The second in my series of mini-posts in response to the reader survey. Today I’m looking at Mango which in my view is one of the best and yet perhaps most under-rated brands at the lower end of the price scale. So here we go, Mango review – retailer spotlight, let me tell you more.
Mango – brand background in a nutshell
Disclosure: as with the majority of blogs, products featured on Midlifechic sometimes (but not always) include affiliate links. This means that if you choose to make a purchase, you are helping to support the site because a small referral commission may be paid. This contributes towards hosting fees, software costs, site maintenance and other plug-ins. Midlifechic could not exist without these small payments, so every contribution makes a big difference.
1984
The first Mango store is launched in Barcelona by two brothers. It continues to this day to be a family run business.
1998
Mango launches in the UK. As a Spanish brand it is often mistakenly believed to be part of Zara’s Inditex chain but actually the two companies are fierce rivals.
2023
Mango is one of the few high street brands that is continuing to see rapid growth. Sales are now exceeding the pre-lockdown period by 13% and it has 2,566 outlets worldwide.
What makes Mango stand out?
- A simple elegance – Mango focuses less on fast fashion trends than Zara, instead it has an emphasis on design and cut, often producing striking pieces that as a result of its buying power, cost far less than you’d expect.
- Simple returns – it is one of the few retailers that still includes a sticky backed prepaid returns label with orders with no requirement to register returns on site or print forms off
- Inclusive sizing – its size range generally goes from XXS (UK 4) to 4XL (UK 26) and it also has a separate plus size section on the site
- A focus on fit – Mango plays careful attention to its pattern cutting meaning that clothes generally have a neat fit. In my view there is no other store group that beats Mango for fit at this price-point
- Redesigned plus sizing – Mango is one of the few brands to redesign the cutting pattern for sizes over a 14. Most retailers simply scale up which can lead to plus sized clothing being baggy and unflattering.
- Loyalty programme – the ‘Mango likes you’ points soon mount up and there are easy options for donating them to charities if you don’t want to take the yoga, TV or cinema benefits on offer
- Their use of older women as models – Mango uses natural looking, unretouched models over the age of 50 in quite a high proportion of its photography and is not ashamed to feature them regularly on the homepage
Sustainability
Good On You, the ethical brand ratings app and website has not updated assessments since Feb 22. At that point it gave Mango a ‘not good enough‘ rating. However there have been significant improvements since then such as Mango financing its expansion with a green deal loan which means its cost of borrowing is directly tied to its performance in light of its 2025 sustainability targets.
At the end of 2022 it published full transparency on its supply chain and it is actively moving garment production away from the Far East to Europe and Turkey. It is in the process of adding QR codes to every product that will display full information on the design, production and provenance of each garment. Online deliveries are sent in paper packaging.
The obvious area for improvement is with the sustainability of fabrics used in its mainline ranges. Last year it announced that 80% of its garments now meet the requirements of its Committed label which includes all Mango garments with a lower environmental impact. Committed garments contain at least 30 per cent or more sustainable fibres (such as organic cotton, recycled cotton, BCI cotton, recycled polyester, recycled wool or Tencel, among others) and/or have been manufactured using more sustainable production processes. Obviously this needs to go further and it still has progress to make on this front. It has clearly published milestones in place and aims to reach net zero by 2050.
Mango review – retailer spotlight – the lowdown
So let me talk you through my Mango top 10 right now. It’s worth knowing that Mango creates two major global collections annually, so core sellers for each season become mainline stock. That means that if you fall in love with something that’s out of stock it’s worth asking for an email update because it’s very likely to be rapidly restocked. On top of the two major collections, new capsules are released on a fortnightly basis. These tend to be more fashion focused and so are available in lower quantities for a short period of time. Every collection is designed by the in-house creative team in Barcelona.
Mango review – top 10 AW23
1. High collar sweater
My absolute favourite everyday top, I buy it in every colour that they release it in. It’s beautifully shaped and feels like a soft scuba fabric to wear, this gives it great structure and makes it look five times more expensive than it is. It has zero itch factor, never seems to feel too hot or too cold, it washes like a dream and doesn’t need ironing – you can see me wearing it in the picture at the top. It’s currently available in navy, black, pine green or ivory but new colours are released regularly because it’s such a cult buy. I wear it in a medium, it goes up to 2XL which is a size 22.
It’s worth knowing that there are also versions in a softer fabric in camel and grey here – I have the camel one and it’s just as lovely to wear.
2. Straight leg cropped jeans
I’ve been looking everywhere for straight leg cropped jeans for working from home and dog walking. I’ve tried lots of pairs and these are the ones I’ve settled on. I’m not mad on the raw hem for winter but at this price I don’t mind paying to have them hemmed. They arrived the same day as a pair from Me+Em and I swear they were identical apart from the price – the Me+Em were £150 more! There are different washes available but they keep going out of stock. Put a restock request on if you like them because they’ve sold so fast that I’m sure they will be part of the core line now.
3. Well cut coats
Mango do beautifully cut coats that sit on the shoulder properly. I’ve chosen the red one to show you because, as you can imagine, it’s dazzling me at the moment. There are lots more though and many of them are reasonably priced. The wool content varies so it’s worth looking at the product information closely. See all Mango coats here.
4. Simple cotton tops with good necklines
Unlike most other brands Mango doesn’t just churn its tops out with a crew neck. These simple cotton tops with a boat neckline are such a great price and great for layering at this time of year.
5. Washable statement skirts
The problem with pleated skirts can be their upkeep. This skirt with its on trend metallic finish is a great buy that will make a statement during the day and take you to parties when the shiny season arrives. It has an elasticated waistband too – handy for eating out!
There’s a faux leather silver mini too for those of you who liked mine last year but it’s selling fast.
6. Blouse with removable tie
A great desk to dinner option… or just dinner. You can tie it as a pussy bow, knot it low or remove the tie altogether. A value price for a standout piece.
7. New necklaces
We’re going to see the Chanel effect hitting the high street after the V&A exhibition, there are already tweed box jackets everywhere and now jewellery is following suit. This multi-strand pearl necklace would look great worn with a low buttoned blouse. You could also use it to lift a crew neck.
8. Classic chic boots with subtle detail
A chic leather Chelsea boot – the rounded toe and low heel make it comfortable to wear and there’s a subtle flash of gold metallic hidden at the front of the heel for elevated style
9. Great value scarves
As we’ve already discussed, oversized scarves are a key feature this season but it’s hard to find them anywhere for under £35. Mango has a much better value selection than most, this one would work so well to lift a navy coat but if you prefer brighter solid colours, there are lots of different ones to choose from here.
10. Earrings that punch above their weight
When I look at these earrings I instantly think Monica Vinader and £100 plus but they actually cost less than a couple of coffees. There are lots of other styles available here – an affordable and simple way of updating your look for a new season.
So there you go, my ‘Mango review – retailer spotlight’ will hopefully have given you a clearer idea of why, in my opinion, it stands above the Zara crowd and a lot of the other stores offering high street basics. Mango is more elegant and a little more grown up. Although it hasn’t made it all the way there yet, it has a clearer commitment to sustainability and it’s more age and size inclusive. Have a good week and I’ll be back on Friday.
