M&S have upped their game at last

Casdon, the only thing I'd buy in there is underwear - so no, as 'navy smart trousers' really don't appeal, I've noticed no difference. Long ago, they had good quality, comfortable clothing with some style - but then they went downhill.

I've bought three long 'cosy' cardigans from M and S in the past few weeks; slightly long in the sleeve but I push them up, and they are perfect over trousers. I bought a selection of jumpers from Phase Eight last year - never again, as they got bigger with every (careful) wash, and must have been 18 - 20 eventually. I do hope M and S continue with this trend towards better clothing; not before time.

Elegran:

'they will find that they have completely lost their traditional customers without gaining any trendy but discerning new ones.'

Their 'traditional' customers must be dying off in droves by now. I can't see M&S surviving either.

I must admit that at 84 my OH does not have the most upright and svelte figure, so he needs good quality trousers but will not pay for them! I give up.

Hetty58

Elegran:

'they will find that they have completely lost their traditional customers without gaining any trendy but discerning new ones.'

Their 'traditional' customers must be dying off in droves by now. I can't see M&S surviving either.

I just looked it up, and no, actually they are currently doing really well.
www.theguardian.com/business/2023/aug/15/marks-and-spencer-upgrades-profit-outlook-as-market-share-in-food-and-clothing-grows
I hadn’t looked at clothes in there for a while before this week, and it was pretty busy in the shop when I went, lots of younger women (in their thirties and forties, not the age of H&M customers) which I must admit quite surprised me.

Apart from jackets and jeans I'm finding the same old to be honest. the t shirts I bought in the Summer have nearly all lost their shape and everything seems to be made for people that are 5ft 10. their underwear is the only thing I feel I can rely on.

I’m impressed with their footwear offering now. I have wide feet and can’t easily find what I want. I recently ordered a pair of shoes from M&S, fully expecting to have to return them, but they are perfect. A lovely pink suede and an excellent fit. I shall be buying more from them. A big improvement.

aonk

I completely agree about the knitwear. I have thrown away 3 jumpers I bought last Winter because of the bobbling. I too have decided to look for cotton jumpers but they aren’t that easy to find and not all are pure cotton anyway. In general however I agree with the OP that things are improving. Some of the coats look very nice.

I’ve just bought myself a couple of 100% cotton men’s jumpers from M&S. a friend tipped me off that she buys hers there. They are nicer than the women’s offerings and come in a wider range of colours. Best of all for me, they are a bit longer in the body and sleeve so they’re not at half mast.

Personally although good value I think they have overdone the leg length - I’m 5ft7in and now find I have to buy short length as the regular length I bôught previously is around 2 too long. Or the regular length in “ankle grazer” is full length on me. I wouldn’t have said 5’7” is “short”.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202310/medium-357888-img-2191.jpeg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202310/medium-594767-img-2190.jpeg

I had a look around our M and S recently and liked this coat. Good value at £69, and it looked good on. Sadly though, I saw it was Made in China.

M&S need to improve their website. It has a poor search engine and if you filter by size, you still get everything in that size even if it is out of stock. Very annoying.

Many years ago I worked in a UK garment factory. M&S orders were always treated with more respect and better quality control.
I bought some ankle grazer trousers in a sort of twill from them a few years ago. Best buy I ever made. But haven't seen any similar since . Just ordered some online. Fingers crossed.
Agree about knitwear. I mainly buy cotton now .

M & S lost my custom when they stopped doing basic clothes in neutral colours. I used to buy a wardrobe of separates for work in the autumn every year - I was a teacher, so I just wanted smart, easily replaceable clothes of a good quality.

Then they switched to trying to attract younger, trendier customers, and they were no longer my ‘go to’ place for work wear.

I stopped buying M&S. knickers when they started putting the double crutch in the wrong place. Their bra’s when Matalan sold the same for £5:99 which M&S were asking circa £18 for ( some years ago). And their dresses when the material became crimplene at its most artificial and coarse feeling. And their biscuits when the 99p shop sold my favourites at 99p for two when M&S charged £1:30 for 1. So there’s just nothing at M&S worth my bothering with the shop again.
At one time they were the only place I could find my outrageous bra size, 44DD, but now Matalan pops up with quite a selection on its web sight.
As to cotton T shirts, 2 weeks ago I bought 4 from Primark at £4 each and the quality far exceeds the one my neighbour bought from M&S.

Well….I’d love to look …but our M&S closed down …..🤷🏻‍♀️

M&S is definitely aiming more at the 20s-30s market now - Sienna Miller and Holly Willoughby are the faces of M&S and M&S clothes are showing up more and more in fashion social media sites. Their competition now is probably shops like Zara and H&M. Their clothes seem to be slightly better quality for comparable prices.

AreWeThereYet

M&S is definitely aiming more at the 20s-30s market now - Sienna Miller and Holly Willoughby are the faces of M&S and M&S clothes are showing up more and more in fashion social media sites. Their competition now is probably shops like Zara and H&M. Their clothes seem to be slightly better quality for comparable prices.

I wonder if Holly and Sienna regularly wear M&S? 🤔

It IS about the buyer of goods - clothing in this instance. The buyer can make or break a season or annual returns for a chain.

You either have taste, or not; you have knowledge of fabric, styling, what’s trending, past history, or not. Sometimes chains have the wrong people in place.

When it comes to sweaters, cardigans - here’s what I’ve learned from storing them: never hang your sweaters (they stretch and lose shape) always fold and put on a shelf.

Current knit fashions (low to mid price) are mostly made of recycled materials. You almost don’t want to know what you’re putting on your skin! Always look for natural fibers on the label!

Ahh, fashion… a love-hate relationship.
USA Gundy

I thought the sweaters were really nice when I went in a couple of weeks ago, I couldn't believe it as they have been pretty awful for a few years.

Callistemon21

AreWeThereYet

M&S is definitely aiming more at the 20s-30s market now - Sienna Miller and Holly Willoughby are the faces of M&S and M&S clothes are showing up more and more in fashion social media sites. Their competition now is probably shops like Zara and H&M. Their clothes seem to be slightly better quality for comparable prices.

I wonder if Holly and Sienna regularly wear M&S? 🤔

Even if they do they're getting paid to do it 😁

I suspect hat I won't see a lot of grans in the oversize lime green cable sweater and lime green satin midi skirt that Sienna Miller was photographed in last week.

I used to like the Per Una range, but it’s not available in our local store any more. Does it still exist? I very rarely find much to suit me in M&S - partly because there is no petite range at our local store. I would have to go to Manchester or the Trafford Centre (no thanks). Some of the styles and colours have recently been awful. There used to be a brilliant M&S seconds stall on Bury Market, but I don’t think it’s there now. In the Summer I did buy a coat similar to the pic from StacyAnna in the sale for £25. It’s a bit long, but I love the colour.
As someone else mentioned on here, similar (household) items are often available cheaper elsewhere. I wouldn’t do a big shop in the Food Hall!! And I have to pay to park to shop there…

AreWeThereYet

Callistemon21

AreWeThereYet

M&S is definitely aiming more at the 20s-30s market now - Sienna Miller and Holly Willoughby are the faces of M&S and M&S clothes are showing up more and more in fashion social media sites. Their competition now is probably shops like Zara and H&M. Their clothes seem to be slightly better quality for comparable prices.

I wonder if Holly and Sienna regularly wear M&S? 🤔

Even if they do they're getting paid to do it 😁

I suspect hat I won't see a lot of grans in the oversize lime green cable sweater and lime green satin midi skirt that Sienna Miller was photographed in last week.

I have that sweater and looking forward to wearing it when it’s cooler.

GG13 I actually love that colour, I have a thinner rib jumper in the same colour bought a few years ago. Have to admit I wear mine with black jeans though. At 6 ft in my heels I suspect I would look like an under ripe banana wearing lime green head to toe.

I must admit I haven’t picked up from the clothes that I’ve seen in there lately that they are trying to appeal to the young market - 30s/40s maybe, but definitely not 20s. The knitwear isn’t all cropped and skimpy, and the dresses aren’t either. There’s definitely a lot of stuff that is quite suitable for my taste and isn’t revealing.

I agree about recycled fabric, dreadful bobbling, more like complete matting. Won’t buy any more.