Is it me, or is this a pretty ghastly look? Even if you’re young?

I have said it before and was shot down in flames, but why do the models look so ugly?

I don’t like leather garments other than a coat or jacket.
The gold jacket looks ok ish, the schoolgirl blouse and bow is awful.

It’s the Japanese schoolgirl look which men in Japan really go for! Not so sure about in the West tho.
The models for M&S are made to look even more strange than for any other fashion store. Usually hulkingly tall, completely flat chested and adopting gawky poses.If showing off a dress it looks five sizes to large and the model wears bovver boots with it.

I don’t like the fact that M&S is using stick thin, 6ft models, when I am only 5ft 1in and not fat but not stick thin. It totally mis represents what clothes look like on the bodies of many older women (the majority of their customers). No wonder so much stuff is returned, which increases the price of the clothing.

Having said that I still think M&S beats other shops of a similar price range, for quality and longevity of wear.

I cleared quite a few things out of my wardrobe and was horrified at the wastefulness of previous, often random purchases, so have decided to be more disciplined in future buying. To buy fewer clothes with consideration of how much wear I will get out of each garment, cost per wear rather than purchase price. I won’t be buying the jacket shown on the OP that’s for sure!

Baggs

Looks like a bored schoolgirl but actually better dressed (at least her bum is covered!) than many a modern miss.

😁

I’m with you Casdon and read that recently too. I’m happy with my purchases from them, good quality, washes well and reasonably priced, but I don’t wear dresses.
The outfit pictured is very ‘in’ a friend’s daughter wore something similar to her prom night.

Looks like a bored schoolgirl but actually better dressed (at least her bum is covered!) than many a modern miss.

I think it looks fine. Obviously we all have different tastes. I prefer something a bit different and unusual yet my daughter goes for a very conservative look.

It isn't the clothes at fault. All perfectly ordinary everyday items. It is the model they have chosen to put them on and the stance and expression they have asked her to adopt.

As we all know the same clothes can look entirely different on different people - and here is a classic example of that dictum.

I like the outfit and the vibe.
It’s aspirational and the styling is serendipitous. @marksandspencer top marks!

Last thing I want to see in a photo is a short old frumpy person like me!

I can however look even more grumpy than the model so maybe they’re missing a trick?

I can put up with the weird advertising as long as I can get what I like and need there, which I can, I think they have upped their game.

Me too. I've spent more there in the last two years than I did in the preceding 10 years. Not I buy that many clothes, but nearly all of them have been from M&S recently.

Granmarderby10

What are “excessively fluffy” boobs Norah ?

Mine. Fluffy flesh somewhat contained in Minimiser bras.

Excess for a small person. Excess for anyone really.

Looks dead boring to me but fashion is a very individual thing unless you are feeble enough to follow trends without adding personal touches.

I can't keep up and have no desire to.
If I see something I like and it fits it may coincidentally be in fashion.

What are “excessively fluffy” boobs Norah ?

Wyllow3

M n S's grown up look for the autumn. Nothing much there I'd wear or afford, but they are my go-to for basics.

My go-to dress up dress is rather like the black lace in the middle, covers excessively fluffy boobs, looks well turned out with pearls, worn it for over 20 years. Timeless.

Sorry, meant to quote Willow's post

Was it Trinny and Susannah who said red and black together was tarty?

I still wear red and black together in the winter 😃

The entire outfit is horrible!

M n S's grown up look for the autumn. Nothing much there I'd wear or afford, but they are my go-to for basics.

Greyisnotmycolour

It looks like someone trying to jazz up school uniform.

I was about to say that it looks like school uniform, and why would anyone who's still at or not long left school want to wear that outfit.

The school leavers I know are only too glad to be free of buttoned up blouses, ties and skirts. Although most school uniform skirts I've seen are turned over at the top so they look more like belts.

biglouis

Looks like the kind of outfit Rached Reeves would choose, especially with that haircut.

She is a very conservative dresser, I think you need some new specs biglouis!

Netherbyg84

I have written to M and S head office several times in the last few years, only to receive a bland, meaningless PR reply.
My local store in Glasgow has clothing which only really looks good on slim young women with a waist, especially for the dresses. I have tried to tell them that the demographic with the most money to spend in their stores is women like me - mid 60s to mid 70s who. if like me, do not have a slim waist and need a size 16/18. I have asked their designers to please take note of this but, no, they don't. The advertising is aimed at pretty, slim young women most of whom are not loyal to the M & S brand as many older people are. Could somebody from M & S reading this please reply.

I’m not from M&S, but I know that sales have increased significantly since they changed the advertising strategy and the group they aim at. In 2023/24, overall Clothing & Home sales grew 5.3% according to their website. I think younger women probably spend more on clothes, and there are a lot of more wearable clothes for all ages now than there used to be a couple of years ago. I can put up with the weird advertising as long as I can get what I like and need there, which I can, I think they have upped their game.

Looks like the kind of outfit Rached Reeves would choose, especially with that haircut.

.I coukd look that awful on £10.

Allsorts 😅😅