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M&S's autumn womenswear line to be first under new management M&S's autumn womenswear line to be first under new management
(2 months later)
The autumn fashion lines from Marks & Spencer, which have been filtering into stores in the past couple of weeks and will formally launch on Thursday, are the first to be entirely guided by company's new womenswear management team.The autumn fashion lines from Marks & Spencer, which have been filtering into stores in the past couple of weeks and will formally launch on Thursday, are the first to be entirely guided by company's new womenswear management team.
M&S clothing and homewares sales have been drifting backwards for two years, and Marc Bolland, the chief executive, is under pressure from shareholders to show a marked improvement this autumn.M&S clothing and homewares sales have been drifting backwards for two years, and Marc Bolland, the chief executive, is under pressure from shareholders to show a marked improvement this autumn.
This week, in London, shoppers were divided over whether the new coats and jumpers ranges indicated improvement. There was a buzz at the firm's flagship Marble Arch store, set to display its autumn ranges, as prints, sleeve lengths and fabric quality were pondered over.This week, in London, shoppers were divided over whether the new coats and jumpers ranges indicated improvement. There was a buzz at the firm's flagship Marble Arch store, set to display its autumn ranges, as prints, sleeve lengths and fabric quality were pondered over.
"It really doesn't look much different than before," said one shopper, Anne, who was also an M&S shareholder and regularly attendee at the retailer's annual meetings. "I do really want them to get it right. In menswear they have great tailoring of good quality made in Italy, but in womenswear the suits seem very cheap. I would spend the money for good quality.""It really doesn't look much different than before," said one shopper, Anne, who was also an M&S shareholder and regularly attendee at the retailer's annual meetings. "I do really want them to get it right. In menswear they have great tailoring of good quality made in Italy, but in womenswear the suits seem very cheap. I would spend the money for good quality."
Pat Salisbury, 66, was pleased with a sparkly tailored cardigan she had bought and liked some T-shirts with flattering mid-length sleeves. "Some of the clothes look much better, more modern, but I'm not sure about the changes to the Per Una range. They've gone away from the embroidery and beading I liked, and if I walked through the door I'm not sure I could tell it from Autograph or M&S Woman. Perhaps it's getting confused."Pat Salisbury, 66, was pleased with a sparkly tailored cardigan she had bought and liked some T-shirts with flattering mid-length sleeves. "Some of the clothes look much better, more modern, but I'm not sure about the changes to the Per Una range. They've gone away from the embroidery and beading I liked, and if I walked through the door I'm not sure I could tell it from Autograph or M&S Woman. Perhaps it's getting confused."
A number of shoppers were pleased to note signs of a move away from the "frumpy" styles they had been turned off by on previous shopping trips.A number of shoppers were pleased to note signs of a move away from the "frumpy" styles they had been turned off by on previous shopping trips.
Two glamorous octogenarian sisters, Annie Redzinski and Josephine Frost, were impressed by some of the coats and tailoring. "We want to see more of this in our local store." It was a view echoed by several other shoppers.Two glamorous octogenarian sisters, Annie Redzinski and Josephine Frost, were impressed by some of the coats and tailoring. "We want to see more of this in our local store." It was a view echoed by several other shoppers.
Amanda Carr who writes The Women's Room blog for 40-something fashion fans, said M&S was doing a better job at showing customers how to build outfits andthere were signs of improvement, particularly with knitwear.Amanda Carr who writes The Women's Room blog for 40-something fashion fans, said M&S was doing a better job at showing customers how to build outfits andthere were signs of improvement, particularly with knitwear.
But she added: "For me there are still issues with print, colour and a tendency to overdesign which is a massive weakness. There's still a long way to go."But she added: "For me there are still issues with print, colour and a tendency to overdesign which is a massive weakness. There's still a long way to go."
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