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Style & beauty

Here we go again - M&S woes

(140 Posts)
Soutra Wed 17-Sept-14 16:11:39

I was delighted to receive a clutch of "Friend and family" 20% off vouchers from M&S. Can't be bad, I thought, as I had seen a dark red duffle coat in the Sunday magazines and I liked the look of it.

All I can say is that whatever they pay their advertising photographers, it can't be nearly enough. What looked warm and inviting in the picture turned out to be heavy and stiff, with a zip that was hard to do up and an uninspiring mock-tartan lining.sad
So I thought I need some trousers - but the quality of the fabric was so cheap and dire they were rejected as well. A cardi? My granny wouldn't have been seen dead in what was on offer - dreary pastels, metallic threads,odd coloured buttons from Per Una (how many years have they been going on?) and dull, dull, dull styling.
So nothing new to add to previous threads lamenting the dearth of decent things from M&S - the only thing they seem to do well is their advertising!

FlicketyB Sat 27-Sept-14 20:05:46

Frankly, I thought the model in the M&S adverts was revolting, unattractive, and unappealing. If they want to give us half naked men giving us a knowing look they should at least use men who are easy on the eye.

I cannot think of any time in my life when I would have found this model other than unappealing and a real turn off.

rosequartz Sat 27-Sept-14 18:02:56

Grandmama if I want a particular item I find I need to wander round the whole shop. Why can't they have all the coats together, all the jumpers together?
I find that very annoying too; I was looking for some matching or toning separates yesterday but gave in as it was a huge store and things were in their particular ranges.
I also thought I had looked through all the handbags and couldn't find what I wanted, only to find others dotted all through the store and gave in. Mind you, I found the same in John Lewis after I had bought a bag in there - other bags dotted all around with the different 'lines'.

shysal Sat 27-Sept-14 15:30:43

home.bt.com/lifestyle/fashionbeauty/what-you-really-think-of-the-ms-pants-ads-11363934517953
They are still ordinary white pants, but the model ain't bad!

Jane10 Sat 27-Sept-14 13:51:23

soutra Jenners is full of ladies of a certain age going round saying "its not what it was". It certainly is not. That Italian place is awful. Like a motorway service station. The tearoom used to be soooooo lovely too. Sigh. I cant say I`m a fan of M&S cafes either though. Too crowded and uncomfortable and not cheap either

Coolgran65 Sat 27-Sept-14 13:38:11

I've gone several times to M & S for bra fitting.

Granted I am large up front with a relatively narrow back. But they do have bras with cups at G, GG, H, J, etc etc. So there is no way that they don't have a cup to fit a booby.

But the cut and the shape is another matter.
Bones dig in at the too highly cut underarm,
the side of the cup at the arm rubs and that's only on trying on.

Fitter advised me to lower the straps and move the bra lower away from my underarm..... er..er.... is that not a bit of a droop we're then getting !! Kind of defeating the purpose of getting a well fitted bra.

By this stage we are not concerned with style or pretty, just a bra that fits.... in any colour !!

Fitter said that I needed to get a bra specially made.
Agggghhh.... but I wear a Fantasie 38G in almost any of their styles.

Greenfinch Sat 27-Sept-14 11:34:00

confused

Soutra Sat 27-Sept-14 11:28:57

Can't a decent scone in Jenners? As Margaret Mountford once said in a different context " Edinburgh is not what it used to be"

Galen Sat 27-Sept-14 11:08:08

I found the bra fitter in M&S very helpful as well.reminded me off when I had my first fitting. On return my father glanced over the top of his paper and enquirered 'what cup size was she? E?'
No, said my puzzled mother 'AA'
'Oh' said father 'I thought she'd be an E for egg cup size'
hmm! I'm still only a B

thatbags Sat 27-Sept-14 10:25:09

Took Minibags for a proper bra fitting last week. Our assigned helper was great. She found something just right for me too. As well as thanking her I left compliments with her manager.

It's approximately a decade since I've been in any M&S shop. I was quite impressed with Glasgow Argyle Street M&S—an order of magnitude better than the last M&S I was in, which was probably Oxford. The cafe was nicer than that overpriced snooty 'Italian' one in Jenners, Edinburgh that can't even serve decent scones.

Jane10 Sat 27-Sept-14 09:25:18

Twice I filled in complaint forms about the confusing store layout after a refurb at our nearest one. It was actually claustrophobic as it was so crowded and the exit was obscured by lots of displays as well as not being signposted. Despite giving detailed info and contact info I never heard a dicky bird from them. I had genuinely wanted to be helpful as I had been a faithful and regular customer. I just avoid that store now. Its a horrible environment and I don't want to be there. Sad but true

Purpledaffodil Fri 26-Sept-14 23:39:44

I had a similar problem in the summer Grandmama. I was trying to buy some sleeveless ribbed tee shirts for my daughter out law abroad and instead of being in one place, they were all over the shop. When I had a moan about it, the girl on the till said that the idea is to help people put outfits together. She agreed it was annoying if you want the same item in different colour ways though and said there had been many complaints.angry

Grandmama Fri 26-Sept-14 20:57:18

I find the website very slow and difficult compared with other websites. However, some time ago when I tried to order something online using a discount voucher and the site would not accept the voucher, M&S were very helpful when I complained and did apologise (and I did get the discount). The York shop has had a make-over, quite a bit of disruption while it was going on but I don't think it's an improvement. Also because there are so many different styles - Classics (which I avoid), Per Una, Autograph etc - if I want a particular item I find I need to wander round the whole shop. Why can't they have all the coats together, all the jumpers together? Why do they need to have all these different groups? What is wrong with simply having one M&S brand (St Michael, we knew where we were). Why do they stock other brands for make-up, cleaning products etc. Why didn't they stick to their own brands? Also tights - I haven't been able to buy 20 denier tights for ages and ages. Just plain tights, they seem to stock only glossy. Rant over!

Rosannie Fri 26-Sept-14 16:42:52

I've tried M&S - absolute no-no !

Rosannie Fri 26-Sept-14 16:41:28

I've got skinny legs and have trouble finding boots that don't flap around my ankles, I've got one pair of favourite 'pixie' books that I wear with thick tights or leggings and I've just had them revived at the shoe repairers hoping to get another season out of them!
Any advice on where to find some new ones would be very welcome.

Purpledaffodil Fri 26-Sept-14 08:21:49

Isn't it a portmanteau word for jeans/leggings and trousers/leggings? So the former tend to be stretchy denim type material, although the difference is becoming blurred I think. Have only had Treggings and Jeggings in the past but have just bought some M and S leggings to go with bargain Monsoon sale top and am pleased with the look. I have long legs, but chunky calves and find high boots over leggings etc disguise this. Or so I delude myself.. smile

FlicketyB Fri 26-Sept-14 07:36:40

Ana DD, who is generously built lives in leggings and loose, but not too loose, tops and it makes her look much slimmer and 'together' than similar sized women in long baggy trousers with big baggy tops over them. If you are big you cannot hide it so flaunt it, at least that is her attitude.

I always think of leggings as being made from relatively thin fabric while jeggings/treggings (no, I do not know the difference) are a heavier fabric and the ones I have just bought at M&S have more structure round the waist band, and have pockets.

kittylester Fri 26-Sept-14 07:19:45

I think I would look like Humpty Dumpty in anything other than bootcut jeans!

Soutra, I've got fatty legs too! They go with the fatty rest of me grin

suzied Fri 26-Sept-14 07:17:37

But confusingly Uniqlo sell "leggings" for £14.99 which are just like pull on stretch jeans, they don't use the terms "jeggings" at all, so it depends on the retailer I think. They are very comfy and come in loads of colours BTW.

Coolgran65 Fri 26-Sept-14 00:40:52

To add...... jeggings and treggings can be more flattering than skinny jeans. I look ridiculous in skinny jeans.
But tapered cigarette pants are perfect to dress up. I got a black jacquard pair from M and Co that will take be out to anything dressy for the next couple of years..

Coolgran65 Fri 26-Sept-14 00:34:46

Soutra I've wondered about this myself and have come up with this.....

leggings are finer fabric and pull up like footless tights. Must have bum covered.
Jeggings are heavier and can pull up or have a zip. Must have bum covered..
Treggings are heavier again, sometimes with feature seaming, but basically like very stretchy jeans but slightly different styled. Slim wearers might get away without a long top......I'll just keep my posterior well covered.

I reckon keeping bum covered means more than a longish jumper, it means to about mid thigh... or something to mid thigh underneath the jumper. IMHO

I'd be interested to hear how others define the differences.

Ana Thu 25-Sept-14 21:25:53

FlicketyB, surely they only give you a slim silhouette if you are slim anyway? And the top half needs to match, otherwise you end up with the top-heavy robin look.

Sometimes bootleg or wide leg trousers can give the illusion of a better balance.

Soutra Thu 25-Sept-14 21:17:09

Can someone please explain the differences between leggings/jeggings/treggings for someone who can't even contemplate skinny jeans on account of fatty legs?

Coolgran65 Thu 25-Sept-14 20:56:43

Jeggings are brilliant. In summer, just above the ankle with flat pumps or fitflops. In the winter, tucked into boots. Always with a long shirt, tunic, jumper. Even a knitted dress type as long as the dress is above the knee.

FlicketyB Thu 25-Sept-14 19:06:12

I live in jeggings or skinny leg trousers all year. I think they are far more flattering for older women than the wider legged trousers so many prefer. They give you a slim silhouette and tops can be as long/short/baggy/slim fitting as you prefer.

Purpledaffodil Thu 25-Sept-14 19:01:16

Jane10 Treggings/Jeggings and even leggings are wonderful comfortable useful staples. They don't look like a dress and trousers because they are so fitted like tights. Probably need to try on tops carefully to check the posterior is well covered and to check that the top is obviously not a dress and too long to balance. Go on treat yourself! smile