What is up with M & S?

Oh granbunny I hope that wasn't you in John Lewis many Christmases ago when I was returning some underwear DH had bought me - he liked red with black lace, I don't and I just lost my cool and thought I would rather have something I liked for the not inconsiderable amount of money he had spent. Anyway, the girl on the till asked why I was returning it, if there was anything wrong etc. I just said, No, I thought it all looked a bit tarty, frankly. She gave me a funny look and I realised the woman behind me was buying exactly the same stuff!!

Annobel, the loitering men I was referring to are actually with their partners, it's just that they stand and stare, probably for something to do...

Of course, it now occurs to me that the M&S that I frequent is out-of-town, accessible only by car and the occasional bus. So most of the men who go there are with their partners, albeit reluctantly, by the look of them

I have been in M&S today, buying a bra. I can categorically state that any men in the lingerie section were with a female companion and looking decidedly bored. Definitely no 'lurkers'. Perhaps we have a different type of bloke in NE Cheshire!

erm, don't call me 'samantha' for that remark! its not that i think i'm irresistible, its just that those blokes do seem to hang out in m+s.

women's underwear shops/departments should be out of bounds for men. who knows, i might like to buy a big tarty bra if there wasn't some woman's pathetic little husband salivating at the thought!

Just re-read my post and it looks like I've been buying knickers for a 'low-leg tummy'! Not far off the mark, really!

Perhaps they are looking at the lingerie because they want to buy something but can't think how to choose. They might even be buying for themselves...

They do look, though! Not especially at me, but at what I'm looking at, if you see what I mean....

I have no reason to assume that men are looking at me when I'm trying to find a bra. And if they are? They have seriously bad taste.

At least our M&S food hall is on the ground floor and the clothing department on the first!
All the same, I do hate men hanging about when I'm looking at bras - can't they just leave their wives/partners to it and stop loitering?

Oh who cares! They will have seen it all before. I don't embarrass easily!

granbunny, I know what you mean about how they set out the underwear! The other day I was trying to find some of my favourite support knickers , and, as the underwear section is right next to the checkout for the food aisle, there were one or two men hanging about waiting so pack the shopping coming through. I felt quite embarrassed.....though perhaps I wouldn't have felt quite so bad if the knickers I was choosing were frillies - and not 'low-leg tummy support'

m+s is very puzzling - how on earth do they keep going? the clothes are very poor - i recall daughter and i stopping to laugh, literally bent double laughing, at one horrible dress that begged for the style police to arrest it and take it away.

when they get a good idea, they spoil it. i bought some soft, floppy pyjamas for daughter - and found later they had short legs. why would anyone want that? bizarre.

their underwear section might contain some gems (like my favourite knickers) but its set out like an invitation to perverts to linger... the most vulgar and unpleasant underwear proudly on display.

the only good thing about m+s is that in manchester, you can use it to cut through from the arndale to st ann's square.

I Live very Near Meadowhall & shop at M/S every-week & I nearly all ways manage to find some-thing to suit. I keep up to date with fashion & get plenty of compliments. I all so shop at Wallis which caters for all age groups.
So I do not agree with your comments.
Ann.

Quite agree - all those ghastly prints and lacey bits and shapeless jumpers. Where is the smart casual stuff nowadays? And being a bra size 34G, none of their bras ever seem to fit me. And shoes - size 4 and a half always far too narrow. Have just discovered shop UNIQLO - they have some great reasonably priced separates and are great for stylish warm winter undies. Look at their summer t-shirt range with retro Laura Ashley prints - lovely!
And any gran reading this - please NEVER wear light coloured trousers with a black thong underneath . . . .

I too have suggested that someone from M&S takes part in a Gransnet webchat!

I have also posted before on the t shirt issue. I want a range of colours, elbow length (or just above) that are appropriate for wearing under suits, rather than baggy beach wear types.

Is this really too much to ask?

I have never understood the attraction of M&S. I gave up shopping there when I was about 20, everything seemed to be designed for women at least 20 years older than me - and that applied even when I was 60. When Stephen Rose took over styles did improve but quality went through the floor and most of the stylish clothes I bought when he first took over were unwearable within months, t shirts that were transparent if you got water on them, sweaters that pilled unacceptably within weeks and trousers whose 'body' came out after one wash, turning them into dishrags.

As for those awful foam shaped bras, which are everywhere. My daughter says they are popular with shops because they are cheaper to make than ordinary bras Non-foam bras require a lot of designing and a lot of fabric pieces to give a good fit - and therefore a lot of machining and a lot of waste fabric.

I agree, GadaboutGran, and all those tops in jersey fabric which show every lump and bump! They used to do all their skirts in three lengths - now they're either too short for me or down to the floor!
I still like their trousers, as 'long' is just right for me with a medium heel, but the colour choice is dire. They don't even stock the Per Una range in our local M&S, and I know you can buy online, but I like to have a look at the actual item first!

I have had no reply to my three e-mails to M&S telling them about our cross ness, so tomorrow I think I will write letters to the big cheeses, and will make them succinct but convincing. looking forward to it. Will post copies. Pillocks!

Can someone high up in M&S be invited for a webchat session?

Our M&S was expanded last year & after all the disruption I was really disappointed as it didn't seem any better - apart from a cafe which always has a queue.
Best thing about M&S: Dine in for £10 when you can find high priced items - I got a £7.99 bottle of wine today. Waitrose got too expensive & the reductions can be good if you time it right (the best was a £14 joint for 50p!)

But as for clothes now - in decline. Trousers:short legs suddenly became too short and the medium too long. Sleeves: always too long, esppecially on coats. Fabrics: hate all the elastane in cotton T-shirts and other sweaty synthetic fabrics; some 100% cottons though too cheap and shrink.
I'm not a confidant shopper so still rely on M&S a lot but buy far less. Size availability - could never find an 18 and now can never find a 14.
Why do they discontinue the things I really liked? - like the smart wool trousers of a few years ago, silk knitted tops (warm in winter, cool in summer) of must be 15 years ago, and T-shirts with a collar. I'm still wearing mine even though I've gone down a few sizes.
I can still find the odd decent thing & have less luck with sizes in Monsoon; quality in Debenhams and expense in smaller shops. Dash is good for my size but T-sirts are too synthetic.
My DIL gave me a pep talk as I'm not a confident clothes shopper, She got me to buy some clothes in Phase 8 but I still can't deal with the guilt of buying expensive things I don't wear that much.

I think that M&S suffers from the 'needle in a haystack' syndrome. They do have some nice stuff but it is sooo difficult to find. The shops are too crammed & when you descend from an escalator you are confronted with a sea of mediocrity. It's very off-putting.

I agree with all the comments about Per Una; like other Gransnetters I equally dislike all the mock cardi/cami numbers, tops with plastic necklaces and endless fluted hem dresses & skirts. The quality of the knitwear is dreadful too.

It's ridiculous that we all TRY & find things in M&S because we are so loyal to it. How long can that loyalty survive though?

I think they last longer than Landsend and are a teeny bit more trendy, as befitting a person of my advanced years. If you sign up for the pesky emails you get to find out when the sales are on and can bag a few bargains. Have you had your colours done Annobel - it's their big thing, My sister in law did and the colours they suggested really work for her but I'm scared they would say that pinks and purples don't really suit me and that could be REALLY expensive!

kitty - I hadn't come across Kettlewell, so have looked it up. They do have a lovely range of colours and their prices are on a par with Landsend. Thanks.

I have decided to buy my t-shirts from Lands End or Kettlewell - both more expensive but they last ages and buying in the sale is really good value!