Marks and Spencer, Leading Ladies.

I would be pleased if they brought back the sort of smartish T shirts they used to do with a slightly longer sleeve. (can't remember which range it was, possibly Autograph?)

They were perfect for wearing under business suits, when I used to wear them, and also just generally looked better with jeans etc.

Not sure why M&S think that 'convening' these women might make us more likely to buy the clothes.
I haven't been tempted by anything other than a very plain grey t-shirt for years.

The T shirts were in their "Portfolio" range, just found this on Wiki, says it all really.

"Portfolio This was aimed at the core 40-55 business woman. It is meant to offer all that is close to her feminine side. The shoes, trouser suits, blouses and frocks will be UK sourced and the T-shirts will involve Fair trade cotton from India, Bangladesh and Pakistan.[5][6][18] It has incorporated some products from the former 'Perfect' and 'Essential' sub-brands. Portfolio Cashmere had absorbed the other male and female M and S cashmere jumper lines. Portfolio (headed by Marie Helvin since 2008) recently began to issue Speziale fashion trousers and Jeggings in a final bid for customers in late 2010 [19] The Portfolio brand is currently being phased out."

I was in M&S last week for the first time in months. Half the stock seemed to be reduced and the underwear dept. completely flummoxed me - there is soooo much available, it's ridiculous and I said as much to a long suffering assistant who completely agreed with me. It's good to have choice, but so much?
I was looking for shorts and went round and round in circles despite being directed by staff and gave up in the end. Reminded me of the Tiger who turned into butter story
I don't think having these women fronting this latest campaign is likely to persuade me to buy.

I'm sure they are all admirable women in their respective ways, but what has that got to do with clothes?
I think at the moment the woman I most admire is Mary Beard.
But I don't want to look like her, or wear the clothes that she does.

Back in the day when we still wrote cheques my kids were convinced that I had a pen that could write Marks & Spencer plc by itself because I bought everything there. Not any more! I was given some vouchers for Christmas and still haven't spent them on myself and by the looks of this lot I will be buying household goods with them. And whilst I am having a moan why oh why are all their dresses and skirts so short? Why not make them longer and offer a service to take them up as they do with men's trousers or better still offer different lengths like Next.

I would have thought the backlash after the last 'celebrity campaign' would have made M & S realise that its customers don't want to see celebrity makeovers. Still not listening to your customers M & S. Well you will reap what you sow.

Yes I agree with everyone, M and S used to be the shop I could always rely on to get clothes for work. At one time I think they were trying to compete with Primark, they have lost their way, along with their customers.

I was given M&S vouchers for Christmas. Apart from underwear I'm struggling to find something I'd want to spend them on.

I don't see the point of selecting groups of random well known women, who are all of course very worthy people in their own particular fields, but I'm not convinced any of them would be seen in Mark's garb. It didn't work the last time when the group included Helen Mirren and Tracey Emin, because we all know they just wouldn't wear the sort of clothes that were selected for them to model and I suspect their core clientele feel patronised by these stupid celebrity faux Vanity Fair ensembles. This campaign seems so pointless as does having Rosie Huntington Whatsherface modelling their underwear. Why can't Marks seem to identify the women who make up their customer base and and then put together a fashion shoot that would resonate rather than irritate!

Although I would look hideous in the type of tight trousers that Mary Beard wears, I am very taken with her shoes and would love to own a pair. I don't think she bought them in M&S though, they look VERY expensive.

I shall be spending my M&S vouchers, which have been hanging around for months, on food.

I agree rosequartz that is where my vouchers are spent.

I went a couple of weeks ago to buy a new dressing gown, I never did find the nightwear section in my local large branch. All that I could see were bras by the lorry load, all looking the same, padded with horrendous pointed nipples.

I can never find anything in store so I look on line for something specific eg trousers.

I thought all the clothes on the ladies in the new ad looked rather frumpy.

I agree with all the comments. I was in the M&S local to me last week [like the food.] However I had time so had a peek at the clothes. I thought they were pretty awful really.Jackets were unlined and cheap looking. This is bad really as M&S and Debenhams always suited me, I could get things in the right length. It's just Debenhams now then!
Why are Marks getting things so wrong?

I, too, have M&S vouchers from Christmas and a birthday. I thought I'd treat myself to a new pair of trousers for work last week, but gave up when I couldn't even find the bootcut ones! Everything seemed to be randomly dotted around the store - too confusing. I shall buy food with my vouchers as well.

Our M & S is the same Ana. Everything randomly set out. I too have vouchers, was keeping them for summer stuff, but may use them in the food hall too.

They don't look particularly good in those outfits do they. White in large quantities rarely flattering.
I have never understood why they do not do a mix and match business range with 3 or 4 jacket shapes and a few different trouser shapes all in the same nice fabric. But no. Hotch potch. They are clueless.

ANd afraid to come onto GN I seem to recall...

They are their own worse enemies (M&S) as there is a dearth of good, casual, semi-fashionable clothes out there for over 60s (approx). They could tap into this market if they had the nous to realise it.

They never co-ordinate their colours, even in the children's wear. Children's winter accsssories don't match the coats, or even contrast nicely.

If you do find a skirt or trousers that you think would be OK you could walk around the whole store trying to find a matching or nicely contrasting top plus jacket or cardigan. Eclectic is one thing but a clashing mess is not my aim.

I do hope someone from M&S sees this thread, as their clothing range has been so disappointing for too long now. I'd walk in, feel totally overwhelmed by the amount of stuff, and totally underwhelmed by the stuff on sale. I haven't managed to buy a pair of jeans, trousers, a t shirt, underwear or nightwear for what feels like ages. I don't want a nightie with a comic teddy sitting on the front, don't want lacey, padded, underwired bra's that don't fit, I could moan on. On a brighter note, our local store has just had a make over, and looks so much more welcoming. There are less clothes on display, the various sections, like Autograph, have a discreet part of the floor, separated from other lines. it's easier to find things, and the quality looks a bit better. M&S had this notion they'd pull in young people and compete with H&M. That wasn't a bright idea was it.

Have they considered cutting out all the advertising hype and actually producing clothes people might want to wear.

I must confess that M&S has always been my least favourite shop, I have always found their clothes dull and uninteresting, with the occasional diamond. Over the last 10 years the quality of the occasional diamonds has been so poor I have just given up and no longer bother to look in it.

I know I am just revealing my hidden shallows, but however much we go on about using "real" women I do like seeing clothes modelled by people who make them look really great. And I'm not a big fan of What'sherface's photography anyway.
Having found some Tesco jeans that were actually comfortable I thought I'd see what M&S had to offer. I walked round to where the jeans had been a couple of weeks ago and - surprise! - no jeans! As I had a toddler with me I couldn't be bothered to struggle any further and went home, so that's another possible sale lost.
And the colours and fabrics are mainly cheap looking and horrible.

I would like M&S and every other store to concentrate on photography that centres on displaying the garment, so you can see what it looks like. The model should be unobtrusive enough to be almost invisible.

I get fed up with fashion articles that show models posed in arty-farty poses that centre on the model, her looks and attenuated shape and where it is almost impossible to actually see what the garment she is wearing looks like.