M and S axe it’s Classic Range !

I've noticed their fitting rooms are not very forgiving. I haven't got the greatest figure in the world but there is something about the lighting in M&S cubicles that makes me look even more like a sack of potatoes than usual. It is truly depressing to try clothes on there.

I do quite like the Per Una jeans range, because the high waists and the sizing generally I find quite good. The materials, though, don't seem as robust as before - more stretchy, not so snug.

I don't think I've ever found anything in the Classic range that I like.

I find some good clothes in TK Maxx, although you need more time and patience to find stuff.

I'm still growling about the £39.50 polo neck sweater that I bought late September, washed twice and is now covered in pilling and bobbles around the arms and bust area. And the polo neck looks as though it's totally collapsed. The quality of M&S is awful these days and certainly no better than Primark or Matalan.

By younger generation what sort of age range do you think they currently aim for? Or are trying to?
For me, other than the £15 jeggings there's no choice at all for me. I don't want none natural fabrics or horrific colours. I used to buy my underwear from there but it's not the same now as it was in my teens and twenties. Now mid 30's. The children clothes some are horrible material and designs, those that aren't are too expensive. It's not like they will wear it next year as by then mine have grown two sizes at least. The school uniform was better quality in Asda this year.
I seem to be buying more in Debenhams and Asda or handmade.

Yes, bring back Indigo Norma

Great for casuals that were a bit different.

Was only having this conversation today ….after shopping at M & S Outlet shop.....terrific bargains, mostly ALL from the Classic range ,,,trousers, jumpers, blouses ….ie pairs of casual trousers for wearing indoors ..£5.00 ...pair of pink trousers (for next summer) £2.99....I had seen most of the things in the actual shop, so know the prices were not just special buys for the Outlet but actual stock that didn't sell. ! Loads of pairs of classic trousers, all shapes and leg lengths, lovely night wear, tops and jumpers ….and SOOOOOO cheap ..I am afraid I spent too much as usual ! Also, a pair of sheets king size, at £10 each (paid £22 each a few weeks before in store ! SADLY I think the reason all these Classic range are in the Outlet is that M & S mistakenly think their core customer is now younger ,,,,,,in their dreams ! I used to love the M & S clothes ...when at work, their suits jackets etc were amazin ...good quality, washed well ….this week I wanted a classic black blazer type jacket ...NOTHING ...and some LONG LENGTH black straight leg trousers ...NOTHING ! EVERYTHING TOO SMALL AND TOO SHORT …...as someone else said, they are NOT listening to their once loyal customers ...so where do we go now for out clothing purchases ?

Sorry that should say helpful, courteous and cheerful!

I would just like to say that the M and S staff at the Freeport Outlet store in Braintree, Essex are absolutely amazing. So helpful, courteous and helpful. The M and S food store there also seems to have lovely helpful cheerful staff!

Bring Back Indigo!

Rarely shop inM&S but seems daft especially as the population is aging

I wouldn’t be seen dead in the Classics range (I’m mid 60’s). That apart, the quality of much of their clothing is sub Primark. I bought slippers in the spring which have worn holes in the backs of them - I do expect a pair to last a year at least. I buy my jeans there as I find them to be an excellent fit. However I have just returned a pair of regular length as they were at least 6” longer than others I have in “same” length. I submitted a photo of an existing pair overlaid on the new pair to show this but of course, I got no response. I have returned several bras from the Autograph range which fell apart after a couple of washes. Then I’m stuck with the matching pants. I feel like never using them again.

Yes, they have done this before, trying to appeal to younger people and ignoring their older regular customers. Why can't they include both? Remember the time when you could only buy "thong" knickers? It was during Stuart Rose's time, and I sent an email asking what he'd done with my knickers but never got a reply.

*conscious

I am 70 and fashion conscience. As far as I am concerned M and S have got it all completely wrong these days. Apart from the peculiar designs, they cannot control their sizing. I have M and S tops in sizes 14 up to 20 and trousers from 16 to 20.
I don't live close to a branch so try to buy on line. My last order was for nine items, eight were returned due to poor sizing, some too big, some too small and some with sleeves suitable for an orangutan. I won't bother again.

M&S lost the plot some time ago. I always used to buy work trousers there - the quality was decent and I never needed to try them on as sizing was always consistent. Now fabrics are often nasty and scratchy, sizing is all over the place and you may find an entire rack of only one or two sizes. And I wish someone would cotton on that customers don't want garish colours and sparkly bits when it comes to knitwear etc.

M&S are really struggling, and frankly, it's their own fault. Their core customers are women aged 55 plus. Yes, you have to 'replace' older customers with younger as we die off , but really, it's a good idea to keep those core customers whilst you attract the new; I sometimes feel they're throwing us away in the hope of attracting those new, younger customers. And I don't think it's working, they young are not flocking through their doors (not even their website doors).

Add to that that the quality took a serious nosedive years ago and they don't get a lot of money from me now. Yet I remember in the 80s/90s when I had a desk job and I used to spend an absolute fortune on work suits, blouses, scarfs, belts, coats. I got my make-up from there too! And earrings. Pretty much my entire wardrobe was from M&S; it was fashionable and good quality.

I very much doubt the 20-somethings of today can find a fraction of what they're looking for in M&S these days, whereas in the past my 20-something self could get everything. I've been looking (for presents for 20-somethings ) and I come away empty-handed every time, except for maybe a pair of coloured leather gloves.

But this has been going on for years. They keep trying to re-invent themselves, but I can't say I see any end to their decline .

My mother is very cross at the demise of the M and S Classic range and indeed l liked their basic cardigans. As others have said M and S are trying too hard to be trendy but a casual glance at the age of the average M and S shopper would lead me to think they are missing a trick. Have you noticed that it is the ranges that traditionally catered for the more mature customers that are going out of business? Yet it is this age group that has the money to spend.

I never bought from the Classic range despite checking them out sometimes. I do miss the Indigo one, though. Per Una seems to have gone downhill.

It’s sad that the sizing seems to have become so inconsistent in M & S. I recently tried on two ‘size 12’ tops that were quite different sizes. I commented on this to the assistant, who didn’t look at all surprised.

Battle of the Brands tomorrow evening should be interesting, but I think it may be more focused on food as Mark's N Sparks up against Waitrose. We'll see

M&S don’t want the ‘older’ shopper, but why do they think young people want to buy their overpriced bad quality clothes? Even a Holly Willoughby doesn’t look that good in their clothes.

The ageing population doesn't want old fashioned clothes!
I grew up in the sixties and remember all the lovely boutiques and now buy from a famous althleisure company.
As a thought, have a look at Boundary Mill Stores if you have one local. Cut prices on designer stuff. Also, House of Bruer (online) does reasonably priced classic stuff.
A friend (86) who worshipped M&S now buys from Edinburgh Wollen Mill as the prices are keen and the stuff is very like M&S's in the past.

I think that M&S lost the clothes plot years ago and have still been unable to locate it! A pity as it used to be such a good store. Maybe they should give up and just stick to food.

This is why M&S is on its way out.

So very disappointed in M & S clothes, for years now they have been trying to appeal to younger people, instead of staying with their core customers: more mature people, especially in an ageing population, we are just being ignored. The quality, styles and sizes are not what they used to be.

I was in the Marble Arch flagship store last week.
I would not have given houseroom to any of the clothes I saw.
Years ago when my mother was in her eighties she would not buy clothes from M and S because ,she said ,they were for old ladies.
Do old ladies really want acrylic and other man made fibres?
It is no use writing “cotton rich” when there is a very small percentage of cotton in the garment.

Just a thought - when did Twiggy stop designing for them?