A Gransnet design brief for M & S

I went to M&S this morning and bought a dress a pair of shoes and a nightdress! The dress is from the new spring range and it's petite!! Oh and it has sleeves that cover the bingo wings! I can't seem to wear high court shoes anymore? So I found a smart pair not to high with a strap I think they are dolly shoes? Anyway I am very pleased with my choices. They had lovely jackets to go over the dresses but I'm not sure I need one. I will say one thing though I did notice a lot of orange so I think it must be the colour this year!!

Chrissie13 maybe we can share the vouchers!!?

I agree with most posters that the quality of their clothes is not good these days - thin material and badly sewn. I would like good quality basics - especially t-shirts in all colours.

Unfortunately we are all shapes and sizes, I can rarely find trousers to fit me as I have a sway back and the waistband always leaves a two inch gap at the back. And I would like all of the same thing together, all trousers together, all tops together. I haven't got the energy to troll round the whole shop, just in case!

I do hope someone from M & S reads this thread.

Please, M and S:
no silly frills and ruffles or
horrible nylony/acrylicy fabrics.
or high slash necks or
daft prints.

Let's have:

plain cotton t shirts with elbow-length sleeves in good, basic colours.
ditto cardies in said colours in WOOL.
proper length clothing for us-ahem-mature types.

And-a bit of a long shot here-please make it IN BRITAIN.

MIL (84) likes M&S - I rarely darken their door if I can avoid it. Won voucher at work and bought some nice elasticated waist trousers and then another when changed phone supplier, which went on trousers for son, a couple of belts and finally found a really pretty blue linen-look embroidered summer dress, but still don't like their stuffy boring clothes; they will use celeb names to try to sell to us and I won't be taken in by that. As a teenager used to buy their undies, but nowadays use Very and shop online, or maybe Tesco or Asda. Hate underwired bras, and it's hard, even at M&S, to find non-underwired. So don't feel termpted to change my clothes-shopping habits. Since don't like their prices don't buy food there either, so still no thanks!!!

I agree with many do the comments regarding M&S. It used to be my shop of choice when I went clothes shopping but I haven't been able to find anything to suit me for years now.

More items with 3/4 length sleeves please - a very flattering length for we older ladies
More tunic style tops / dresses that come to mid / lower thigh so we can wear with leggings and boots in winter, crop leggings and sandals in summer. Often the tops are just too short, only hip length ( I'm only 5'5") and highlight the bits I'd rather not show!
Less clothing with large patterns in garish colours, truly awful
Flattering shapes for my 'middle age spread' please, not just 'bodycon' dresses in bigger sizes as they just don't work on an expanding waistline and less than washboard tummy!
More modest necklines please, somewhere between the high round neck on tshirts ( awful, as they highlight a chubby chin if you're over a size 10!) and the very low scoop / v neck on a lot of current items - the lovely black 1/2 sleeve tunic dress in store currently has a ridiculously low v neck.
An acceptance that larger ladies have bigger thighs and upper arms. Often trouser legs and sleeves are just too tight to be flattering.
I could go on and on....

Good quality is the over riding want from M & S for me. I'd like to see a range of good quality summer dresses in bright colours, designed with the older woman in mind. I'd also like to see a return of the stretchy white, wide, trousers.

Colourful floaty tops to go over the trousers would be good and also good quality t-shirts with thicker material than those on offer.

Could we also have some pull on, boot cut jeans?

For the winter, I'd like to see some nice fleeces and rugby shirt, style tops. Joules can do it, why can't M & S?

Decent supporting cotton bras would be welcome, with nice wide straps.

M & S always seem to let me down with sizes. When I go there's always plenty of the smaller sizes left but the bigger sizes have all sold out. It's not rocket science surely to stock more bigger sizes. I'm not talking about massive either, just 16/18s.

Marks please stop putting the ubiquitous pocket on women's shirts, it's only an embellishment, after all no one uses a front pocket and it must make the garment more expensive to produce. Please try and make clothes without fussy, twiddly bits. More plain capsule wardrobe pieces in better fabrics and drop the garish patterns and colours, horrible sludgy/limey type greens will not stand the test of time, a colour such as that is for a season and it won't even sell on the sale rail heavily discounted. Less choice and better quality. Alexa Chung may be flirting with pie crust collars but I for one would not want to be revisiting a look such as that again, I predict there will be loads left if it were to go into mass production.

Things that are labelled as being the same size to BE the same size - I'm sick of having to try on 6 pairs of trousers (all the same size/length) to find one pair that fit me - if I'm lucky..! I have about 10 pairs of trousers (accumulated over the years), ranging from a size 16 medium leg to size 20 long - and they all fit me..!!

Three-quarter length sleeves on lots more t-shirts and jumpers

If something walks out of the door as soon as it hits the rails - make some more, in other colours..! I've got two lovely long cardigans (one thick, one thin) and would happily buy two more of each in different colours -- but of course, they only make a limited number (in one colour)and when they're gone, they're gone..!

Short sleeves on summer dresses. Full length sleeves on shirt style blouses as otherwise they ruckle up if you put a jumper or cardigan on top. More variety of sizes /lengths to suit all heights and shapes! Its hard to get styles that are flattering and stylish at my age without looking either frumpy or tarty! Oh, and why have they stopped doing wide fitting footglove shors ib flattering styles all on the same rack? I now have to search all over the place for shoes that fit.
Agree abput swimming costumes - i swim all year round and dont want fashionacle beach styles or shapeless speedo/ sporty type styles, but something in plain coloursand flattering cut with a little bust support!

Oh yes, the sizing Suedoku I've got three identical cardigans in different colourways - Size 10, Size 12 & Size 16!

As for trousers .....

Last year I bought new knickers to take on holiday (all flesh coloured so they wouldn't show through white trousers). After one gentle hand wash some of them started to come apart . I realised the gusset was glued, not sewn. When I contacted M&S their only comment was to say I could take them back. I'm not taking used knickers, even spotlessly clean ones, back. I wanted an acknowledgement of the poor quality, not a refund. I won't bother with their underwear again.
Also, why is M&S the only women's clothes shop that seems unable to keep at least one of every size in each style on the shop floor? I often find there are (say) 4 size 10, 3 size 16 and a 20, or they are all one size. I used to complain to the manager every time I went in one, but have realised this is a waste of time. They agree it happens but do nothing about it.
I hate their useless Sparks scheme as well.

More T-shirts with three-quarter length sleeves.

All colours of tops in an assortment of sizes: how many times do I find the colour I want but not the size?

Summer trousers that are not black or grey. Where are the golf ones they used to do?

More mirrors in store.

I would buy on line if they didn't describe things as knee or calf-length: I have asked several times whose knee or calf they mean - we are all different heights.

I agree with all the remarks about quality. I have things from the past that are all better quality than now, and I never paid a lot for them.

I have M&S shares, so I try to go there first, but I'm beginning to despair!

What an excellent thread - I certainly hope M and S take note of the comments. Did you know that if you post a comment on their website they vet it before it appears? I used to always leave a comment then for some reason they started rejecting my posts so I gave up. I think they don't like it if you make a negative comment.

I agree with all the above, M and S have really gone down the pan. As others have said, they need to clarify their target market. Under 40s will not buy from M and S except maybe for their children, so concentrate on the older age groups, listen to our comments, give us what we want - and hey presto! your sales will go up.

In answer to the OP:

Get your sizing right as at the moment it is a disgrace, especially in trousers. I used to be able to pick up a medium length trouser in my size and know it would fit without trying it on but now I have to try on several pairs in different sizes, so I don't bother.

Sack the celebrities - we don't need them, we don't care about them, they don't shop at M and S anyway.

Put the larger bras at the top of the display where they are easier to sort through. Those with small busts can more easily reach lower down. Get your assistants to check the displays regularly as the bras are always in a muddle. Many's the time I've walked out in disgust when I can only find size 36 and 38 where the 40s should be.

Bring back v-neck, cap-sleeved t-shirts in nice colours - get rid of bright turquoise and shocking pink - and put a bit of shape in the styling and skip the silly chest pockets. Also, where are the 3/4 sleeves?

Ditch the acrylic and polyester and give us some nice cotton dresses (with pockets) for the summer along with cotton cardis and jumpers. Polyester is so not wanted. We'll pay a bit more for natural fibres if they're good.

We need some pull-on bootleg jeans - skinny ones are not for everybody.

I could go on and on......just hope GN can pass this thread on to M and S. As someone says above, market research is expensive but we are here giving it to them for free! M and S TAKE NOTE.

Reading this thread, most of the features asked for are not ones I am particularly looking for.

What I would like to see in clothes in almost any shop is:
1) proper pockets in coats, trousers and skirts
2) Bras that are not moulded like Buddicca's breast plates
3) More natural fabrics, less polyester
4) Swimming costumes that, again do not have mouldings, as in 2 above.
5) Swimming costumes (or trousers) without tummy control. If I want to wear a corset I will buy one.

M&S in particular. You have had computerised stock control since the 1960s, so why is your stock control so bad? The number of times I have looked on rails to find the only sizes available are size 8 or 18, or long runs of different garments with no size 12s. That is just bad management.

Your shops are a mess, a plethora of confusing brands that all look the same and make doing something like buying a coat impossible because coats are scattered at 8 different locations.

Most of your stores are large, proper signposting to where specific items can be found would help. If I am left wandering round a store trying to find the items I want. I am not tempted to buy more, I just walk out and go elswhere.

As for trousers
Absolutely MiniMouse They vary from year to year

I have two different sizes in my wardrobe, both sizes fit well (and a smaller size that doesn't )

I agree with the comments on linen trousers, bought a grey pair last summer to replace a lovely soft navy pair I bought from Phase One several years before.

My husband said they were awful, they had no cut or style and the material was so cheap, he was right. However I thought I'd wear them for the beach with the grandchildren to mess up. The first day I wore them I sat on the sand under a palm tree and must have sat on some sticky resin, could I wash it off - hell no so they went straight in the bin I couldn't justify the room in the suitcase home.

When I got home I thought I'd treat myself to a cashmere cardigan for the winter, I have several colours that I purchased from M&S in previous years. This time I chose a festive red. When it arrived I unpacked it in eager anticipation - but again the quality was terrible it didn't feel like cashmere at all but a rough wool, it was so thin when I compared it with the previous purchases, back it went ?. I rest my case.

Marks and Spencer for goodness sake wake up and get it right, consult your customer base and they will tell you what's wrong with your products never mind all these fancy PR and Marketing companies.

Rant over folks.

Longer straps on bras and longer length dresses

I hate that their sizing is too big. Sometimes two items in the same size are completely different. I can never get bras or shoes to fit properly in M&S. I think they have got more expensive and lowered the quality. I just bought a knitted dress from Indigo that started to bobble before I washed it! Also some things are only online but when you buy an item in store, like it and try to buy another online, it doesn't exist!

I would like to buy cream pants with no VPL, not the sickly body colour. I would really like them to sell comfortable shoes and boots and I would love them not to keep messing about with the pricing. I won't buy anything full price anymore as I know it will be cheaper in a day or two.

On the plus side, their lovely white cotton nighties are great and their Heatgen range has been brilliant.

I agree about Sparks scheme as useless. I am happy with sculpt and lift jeans best I have bought for ages. Hate breast pockets on T-shirts! Please more 3/4 sleeves, better quality fabrics and colours. What happened to pure wool jerseys? Now buy from woolsover. Shoes and sandals from Hotter.
Hope GN has the ' teeth'to tell M&S what we need

I agree with most of the comments above and:

The fit of M&S trousers has been incompatible with my shape for years - if they fit over my bottom and thighs there is a handful of excess fabric at the waist. At their prices I am not going to do alterations.

T shirts in a wider range of more subtle colours. I have been trying to replace my navy blue V necked one for years

Summer dresses with short sleeves - yes please!!!

I do sometimes see things I like in M&S but never in my size 16. If I was an 8, 10, 12, 18, or 20 I would have plenty of choice, but I have often walked out empty handed because I just can't find something I like in my size. Grrrr !!

Not just grannies, but lots of people of all ages holiday at different times of the year and/or swim all round the year.

So why does our M&S not stock swimsuits all year round? I tried to find one in September and was told that they didn't have any - that's right, NONE at all, because it wasn't the holiday season.

As others have said, all of these comments/criticisms are for free, M&S please take note. You do not have to pay "celebrities" who never shop in your stores. We are the grey pound and could make a difference to your profits.

Wake up before you find the "for sale" sign outside your stores.

Yes agree Charliegirl, re c'leb endorsements, I think if anything their input is counter productive, I particularly dislike the Christmas one they did a while back that included quite a lot of famous women, Rita Ora, Tracey Emin, Helen Mirren and many more. This type of marketing won't sway the type of women who are maybe looking to shop at Marks.