What is up with M & S?

I tried again today beacuse i keep hoping M & S will come back. the nes section was nicely arranged good clothes, good quality we found DH a winter coat so far so good. I went downstairs to Per Una and Autograph they had two looks for me my 99 year old MIL or Bett Lynche's less tasteful sister.

I used to pop into the Oxford branch of Toast from time to time and it was always staffed by very sniffy young ladies who did not give me eye contact so I would walk out - and then spend my money in Sahara where the staff could not have been more approachable.

I've bought several things from Denny Andrews and been very happy with them.

Like many I too find the Gok stuff really unattractive, and why is polyester so popular with designers, particularly those catering for the older market? It is unpleasant to wear, slimy and sticky in summer weather and provides no warmth in winter, and almost always comes in ugly patterns and lurid colours

Agree Annobel I bought two white shirts from Sainsbury's basics range 3 years ago for work. Still white, still going strong and were only £4.00 each. Couldn't ask for better.

I've had a couple of good shirts from Sainsbury's. Their sizes are more accommodating than most and their tee shirts are far better quality than M&S.

When I shop at Sainsbury's once or twice a week, I have to turn right and wander through the clothes before I do the boring stuff. I love coming away with something cheap but stylish. Mind you, I think the Gok stuff is truly appalling - all lurid colours and polyester.

Flicky I've had some really great jeans and T shirts from Sainsburys in the last year. M&Co are quite good for sizes but they are a bit glitzy for me too.

Today I once again wore the M&S top that started the revival of this topic. Last time the fabric just split as if it was decayed. I mended the four inch rent, washed it and today I put it on again and the fabric just continued splitting the full width of the back a few inches above the hem. It is a loose top and the piece of fabric involved was gathered so it wasn't under any tension. It is now in the dustbin. And M&S can go in with it.

I have bought garments from Boden and Toast and again been unhappy with the quality. An expensive wool coat from Boden pilled very badly within months and a needlecord top from Toast cost £90.00, a mad extravagence but I had worn a similar dress in the late 60s and went all nostalgic. It was unlined and had lost all its shape by the second wash. I then went into M&Co and bought a very similar top, fully lined, for £45. It is altogether a far superior garment in quality and finish. DDiL, once a Toast fan has also complained about the quality of the garments recently.

I have been happy with everything I have bought from M&Co because I can try it on and examine it before I buy but find that a lot of their clothes are aimed at the more conservative older dresser, too much embellishing and glitter, tops that drape and the brighter colours seem to be hard and garish.

I like East, Monsoon, but again some quality issues, Phase 8 - and Sainsbury's, good styles, good fit and good quality, unlike Tesco, whose clothes are generally poor quality and wash badly.

Denny Andrews used to 'show' in the Bath area some time ago, mostly lovely Indian cottons. I didn't buy as I tend to wait for sales at East and Anokhi for similar items.
M&S under-pinnings are great as is their menswear but forget trying to buy anything else other than food!

Looking at mail order - and there are some excellent retailers - Patricia dawson, Box2 and Gudrun Sjoden among them, has anybody bought from Denny Andrews?

having discovered M&S on line a couple of years ago I went back to buying from them and opened an account. Since then Per Una and Autograph have gone steadily younger, slimmer and shorter in style. Ok if you're size 12 but not a chunky 16.
And I'm with numberplease. Bring back St Michael and a bit of quality!

Bring back St.Michael!

I agree, M and S not really worth going into now as styles and quality bad.Brora is good and Scottish but expensive. Sales good though as are Toast. Both makes great quality and last for ages. Some White Stuff clothes good too but many too 'young ' for me ie no sleeves. Having just thrown out lots of clothes , as part of attempts to clear house of things I'm trying not to buy more. Also stuck on sofa with knee doesn't seem to matter much what I wear. Window cleaner did look startled at 4 today to see me in pyjamas. Don't think DH notices.

You are right gracesmum , there is nothing to take their place!
Even the " designer " clothes are mostly made in China.

I remember makes like Ballantynes, Pringles, Munrospun, Lyle &Scott, etc.
.
All Scottish , and they screamed quality.

Thank you, gracesmum, now I know what to do with the Hong Kong dollars that have been languishing in my drawer for several years!

All they'd be likely to get from me!
I am realising that I am more and more wearing clothes I have had for years, partly because I no longer need the sort of work clothes I used to buy, partly because I can't afford to "splurge" but mostly because they are so much better made. Trouble is, nothing lasts for ever and when my favourites do give up the ghost - what is there to take their place?

Probably not, gracesmum. Perhaps some Monopoly money?

Never mind trousers - whatever has happened to skirts? I visited a number of high street stores today (not M&S but they're just as bad) and there were hardly any skirts available, though numerous trousers in various styles. I know I wear trousers most of the time, but I do like to have a choice.

Ever since middle DD was mugged at knifepoint in London a few years ago, losing her flat keys, passport, cash and credit cards, phone, filofax with all her business contacts , etc I have often though about how stuck I would be and resolved that if I felt it necessary (as in St Petersburg on holiday also some years ago) I would have a small "body bag" under my outer clothes with the really important stuff and only have in my handbag things I could afford to lose. Youngest DD was also advised when travelling round the world to carry a small amount of money on cash (any denomination) which she could throw at/to potential muggers and gain time while they gathered it up. Would my library ticket serve the same purpose?

Johanna, I agree Landsend is one sparkling exception, but recently I ordered jeans from them in my normal size and the fit was dreadful, my shape not their fault and I then had to go through all the palaver of sending them back, which means it takes weeks from the decision to purchase a garment to finally being able to wear it, assuming you dont have to get your money back and start again.

I am just nostalgic for the days when clothes shopping meant a quick visit to your local High Street where there would be a variety of shops, chain and independent, with a good range of good quality clothing. Now High Streets are dominated by chain stores selling shoddy and the independent stores and small chains are banished to the back streets and small towns so finding them and visiting them is time consuming .

Anagram, many years ago I attended a talk on personal safety and the police officer giving it advised us never to put our house and car keys in our handbags. That way you didnt have to worry about not being able to get into your home and having to replace all the locks etc etc if your bag is stolen. I was very grateful for that advice a few years later when my bag was stolen but my keys were in my pocket.

flickety, do have a look at Land's End. Don't know if their stuff is the type of thing you are after, but up to now their quality has been superb.
Good service too.

I agree with what you say about M&S clothes, FlicketyB, but I have to say I prefer skirts and trousers without pockets. I never use them anyway, and they spoil the line.

To generalise my complaint about M&S. In recent years chain clothing stores have been racing each other downhill in quality in order to be cheapest.

Skirts and trousers no longer have pockets, the fabric trousers are made from is stuffed full of filler so that they feel fine when you buy them but as soon as you wash them they go as limp as a rag, bright colours wash out and tone down in weeks.

I live in a rural area, my nearest town is 15 miles away, I'm retired. I simply do not have time to constantly give up whole days to visiting a shopping town to comb all the shops, big and small, looking for garments I like that are of a decent quality. I would happily pay more for better quality clothes. It would work out cheaper because I would not have to keep replacing cheap shoddy clothing that is only fit to be used as a duster after only a few months.

Online shopping is no use because the clothes are just as shoddy and you have all the trouble of parcelling them up and sending them back if not satisfactory.

I am noticing a real deterioration in the quality of things I buy regularly from M&S - like their bras, which are now made of a much flimsier fabric than before (AND if you're not watchful will have the strap adjusters at the back.) Even the knickers are harsh cotton now.

I also wear the black jogging bottoms for pottering about in - they are still just under £10 but again, the quality is now poorer.

I don't buy much clothing there anymore, to be honest. I don't like the colours, or the styles. Still like the fruit and veg., though!

Such a pity.