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With M&S supplying half the nation’s knicker drawers, dinner tables with picky bits, and sofa nights in front of The Traitors with Percy Pigs, you likely have this high street stalwart pegged as reliable, comforting and crucially, attainable.
But did you have it down as the destination to buy a designer party dress? For its next hit-collaboration, M&S has tapped the cult London Fashion Week label, 16Arlington, to create an exclusive 43-piece collection of faux fur and spangly embellishments just in time for festive swaray season.
Faux fur coat, £295, pony hair heeled pumps, £100, marksandspencer.com
Founded by Marco Capaldo and the late Federica Cavenati, this East London-based brand has become one of the hottest tickets on the fashion month schedule and a go-to for the likes of Amal Clooney, Naomi Campbell and Lady Gaga on the red carpet.
It makes sense then that Sparks has sought out Capaldo’s expertise on sparkles and sequins, following its sell-out success with another hit Brit brand, Bella Freud, on a cosy collection of slogan knitwear, pyjamas and bedding.
To further amp up this new British style medley the 16Arlington collection campaign is fronted by one of London’s It-girls and supermodels, Georgia May Jagger (daughter of Rolling Stones’ lead singer Mick Jagger and the American supermodel Jerry Hall).
Shirt, £95, skirt, £110, pony hair boots, £180, marksandspencer.com
‘The goal wasn’t to make cheaper versions of luxury items,’ Capaldo told The Times, ‘but to bring that luxury aesthetic and attention to detail to pieces that can be part of anyone’s wardrobe.’
On Tuesday evening this week, with M&S, Capaldo and British Vogue as joint hosts, today’s launch was celebrated with a star-studded dinner at one of Soho’s sceniest Italian restaurants, Bocca di Lupo, where attendees included the likes of models Adwoa Aboah, Alva Claire and Jodie Kidd, to name a few.
Hand beaded dress, £250, markandspencer.com
All were kitted out in the collab, which I had the pleasure of trying for myself. The craftsmanship is clear from the sheer weight of the hand beaded items – see the striking shimmering column dress (£250) which skims rather than clings, the matching vest and mini skirt set (£100 and £110 respectively) and the waterfall-embellished bag (£189).
Black knee high boots swathed in pony hair (£180) as well as a low heeled – brilliantly walkable – closed toe pump (£100) will work in the office and at dinner too.
Brushed cashmere jumper, £130, matching cashmere cardigan, £180, jeans, £65, marksandspencer.com
If you can splurge, the shaggy furry ‘monster’ coats in chocolate brown and cream move beautifully (extra points for the leather waist belts) and are truly worth the investment – just don’t wear them in the rain (£295 and £250 respectively).
Even the knit wear is elevated; I have my eye on the cream scarf-vest (£180) and the ultra-soft teddy-like brown short sleeved jumper with a matching cardigan (£130 and £180 respectively).
Scarf-knit, £180, embellished midi skirt, £180, pony hair boots, £180, marksandspencer.com
But among the glitz and statement satin shirts, the hero piece of this capsule is a pair of £65 designer-fit indigo blue jeans made specially with 16Arlington’s in-house pattern block. If you invest in one item, make it these.
This impressive glamorous offering only nudges M&S up in the style stakes – and sparks a new exciting era of haute partnerships for the UK retailer.
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