Are M&S men’s skinny jeans a big mistake?

I AM not surprised that Marks & Spencer has been left with rails of unsold skinny jeans (Mail). I have stopped shopping there due to the poor fit and finish of its clothing. It has slim jeans that are too baggy at the top, erratic sizing, straight jeans that are too loose everywhere and questionable finishing on shirts, jackets and chinos. Chasing profits by moving manufacturing abroad and failing to maintain quality control are major factors, together with poor in-store merchandising. It’s not just M&S: I’ve also had issues with fit, sizing and quality in Next.

PHIL HARRIS, Bookham, Surrey. I AM a satisfied M&S customer — I love my slim jeans! I bought three pairs last year and when I heard of the over-supply issue, I went in to buy some more. Sadly, they were all gone. Maybe the problem wasn’t the girth of the average M&S customer, but more about how much they were prepared to spend. The solution to M&S’s problem is not sticking with the older market, which will inevitably decline; it is about continuing to make initiatives such as skinny jeans to find a way forward. All credit to them.

JOHN BECKETT, Crondall, Hants. I AM not in the least bit surprised that M&S is bemoaning the lack of sales of its men’s skinny leg trousers. Who sanctioned the ridiculous decision to flood the menswear departments with these abominations? They were so narrow I couldn’t even get my hand inside the legs! Get real, M&S, and give us proper trousers we can actually wear.

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