Fashion Q&A with Twiggy

I think we have a whole thread's worth of comments and questions????? (The M&S thread)

Geraldine other people might be as slow on the uptake as me and realise that the link you provided is not yet operational. At the moment M&S just says 'sorry we can't find that page'.
I spent several minutes fruitlessly searching 'Twiggy' before realising that the page, like the collection, will probably be available on Oct 4th.
I've obviously got out of bed the wrong side because the burning question I would like to ask is 'Why does M&S always use such naff colours and prints?'
Sorry.

Don't imagine Twiggy has ever been in danger of looking lumpy

Never mind clothes that make me look 'lumpy and silly', that's how Twiggy makes me look/feel.

I bought this recently in maroon and dk blue and then bought two more as it is so comfy and has a nice neckline and isn't that awful grippy stretch fabric designed to show all bulges. Plus it has full length sleeves.

I dislike v stretchy fabrics designed to show bulges, messy jazzy prints as a plain colour suits me (and most people) better, 3/4 length sleeves as they get caught in jackets and are then uncomfortable and show off my scrawny old hands, scoop necks because anyone over 40 should probably cover that part up, frills as it reminds me of Mrs Slocum of pussy fame, sequins as I am not a sparkly type and anything which can be described as cruise wear (as I am not nearly old enough to go on cruises yet and even when i am won't be wearing that) and I find too much of this in M&S - how about some nice plain fitted jackets or fitted shirts that aren't stretchy (and thus show bulges).

Yes, i agree completely with LaGrande M&S need to get real. I am the same age as Twiggy, but a size 14. I like smart casual clothes but find the choice very limited in M&S, even the Twiggy brand is disappointing. Surely someone can design clothes that are flattering to the older woman, don't cling in all the wrong places, sleeves at least to elbow length, etc. I used to like some of the Per Una, but even that is getting dated. The current M&S advert leaves me cold. Yuk.

Why do M&S show their clothes being worn by size 8 and 10 models, when its patently obvious most of their customers are not these sizes?

It might be entertaining to see Twiggy et al having a good time looking lovely at their parties and on holiday, but does not help me to choose clothes. I've stopped buying, because I have no idea what will suit me.

I'm size 8 and everything from M&S looks like a tent. I looked in one of their flagship stores this week and it looked like a frump dump.

Phase 8, Hobbs and Fenn Wright Manson are so much more stylish.

I agree with all the comments here. I am a similar age to Twiggy, and am not overweight, but I certainly wouldn't wear the clothes she's advertising. They just wouldn't suit me, and they're not my style. M&S really should talk to ordinary women - those who used to shop at their stores but don't now - if they want to regain the older customers who were once their bread and butter!

So we're all saying the same thing. If M&S want our custom then they actually need to talk to us and not think they know best, or we'll simply shop elsewhere.

I actually emailed M&S Customer Services with a complaint and did not even have the courtesy of a reply.

Sorry to be thick, but when is this Q and A session?
Is it on the 4th of October, or is that the date when the collection is launched?
Can't work it out.

How badly do we need advice from Twiggy? She was just a clothes horse and many many years ago. I was briefly a model too (back in those days) but wouldn't believe myself qualified to advise. I just wore what they put on me. Now Trinny and Susanna - that would make me join in..but then again ...M & S?? Hmm... thinking about it - er..not thanks!

I never identified with Twiggy even though I am almost exactly the same age. She just seemed like a product lacking a personality.
I don't identify with her now - long blonde wavy hair and lots of eye make up isn't my style and she still doesn't seem to have a personality.
Last year Toast had an older model in their catalogue, a scary- looking woman with wild grey hair, no make-up but with a face that said intelligent woman.
I had to have the black mac she was wearing.
(but got a cheaper one from Uniqlo)

I also tried on the blue jumper with the fair isle yoke, also in the indigo range, but it looked awful on my large bust. As do many of the long mid thigh jumpers but I found a blue fair isle thigh length v necked cardigan in a small local private shop which is really nice and flattering.

I know that a large chain can't cater for a specific individual but when I see smart people in the street (of a certain age) they are seldom wearing the latest fashions , more often a smart well-fitting plain jacket or coat dressed up to look fashionable but these basics are hard to find.

dear twiggy, i,m a 61 year old girl ,5ft tall size 6-8 , nothing in per una range or m/s range fits. shopping for jeans / trousers is a nightmare. i would have thought in your designs to find something suitable. who are you aiming your range at? [ confused]

Dear Twiggy, I'm 5' 4" and size 14., and the same age as you.
I am the face of Mrs Average, you are the face of Mrs Fashion.

I need clothes that flatter my ageing figure, hide the bumps and my elbows.
You probably don't have bumps to hide and can just go for fashion.

I need to go shopping, look after the grandchildren, and I need clothes that are serviceable.
You need to look fashionable.

I need to walk the dogs, meet my friends for a coffee and pick the grandson up from school. I need to look smart and I need to be warm.

Despite all this I still want to look 'good'. Can we not have a range of clothes that fulfill our needs please?

Please?

looking at our demands twiggy. you are going to have your work cut out pleasing us all, can you fix it?x

I'd love to know where to find an elegant shoe for a wedding which I could wear for more than half an hour........... small or medium heel and preferably squidgy insides to keep feet happy. Any ideas?

Dear Twiggy.- I have followed your progress for the last 40 years. You look great and your modelling is impressive. However, I just feel M&S is loosing a bit its way - I feel the clothes are a bit drabby - the designers need to develop their drawings on design a bit more there is something there that will not attract me to enter M&S. Take a look a other designers/retailers which are a bit cheaper and have a lot more flair.
Your always admirer Twiggy - I used to watch you even when I was in South America!

I agree with MiceElf. There is so much emphasis now on catering for larger ladies that we 'little ones' are now the ones being overlooked! All shapes and sizes should be catered for, not just larger sizes. I was a 10 in the 60s/70s and am now an 8 or even a 6 (because the names of the sizes have changed, not my size), but I just can't find the smaller sizes in age-appropriate clothes because it's assumed we've all expanded; however, I find that more women of my age keep fit and slim than younger women do. I would love to see sassy, fun clothes for older ladies taking account of skirt length and cover for arms (whether they be wobbly, chubby or scraggy - they still need a bit of cover!), but designed in a clever way that looks as though that was part of the design, whatever your age. Also, I want to ask when will designers realise that today's 60 year olds were grooving in the swinging 60s - we're still grooving and we really don't want now to be in elasticated waists and beige! As ever, we just want up to date fashion, but tweaked a little, in a non-obvious way, to accommodate bulges and wrinkles. There's such a huge market out there and I find it incredible the fashion world hasn't woken up and worked out who their older customers are. We are not our grannies!

I miss Trinny and Susannah too! They did such wonderful makeovers and they had their own issues (one rather curvy, the other completely flat chested).

Why do M and S do such boring business clothes?
Surely there is a market for having skirt/trousers/dress in the same fabric and then a range of non-boring jackets in the same fabric to complement different figures. I took my friend out shopping for a new work wardrobe and a blank was drawn in M and S.
And why do M and S still do peculiar colours like super-acidic lime/yellow?