What is up with M & S?

I agree with everything bad said about M&S! I used to buy all my work skirts and trousers from them but there is just no choice any more! Per Una a bit better but small sizing and so expensive. We don't have a great range of clothes shops where I live - Debenhams is not much better these days.

gracesmum, I have just had a catalogue from Lands End and they have lovely scooped neck tee shirts, they are more expensive but last for a long time and made of very good cotton.

gracemum I would look at Boden for something like that their fabrics are lovely and some nice colours too!

Can anybody recommend a scoop neck T-shirt style jumper with short or elbow length sleeves - could be a T shirt, but the fabrics are usually so flimsy. Not wool (itchy) and not too clinging round the muffin tops!

I keep trying with M & S but OMG! if you have a mo have a look at their website on Womens Trousers- Chinos- are they all ready for a day on a building site or what? - needless to say nothing bought today again!

I have just bought a T shirt, from M&S, with sleeves that come just above the elbow! Glory be! However, only in black or white, unfortunately.

Summer tops with sleeves that cover the bingo wings, please, though I've been unimpressed with the quality of their tees in recent years: last year's tee shirts are this year's dusters. Landsend does a good line in polos with elbow-length sleeves, pricey but they last for ever.

Still no reply to my e-mails! I shall write a letter, I think, because they need to know what we think, and the powers that be need to know that their customer service is useless. I feel a strop coming on!

I live in Canada and normally return to the UK at least once or twice a year. usually I go crazy in M&S and other familiar stores, stocking up on fashions to bring back with me ensuring that I always have something different and up to date to wear. However I was home in February this year and its the first time that I can remember that I didn't purchase anything at M&S. I thought it was me but the comments I have just read seem to back up my impression that the stock was boring and lacking in inspiration. Come on M&S there are people relying on you to come up with the goods.

I have bought trousers from M&S, for my grumpy old man, for as many years as I could count, and they have been great. Now for the last few years I can not find a pair to fit him. He has not put on weight and not changed shape overly much (certain parts of his anatomy may have lowered a little!!) but we are totally flummoxed. I loved the price and quality and can't find an alternative. Has anyone got any suggestions please? (He refuses to wear jeans). I agree with what people are saying about the ladies wear too, especially the nightees and skirts. I used to get all my clothes from there, but now have to take out a mortgage and go to East.

Sorry Annobel about the elasticated waists they just do nothing for my body shape!

Popped into M& S for a coffee in Oxford Street the other day, and the clothes looked quite sharp - though whether they will be as nice when you actually try them on is another matter. And in our neck of the woods here in Cornwall, the choice is really limited. It's not always possible to make a wise choice from a picture on a website.
Bought a chunky spring sweater from Sainsbury's the other day: £16, compliments all round!

Think I'd definitely break my neck, carol - hardly ever worn heels.

If I wore high heels nowadays, I would break my neck - just a gentle slope these days, and my feet are so much healthier now I don't squeeze them into the court shoes I used to wear at work.

Lots of places seem to be making jumper/cardigan sleeves much longer too - I love the ones with a line of buttons on the rib but if the sleeve is too long turning sleeve up spoils the look.
I agree about the cut of the trousers - it is as if the seams are not straight so the legs go all strange.

I think the manufacturers are making trousers longer because the fashion is to wear them with high heels!

Why does M and S insist on manufacturing jersey and polyester crepe pants that are too wide and flare out at the bottom? They hang really badly. What's wrong with trousers that gently taper so they sit neatly above your shoes, and if they are a bit long, they don't drag on the floor.

And another thing, why are the sleeves so skimpy. We need nice sleeves, not cap sleeves or fluttery bits of material Sylvia

I know I was mad to go, but future daughter in law wanted to visit M&S when I was with her in London at Christmas. The Sales were on!
Well, being a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl, I grabbed a couple of bargain T's and marched off to the changing rooms - only to find them taped up with a sign saying : FOR THE DURATION OF THE SALE, THESE CHANGING ROOMS WILL BE CLOSED! I explained I didn't live in the country etc. etc. but they would not budge.
Needless to say, I didn't give them any of my money, and I could do without the T's anyway.

Aah, you may well moan about M&S but has anybody seen the bunfight that is BHS ? Everything needs a good iron, they try to put everything they sell into one store. its just a jumble. Sylvia

Isn't it frustrating when you are faced with hundreds of pairs of tights and hold-ups and none of them is the combination of size, denier and colour you were looking for? That was my fate in M&S today!

helmacd - no, it's not just you- M&S trousers have all got longer. I used to find medium was just right but that changed about two years ago. Annoying!
seasider - please don't knock elasticated waists!

I love m &s food and school uniform and I used to like their shoes but now on the whole they are not wide enough for me. I used to buy undies from M & S but few clothes . When Per Una was introduced ( I think George Davis was in charge) I loved the clothes as they were modern but still looked good on slightly older ladies and pretty good quality. Now I cannot find anything to buy it is all hideous flowery enbellished clothes with elasticated waists. Come on M& S get some decent designers in who understand their customer base.

And spare another thought for the very much larger 5' 1" gran who has to shop at M and S because it is one of the few places that does different trouser and dress lengths. Even then, either I've shrunk, or their 'short' trouser length has become longer recently so that some trousers skim the bottom of my shoes. As for longer sleeves, my bete noir is the number of sleeves that are really wide at the edge; having short arms too, I need knitwear to have ribbed sleeve edges so that I can turn them up and they will stay up. It's not very smart, I know - but wet sleeves every time you wash the dishes aint much fun.
I agree totally about the dowdy styles; as for Per Una - it seems to have stuck in a time warp ever since it began. I like some of the Indigo range though. I don't buy the jeans of course - sadly, denim clad big bottoms are really yuk!

Lands End - great service, great range of products. But i find their trousers are a peculiar fit - perfect round the behind, but the waistline comes up to my ribs!

There are a lot of tall people on this site! Spare a thought for the 7 stone 7, less than five foot, granny who can never find anything that fits (appropriate or a granny that is ).