Another M&S rant...

I regularly visit an M & S Outlet Centre and often find something suitable. Nightdresses and jogger bottoms for the house.

Also find that the Indigo range (can sometimes be a bit hippy) of jumpers can be good, not too fussy.

Looked M&S today Saturday, got a royal blue cotton long sleeved top for £6.50. I know the bottom will go baggy though but I do like them. Haven’t been in Asda’s for a while will have a look and I quite like Tesco’s
Best place for Wool jumpers is cotton traders.

I think I bought a pair of those, Witzend, on line. They are a WEIRD shape...(perhaps it's me?) the buttons are a fiddle when you urgently need to pee and my usual length is now too short. The clothes are frumpy and even my grannie wouldn't have worn some of the styles. What HAS gone wrong with "Markies"? I now get lovely clothes from Bonmarche

I agree with so many of the comments on here. I do sometimes find something nice in their reduced retail outlet. Best thing I've had recently was their no VPL knickers. (Bridget Jones style) but so so comfy!
Ps. I would feel like a turkey ready for the oven in that green shiny dress!

Agree M & S has gone down the tubes ...the last things I bought there I had to send back ....having some years ago bought some really really nicely cut, well fitting things from them via the UK online site (never buy from the French site ...hopeless ! ...then was told sorry, you cannot order from the UK any longer ....ok, end of !....BUT I ordered just before that, some trousers, jumpers and dresses ...having as I said, already bought some that still fitted, just needing a refresh in my wardrober ....linen, really good ...so was looking forward to their arrival ...bear in mind, I ordered the same sizes I already had which were good fits ...dresses first, quality nothing like those I bought before, but more expensive ....far too short for a 70 year old at 5'9 ...jumpers ...good, lovely and soft... sleeves way too short ,,,hate sleeves that end before your wrist ...trousers, extra long length ...now also too short and quality not as good ...SO they all went back and that was the last time I ever ordered from them ! Just read this weekend in the financial pages that the new person in charge has said she wants M & S to do more to appeal to the young !!!!! What about loyal customers who used to rely on M & S for good quality, well cut and with a nod to fashion sometimes ......glad I am not a shareholder !

I was in M&S yesterday. Their jewellery was nice but I didn't indulge. I bought three pairs of pants which were buy three, pay for two. For once I didn't look at the bras.
What annoyed me a little was that when the girl on the till called me forward from the queue there was another assistant next to her in a suit who asked me if I'd like an M&S credit card. "No, I don't believe in easy credit," I replied so she smiled politely and did something useful like put my purchases in my bag. I prefer to just pay for something without the hard sell, don't we all?

You are not alone Witzend (as all the comments show! I've more or less given up on M&S expect for knickers!

Try Lands End for jeans - a bit pricier but they will hem to any length for no extra charge; Woolovers do some nice sweaters in various fabrics (I find lambswool too itchy) such as cotton & cashmere and cashmere at reasonable prices. TKMaxx is always a good hunting ground too! I'm sometimes surprised by things in the Tu range at Sainsbury's (makes for an expensive weekly shop sometimes too!)

I heard someone from M&S on the radio a few years ago saying that Per Una was aimed at the 50-something woman and found myself shouting at the radio "Not this one it doesn't!" Too fussy and frilly for my taste!

Witzend. I have just been to M & S as they have sent me 20% of vouchers for this weekend. Found the needlecord jeans I had decided to treat myself to. They must be the same ones.nBUTTONS instead of a zip! Why?.

I think my big moan is about the materials of most of their clothes. Lots of polyester / man made fabrics with a horrible feel to it. Also the current fad to add frills to everything and so many high necks / long fitted sleeves. I long for scooped necks and elbow length sleeves - I can always add a scarf / jacket when I'm out, but in the house I don't need to feel bundled up.

I find some good M &S stuff, in thrift shops, jeans that don't give you a muffin top, sweaters and skirts made from real wool, all dated of course and not the latest fashion but suits me, bit of old time M&S quality.

sad;y I hjave to agree with all the negative comments people have made. I had a 20% voucher, valid from today for 4 days, so went to my local M & S. Could not find one single item I wanted to purchase. In the past I have bought loads of things there.............. I particularly wanted to get some more of my favourite shoes (have had several pairs in the past) and there were loads of 'party' shoes- very high heels, glittery etc. No use whatsoever to the likes of me...........

I must add that though I do buy M & S thing there are lots of things I dont like and I agree the sizing is very unreliable.

I used to buy some of my clothes there when they had a reasonable amount of Petite clothes in their stores, but now they seem to have stopped stocking them in the stores and they can only be bought online. They also seem to think every petite person only wants to buy in black, white or grey as they rarely do anything colourful in their Petite range and on the odd occasion they do it's usually hideous.

I do buy my dressing gowns and underwear in there, I like the silk bras they sell, although they don't last very long

Is there 20 % off this weekend does anyone know? Do you just need a Sparks card or are there other qualifying criteria? Thanjs in advamce!

I used to find that M&S trousers and jeans fitted like no other make.

First whinge. 2 yrs ago I bought a pair of Per Una Jeggings, wonderfully comfortable looked fairly good under the circumstances, now they don't make them. My friend having the same whinge.

2nd Whinge. For years I bought a number of pairs of M&S black wool/wool mix black trousers. Fitted, comfortable, good quality, washed brilliantly and didn't need ironing. Recent years, bad cut, poor quality fabric and didn't fit apart from a poly/jersey cheap pair which is fine for around and about but not for smart wear.

3rd Whinge. I went to Bluewater recently determined to the Battle of the Jeans. Didn't get off the starting blocks. Not one pair of jeans of any cut in my size. Drifted to the cords. Found one pair of quite nice dark grey ones - only pair of any cords in my size (which is fairly average) and then I had to cut loads off the bottom.

They must be losing so much money, no wonder they are cutting back. Although I did see something in the Guardian yesterday with photos of a new collection which actually looks rather nice. Here's hoping.

I hate shopping for clothes in M&S nowadays. Nothing fits or suits me and you can't find "normal" clothes any more. Everything has "fashion features". Why can't they leave things alone! If I do find something I like, they won't have any left in my size.

Bathsheba and Jane10 I must be frumpy too. I have tried shopping elsewhere but have never found anything satisfactory except in m&s!

M&S lost its way when Greenbury took over. Since then it has been its food that has kept it going simply because we liked what was on offer and were then seduced by something we saw in the clothes sections on our way out. Now I hear that even the food is losing its appeal.

My wife complained to M&S many years ago about the unreliability of their sizing. The reply she had told us all we needed to know about what was wrong in their HQ. The letter stated "....... we have to allow for 2 inches either side ( of any stated size ) ......". So a spread of 4 inches is in our view ridiculous and explains why we have so much difficulty finding the correct size.

The buyers at M&S need a lesson in style and design. We see some materials made into nasty clothes but which could have been used differently in a good design. Then we see some materials that are dire. Occasionally we see something good whereas we ought to be seeing good stuff all the time,

If Archie Norman cannot get it right then M&S will surely fail.

When single and in possession of a decent amount of spare cash I often used to shop in the Pantheon M and S (close to Bond Street station) and the clothes there were truly lovely; they had sample lines and I have bought clothes that drew appreciative comments. M and S clothes also lasted for years - they were disposed of for boredom reasons, not because they had worn out. However, as a slow, slow process the clothes seem to have gone horribly downhill over the years The sizing is nothing short of laughable - a week or so ago I picked up two pairs of jeans in my usual size, same design but different shades of blue, and neither fitted but for different reasons.
Also the fabrics are horrible. I read a few years ago that they were going to use more natural fibres, but I saw tops and shirts in the summer that looked like nylon - I thought that nasty fabric had died a death may years ago - always referred to in our family as 'sweaty material' and avoided like the plague.
M and S should give up on trying to capture the young market - have they not realised yet that no teenager is going to shop there? However, all of this has been said a million times already so I think we have the answer as to whether they are listening!

Probably the same velvet trousers I purchased Jane10 - wore them in a cruise recently - perfect fit, very comfortable to wear. Agree jumpers and tops abysmal.

On a trip 10 days ago:- I found some Per Una trousers I liked, Roma rise which I have bought before, and generally fit well. My size was not available. The sausage casserole sauce we like is no longer available, (the assistant thought it might be because of Christmas). The nougat which I always buy at Christmas wasn’t available.

The jumpers were all embellished (nastily) or cashmere (too hot!) and I don’t buy the £12.50 ones which are plain as they are very limp and bobble after only a few washes. It isn’t my laundry skill either, as I have jumpers from years ago that are still fine.

I was given a gift card for my birthday in August, but am having trouble spending it on clothing.
I badly need some warm leggings or jeggings.
But it seems most of their trousers come in regular length, whereas I need long length.
I found some that were suitable but of course, only regular length. Much too short to tuck into boots. Thus will be the second time I've taken back for a refund.
Think I will spend the rest on a pair of new slippers.
They don't seem to cater much for tall women.

Someone mentioned jumpers bobbling - I bought one of those defuzzers from Lakeland I think - brilliant! Quite therapeutic too!

Most of my clothes and shoes/boots are from M&S, usually bought on line - but I also send a lot back as sizing just can't be trusted anymore. Young people wouldn't dream of shopping for clothes there so if we are their 'core' target why aren't they listening to us?
Having said that part of my Christmas presents for my DGC are always pjs, trousers and jumper or dress plus some undies, all of which I get from M&S online. Thanks to Sparks I can have 20% off, which is quite a saving as there are 4 of them

Suzie, can’t believe these photos! What a couple of beauties - they look horrendous like something you’d find in a jumble sale. Would love to see the person who designed them.