The Weekend Read Blog * Is M&S the Hidden Gem of High Street?

This week, we've been out to investigate. Amongst the stalwarts of the British high street, there are certain shops that have quietly crept back onto our radar. We might pop in for a packet of Percy Pigs or a birthday card, but when wandering through the clothing department we suddenly found ourselves thinking, "Hang on… when did M&S get so good?"

Over the last few seasons we've noticed a real shift. The rails feel fresher, the styling is more modern, the fabrics seem more luxurious and there are pieces that genuinely wouldn't look out of place in stores costing considerably more.

So this week, armed with our stylist's eyes, we headed into Marks & Spencer to see whether all the hype is justified. Our verdict? We think M&S is having a bit of a renaissance. And if you haven't visited recently, it might just be worth another look.

So what's changed?

Good style doesn't happen by accident. Behind the scenes, M&S has invested heavily in bringing experienced designers and buyers into the business, many with backgrounds in premium fashion brands. Add to that faster seasonal collections, stronger styling and carefully curated 'new in' drops, and suddenly M&S feels exciting again.

The result is clothes that feel contemporary without being intimidating, fashionable without trying too hard and, perhaps most importantly for many of our clients, wearable for real life for all ages and sizes.

Our Stylist's Edit

Here are the pieces catching our eye this season.

The Waistcoat

If you've been following fashion over the last year or two, you'll know waistcoats aren't going anywhere. The key is choosing one with clean lines that is versatile enough to mix with lots of different pieces that are already in your wardrobe.

Who Will Love It?

All clothing personalities can wear one beautifully. Dramatics should look for asymmetric cuts and Classics for sophisticated and elegant pieces. Naturals, you should try adding some texture to yours and Gamines need to look for a quirky edge or add some fun brooches. Ingenues and Romantics need to add soft detailing like bows, lace or florals and add some sheen or sequins to your fabrics to make them less masculine.

Colour Selection

Look for waistcoats in your neutral such as navy, ivory, olive, chocolate, deep burgundy or soft denim blue depending on your season.

How We'd Wear It

Depending on your clothing personality, pair with wide-leg jeans and trainers or for Ingenues and Gamines you might want to wear with slimmer fitting cropped trousers and a neck scarf for a chic, alternative look.

Later in autumn, layer your waistcoats over a lightweight knit, long sleeve top or crisp shirt.

Relaxed Wide-Leg Trousers

One thing M&S is doing particularly well right now is wide-leg trousers. Look for soft drape, beautiful movement and just enough structure to feel polished. These are the sort of trousers that work just as well for lunch with friends as they do for the office or an evening out.

Who Can Wear Them

Those with longer legs or anyone who enjoys a more relaxed silhouette. If you're petite, don't dismiss them, but do consider having the length altered, it can make all the difference. When you wear a wide-leg pair of trousers, try and keep your top half more streamlined to keep some structure and definition in your body shape.

The Elevated Knit

We're always talking about the power of knitwear because it's one of the easiest ways to make an everyday outfit feel expensive. This season we're seeing beautiful, textured knits in light neutrals, berry shades, olives and rich navy. Instead of buying three average jumpers or pieces of knitwear, buy one really lovely quality one. Your wardrobe, and the cost per wear, will thank you.

Best Fabrics

All clothing personalities can wear knits: Dramatics and Naturals can wear a heavier texture, whereas Classics should choose cashmere or merino wools for a finer finish. Gamines should keep their knitwear neat, petite and fitted and a touch quirky. Ingenues and Romantics need to add some pretty details to their knitwear such as scallops, frills and embellishments and also use smoother fabrics such as cashmere and merino wool.

Denim Done Well

Finding jeans can sometimes feel like speed dating. There are so many possibilities, but so often, very few happy endings. We're impressed with several of M&S's current denim styles.

There's a wider choice of leg shapes than ever before, from straight to barrel to wide-leg, meaning there's genuinely something for every body shape. Remember though, trends come and go but your proportions don't. Choose the shape that flatters you, not simply the one currently dominating Instagram.

How To Wear You Denim

Dramatics will have fun with super flared jeans, Classics need to keep their jeans elevated, so buy the best quality and fit. Naturals, make sure your jeans are super comfy and there is room for movement or you won't be reaching for them on repeat. Gamines should try a barrel jean (but keep your top neat), or a 3/4 or 7/8th cropped length. Ingenues and Romantics will look great in bootcut legs or a sexy feminine silhouette.

The Hero Jacket

If we had to choose just one category where M&S has really raised its game, it would be jackets. The tailoring feels sharper, the colours are more sophisticated and the styling feels effortless.

Whether you love a cropped jacket, a relaxed blazer, a bomber style, denim look or a lightweight utility jacket, there are some fabulous options around at the moment.

A good jacket has the power to transform jeans and a t-shirt into an outfit. That's quite a return on investment.

Three Things M&S Is Getting Right

Colour

Instead of everything being black, grey and beige, we're seeing richer seasonal colours alongside the neutrals as the new Autumn season looks slowly start to come though. As colour analysts, that makes us very happy!

Everyday Luxury

Many of the fabrics and finishes look far more expensive than their price tags suggest. Not everything, but certainly enough to make browsing worthwhile.

Wearability

This isn't about style that only works on a 25-year-old model. Much of it feels designed for real women with real lives; on the school run, in meetings and catching up with friends for lunch. Or simply for weekend wear or holidays.

Exactly the sort of wardrobes most of us actually need.

But...

Because we're stylists, we're going to say something that the advertising never does.

Just because something is fashionable doesn't automatically mean it's right for you. One of the easiest mistakes to make is buying something because everyone else seems to own it:

• The oversized blazer.

• The barrel-leg jean.

• The statement sleeve.

• The boxy shirt.

Sometimes they'll be perfect, sometimes they'll spend the next two years sitting in your wardrobe with the tags still attached. The secret isn't buying what's fashionable, it's buying the version of style that works for your colouring, your proportions, your personality and your lifestyle. That's where the magic happens.

Try This This Weekend

If you're heading to M&S over the next few days, we'd love you to do one little experiment:

Instead of heading straight for your usual section, choose one piece you wouldn't normally even consider. Try it on, take a photo, then ask yourself one question: Do I dislike this because it doesn't suit me, or simply because it's different? Sometimes, the answer surprises you.

What We Think...

Would We Recommend A Trip To M&S? Absolutely. The quality has improved, the styling feels current and there are some genuinely fabulous pieces that could become hardworking staples in your wardrobe.

Would we buy everything? Definitely not. And that's the point. The best wardrobes aren't built by buying everything that's new, they're built by choosing the right pieces for you.

So if you're planning a little shopping trip this weekend, enjoy it. Browse, try things on, have fun, and if you come home with one piece that makes you stand a little taller every time you wear it, that's a successful shopping trip in our book.

This is the first in a new series we're calling The Stylist's Shopping Edit. Each month we'll be visiting a different high street retailer, doing the changing-room legwork for you and sharing what's genuinely worth trying on.

So until next weekend...have a wonderful week.

Best wishes,

Judi & Jenny xx

Next week in The Weekend Read, we'll be answering the question of when you should 'Save or Splurge' on your wardrobe and where should you spend your money in the upcoming season.

Click Here For Our M&S Top Picks

Judi Prue

Personal Style Coach

'Knowing is the key to glowing'

Tel: 07904 347847

e: judi.prue@houseofcolour.co.uk

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