bought something in Sainsbury which was nice but not the same as the M&S one!

Yes, I've gone over to House of Fraser too. I used to go to M&S for my basic T shirts, cotton knickers etc but that's been such a long time ago. I don't bother going in anymore these days. Food is lovely though

Ooooops sorry. I just noticed I put a g instead of a d in your name dangernan

I agree the food is hard to beat Londongirl

Well I like M and S clothes. I bought DD1 a really nice black short jacket with a fur collar for Xmas, and she loves it. Bought DD2 two jumpers, she also v happy with them. And son, a long sleeve top with subtle mauve-ish/navy stripes. Again, went down well. And, with the money from a take-back, bought myself a nice Indigo shirt for the Spring.

I'm definitely a Marks and Sparks girl!

I have still got some money on a credit card from House of Fraser, left over from last Xmas. Can never find anything to buy in there. Did buy a pack of table mats from there this time last year and the prints on the fronts are peeling away. DD stuck them back with sellotape.

Well I used to love Indigo jings and could always find something in that department to suit me. Seems to me they are trying to please too many people in every department and pleasing very few.

House of Fraser on the other hand...... let me loose in there with a loaded CC if you dare. I would head straight for Phase Eight or Mint Velvet...... I tell you what I will swap my left over M&S voucher for your House Of Fraser CC.

Deal??

Hmm. Might shift myself and have a wander round H of F this afternoon. Sun's come out. That will spur me on. Will let you know if I find anything.

The only thing I buy from M&S, are their Per Una straight leg jeans. They are good quality, fit me , and wash well. I have just ordered another pair in dark grey, on line.
The men's trousers don't fit DH, who is tall and a very regular fit. I have also just bought him 3 Cotton Traders brushed cotton shirts, that are much nicer than any in Marks.

I still buy at Marks but not as much as I once did, I buy more tops in GAP, who have permanent sales or so it seems and also East but only when they have discounts, their stuff can be a bit on the expensive side.

I do buy clothes for gc in Marks from time to time, but not always very happy with the selection can be a little bit old fashioned and expensive compared to the slightly more edgy, but clearly very very mass produced offerings at H&M as favoured by gd. Gs doesn't care cos he's only 20 months but anything with Thomas the Tank on it is good, irrespective of where it comes from.

I still buy the odd thing or two there, and as joannapiano says the Per Una straight leg jeans are better quality than other jeans there, and last better.

roses and joanna I live in my Per Una straight leg Roman Rise jeans. Went to buy a new pair and the quality was not as good at the same price.
I have also noticed that you can buy two of the same thing in different colours and they will fit differently.
I am one of those who spends my M&S credit card vouchers on food now and buy clothes in Debenhams and Fenwicks.

Another one here who used to always buy Roma jeans from M&S. Last couple of pairs very poor, so switched to Next high waisted jeans instead.

Oh that's a shame, about the poorer quality,as I like mine a lot.I think that gradually, M&S have been downgrading all their items to keep prices low.
Years ago, Marks were never cheap, but they were good quality, and items were made in Britain.Their clothes lasted for ages!

Their food is still good, bought two packs of stem ginger hot cross buns yesterday, which are lovely for breakfast, with a piece of fruit, and they toast well too.

I have always been a medium leg in Roma jeans until recently when I found that medium was too long and short was too short. I agree about the food though. Second to none for quality.

I bought two pairs of velvet trousers there before Christmas and found them a lot thinner than the pair I have been living in for years.

I see the latest CEO is 'stepping down'

When will M&S listen to it's customer?

I just wonder who buys some of the really hideous colours and patterns in cheap, shiny material. If I query it when I'm in the shop I'm always told that they are selling really well. Looking at today's figures I rather doubt this.

I did buy GS2 a lovely Gruffalo dressing gown, complete with claws, horns and purple prickles, but the sizing on adult clothes is gettingworse and worse. You really have to ignore the labels and just try everything on.

Our local store is always a complete muddle now. It's hard to differentiate between the ranges as none of them seem to have a recognisable identity. I was looking at a jacket on the website and it said that it was being worn by a model who was 5' 9" and a size 8! With the best will in the world I can't believe that the majority of middle aged women (Still M&S's core market whatever they say) are anything like a size 8.