Will M&S ever learn?

I didn't think the clothes were too bad - not sure I would buy them, though. Actually M & S clothes usually, to me at least, seem better in the summer than the winter. I can normally find things in there I like at this time of the year, but have trouble in the autumn.

Hideous, everything.

I find that it depends hugely on where you live as to what you can buy in an M&S. I have moved around a lot, and expected to find thing I like in stores and want to buy again, only to find that the buyer in that area doesn't share my taste.

Many years ago I was so disgusted with what was available in my own local M&S after having seen what was available in another that i asked to have the buyer pointed out to me. I was directed to an elderly asian gentleman wearing a toupe. That explained a lot.

I have hated the underwear lately, I want cotton-rich discreet underwear that will last for more than a few months before it disintegrates without any bows that spoil the line of my clothes, and there is so little choice in that now.

I do hate those bows on the front of a lot of their bras, too, I always cut them off!

Remind me to stay clear of M&S next time we visit Manchester!!!

I always buy M&S undies in the same style every time, simply because they fit!! I like their trousers too because they understand that women have a shape. I have one style of cotton trousers in all the colours. I do not stick to one M&S brand, just browse for what I like and, more importantly, fits well.
I agree that all the clothes in the article are horrible. I did like the look of the red ankle boots until I saw the price...over £100.. NOT IN M&S!!

The Crewe branch of M+S is diabolical and the Hanley store isn't much better.

Some of the stores in smaller towns do a big line in beige....

Well those clothes are not going to set the world alight are they? The M and S style person does not look remotely stylish - just boring.
Last winter I wanted to buy someone a nice plain cashmere jumper. Went to M and S. Got depressed at the dingy colours and styles. Went to JL, lovely colours there. They got the biz. M and S have never "got" colour.
I have no idea how on earth M and S manage to stay in business, making a profit (presumably) out of all those acres of women's clothing when there is so much competition.

Zara is the shop for me - imagination and a bit of originality but avoiding the "what's in the UK high street" clone clothes.

*Ariadne DH is always complaining about the different shades of beige in the menswear dept.

And the lack of staff ariadne ?

I do find it extraordinary that in two years of Gransnet nobody from M and S has been in to do a proper webchat (I don't count the Twiggy questions). I would love to ask them why the French website doesn't have all the things on the UK one, when it all comes from England anyway.
Always visit when in the UK though, to check if it has got better. Dull, frumpy clothes, dreadful colours, over-crowded stores and seemingly completely uninterested in one of their largest customer basis.

I have shopped in M&S for clothers since my teens, but am beginning to lose faith. Trouble is, where else does a short, dumpy (very) Senior citizen on a limited budget go?
The redeeming features have, until recently, been that I could depend on finding trousers that don't trail behind me like a royal train, and dresses that aren't ballgown length on me. Admittedly I have similar problems to other conrtibutors in that often the waist is too large in proportion to the size needed for tummy. As for their habit - particularly in Per Una - of designing sleeves that flare out at the lower arm ........ when you have short arms you look for a ribbed/tightish sleeve that you can push up and rely on it staying up - rather than it drooping over hands and continually getting wet every time you go near water!
But now either I'm shrinking or the so called 'short length' trousers are getting longer. And why do M&S insist on using so many revolting patterned fabrics? I want far more plain or very discreetly patterned clothes which can then be accessorised in different ways and can be teamed up much more easily with each other.
As for the quality - I'm wearing a simple cotton top at the moment, but already the bottom inch is very creased from being rumpled whilst I have been sitting down. The fabric is so flimsy that it doesn't hang out when vertical - it just rides up in a series of parallel creases.
Come on M&S, like Mamie suggests, face some of your best customers and LISTEN!

When we had the last thread on M&S I actually e mailed them, mentioning GN, its demographic and saying they should take notice. No reply, no acknowledgement, no change. Maybe if we ALL wrote...??

What a good idea . Mine of course would be a fan letter .

I like that idea ariadne and if we all wrote on the same day that would get noticed surely. It's not that we want to knock M&S but it has the potential to be the first port of call when you're looking for everyday clothes but now it's dropping down the list, fast. I had £50 worth of M&S vouchers given to me a Christmas and I'm still looking fir something I'd actually consider buying.
What a waste.

I visited M & S a few weeks back and it seemed to have had a refit. I thought I'd walked into a rummage sale! There was so much stuff and I began to feel claustrophobic. My DH buys the odd - ordinary, I should say! - pair of trousers / jeans there but none of my children would be seen dead in there. The homeware section is OK though but prefer Next - except that Next goes for pink and blue in the children's department!!!! I thought that went out with the ark.

Our local M&S has had a refit too, but there seems to be less stock! There's a whole section with a rail of individual items you can try on and then order online via a machine instore - no one was looking, never mind ordering!

I was looking for a lightweight jacket, but the ones on offer looked cheap (although they weren't) with very little colour choice. I ended up in Debenhams and bought a much classier-looking jacket for less money - although I, too, have M&S vouchers from Christmas...

Aka , you could always buy food , wine or flowers .

I am sure whoever gave you the vouchers would be pleased .

My dd on behalf of the darling GC , at my behest , gives me vouchers so I can have the house filled with flowers all year.
The beauty of this arrangement they don"t have to spent in one hit .
Love it !

still about

They're obviously not keen to be associated with Gransnet because they probably think we're all into embroidered pastel cardis and elasticated waists and that they already cater for the likes of us!

I think you may be right, ana! But someone, somewhere must realise the market that they are missing, and said market's spending power? Or is that too logical? Probably.

I do have a problem with their clothes for older women - they always make me look like an old lady. Not something I consider myself to be at a mere 67!
I did find a really nice cardigan affair among the beach stuff a couple of weeka ago. Mid thigh length, linen mix in a dark grey and cream zebra print. Looked super when I tried it on and I bought it instantly. Last time I went in I couldn't find it at all - obviously the clothes sell if they're nice enough.
I don't think Liz Jones is the ideal person to model stuff anyway. I read an article once where she was explaining the perfect pair of trousers (Designer of course! Black naturally) It would have been fine if they hadn't been about 4" too short and flapping above her ankles!

Many years ago I wrote tothe then MD of M & S, Luke somebody, to say how disappointed I was with the fashions. I used to go in to M & S at the beginning of theseason to buy a pair of new trousers and come out with an armful of things I really liked. No longer, even then.No reply needless to say.

This year there are some T-shirts with longer sleeves and a range of decent colours. If only there could be polo shirts too, with a collar and longer sleeves in bright colours for the summer.

Also, and I am nearly six foot, they used to have longer length jackets and other garments. Then I could only find black or navy.

My big beef though is with all big stores (I blame Mary Portas). they are too confusing. If I wanted a coat, I used to go and look at the coats, or skirts or whatever. Now everything is muddled up, shops in shops and it takes ages. I usually give up because I am too tired....