What’s actually worth buying in M&S
There’s been lots of press around the great M&S revival this week, after the retailer announced clothing sales are up 11.5%. In The Telegraph, Bethan Holt explored the raging popularity of M&S’s £39.50 summer dress, while Lesley Thomas at The Times revealed what all the fashion editors are buying in store this season. The general message: Marks & Spencer is finally starting to steer the ship around on the fashion front, especially when it comes to trend-led, wearable clothes.
I have mixed feelings about this. On the one hand: yay, it’s cheering to see good old Marksies doing well. On the other, I grit my teeth after experiencing some astonishing post-mat leave fuckery when I actually worked for the company. But for now let’s forget boring employment rights and concentrate on the more important subject of clothes! Because I bought A LOT of clothes when I worked for M&S (staff discount innit), and in doing so was able to narrow down exactly what is worth buying there, not just this season but for the long haul.
The tailoring
I would estimate about 75% of my trousers are from M&S, because it’s one of the few brands to have noticed that the average female friendship group ranges in height from 4ft 11 to 5ft 11, and we therefore might need different trouser lengths (Mint Velvet is good too). As a human giraffe well-versed in the garrotted crotch effect of H&M’s single-length trousers, my appreciation knows no bounds. But it’s not just the sizing - M&S’s wide leg styles look great and don’t require ridiculous amounts of ironing.
I’ve got loads of M&S blazers too, although as a matter of principle I completely draw the line at a pre-ruched sleeve (mainly because when I worked there I remember this style being described as the “busy mum blazer”…shiver).
This season I’ve added a fabulous pink suit to the collection, after seeing a very chic journo friend wearing it to an event. I also bought the (now sold out) linen waistcoat, which I planned to wear for my entire trip to Sicily last weekend, had it not been 10 degrees and bucketing with rain. I know, the heart bleeds.
The sportswear
I am a Sweaty Betty legging ride or die, but supplementing my £90 a pop habit with a few pairs from Marksies is not too much of a hardship (N.B. always go for full-length rather than cropped to avoid Tammy Girl circa 2001). Main USP: they never go see-through. Also, the running tops and jackets are very good for winter - they’re made from high-performance fabric and mine all have nice pockets to keep my Gail’s loyalty card in, so I can just run directly there and consume 500 calories. A win.
The jeans
I’ve lost count of the amount of times people have asked where my jeans are from, making me reluctantly whisper “actually…M&S”. It’s not very cool is it? But while I wish I could say I’m always rocking around in vintage Levi’s, I’m too lazy to hunt them down and too irritable to cope with rigid denim. When I worked at M&S, the most popular style was the denim jeggings (scream) and I suspect that may still be the case. Run as far away from these as possible and instead try some of the more “niche” shapes from Autograph and Per Una (yes really) - I got the high-waisted wide leg style below from Per Una and they are undoubtedly my most complimented jeans.
The broderie dresses
Going out on a limb here, but - even though people are buying them in droves - I’m really not sure about 99% of those summer floral dresses in M&S. Perhaps it’s seeing them all wedged together in store, clashing away like mad. Or maybe I’ve subconsciously labelled them “busy mum dresses” and just can’t go there. Either way, may I steer you past this category and instead towards the lovely, timeless broderie dresses. I would say I’ve bought at least one a year from M&S for the past five, and will be wearing them all again this summer. Stick to black or white and accessorize like mad - you just can’t go wrong.
The T-shirts
I’ve read at least 400 magazine articles on the quest for the perfect white t-shirt, which is surprising given how rarely I see anyone in my office - or indeed my daily life - sporting “the classic white tee”. I can’t claim that M&S sells The Holy Grail T-Shirt but, having bought a few of the much lauded Arket style, I find the “straight fit” ones I have from M&S just as good. Although in very typical Marks & Spencer style, it looks like they have now renamed these as “everyday fit” T-shirts (I was always amazed how much they ADORED renaming things, and glad to be on the editorial team rather than being one of the long-suffering copywriters).
The bags and shoes
I will never forget staggering into work wearing some heinously uncomfortable Zara shoes and my ethical-shopper-extraordinaire colleague explaining it was because they are “not designed to be shoes, just pretty bits of plastic”. She was not wrong - there is some smart engineering involved in making shoes you can actually walk in, and M&S has done a good job here. The shoes have Insolia tech, which I’m afraid I have written about too many times to explain again, but it basically means very comfy soles. I’ve got some nice bags from M&S too - big sturdy leather totes and some interesting crossbody bags (I’m currently working on a new theory that appealing crossbody bags make even the most boring outfits look wonderful; more on this groundbreaking notion as I develop it).
The utility jackets
I’m mainly saying this because I spotted an M&S PR wearing a fabulously chic utility jacket the other day, which I have been stalking ever since. But then I remembered this camo one that I bought a few years ago and have worn endlessly, so I’ve decided it’s an M&S strong point (and sooo much cheaper than getting them from Hush or All Saints, my other jacket faves).
These beauty products
I highly recommend the Autograph Luminosity Foundation, which offers good coverage but is also gloriously glowy for summer. And I’ve wanged on endlessly about the Pure Ultimate Cleansing Balm, but it’s honestly the best dupe I’ve found for the amazing Elemis one (and about 30 quid cheaper).
Oh and before I leave, this bikini is the most flattering swimwear I’ve ever bought, so much so I am considering getting it in blue too. There’s also a cossie if you’re not ridiculously long in the body like me (as I said, anything but the garrotted crotch).