FRESH fashion springs into action at Marks & Spencer tomorrow with a new-season collection.
After a gloomy start to the year, there is something uplifting and exciting about seeing clothes arriving for the warmer months.
Unveiling its new campaign called Love That!, fronted by Sex Education actress Gillian Anderson, M&S says it wants to inject some fun back into dressing and re-energise the nation’s wardrobes.
Gillian, 57, who is also known for her role in The X-Files, has even been appointed the brand’s first Chief Compliments Officer.
In the new TV ad, she is seen on her first day in the job, handing out compliments to women wearing pieces from the collection, set to the Eighties track Oh Yeah, by Yello.
The idea builds on the store’s popular Love That series, which began on social media last year and quickly caught on with fashion fans.
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The £10 M&S tee that ‘fits and washes well’, and is ‘terrific value for money’
Value is clearly a priority, with items starting at £9. Plus, M&S has ensured 40 per cent of its denim range costs less than £30.
It is paying off. According to YouGov data, the retailer still ranks No1 for style, quality and value perceptions with the public.
Of course, M&S would be nothing without the clothes themselves.
Available from tomorrow in stores and online, there is something for everyone in the spring/summer range.
If your style leans more towards classics, there are well-made staples such as structured dresses for £45, smart jackets at £46 and crisp shirts costing £28, perfect for layering.
But M&S has also been pushing its design boundaries in recent years.
It is no longer just the place you pop to for your granny pants, and there are also pieces with a little more oomph.
This season, there is plenty of sheer done well, including a Bardot midi dress with a translucent hem for £50.
Lingerie has had a sexy upgrade, with lace skirts in multiple colours that can be styled for the bedroom or worn out, depending on your mood, and priced at £28.
Meanwhile, the company’s sub-brand Per Una is leaning into a boho look, with plenty of lace, embroidery and slouchy layers for a more relaxed feel.
A survey from M&S found that 76 per cent of customers plan to start shopping for their summer wardrobe in the next two months — and the holiday shop is where the fun really begins.
Think jelly shoes and bags with a nostalgic twist, alongside sculptural swimsuits in contemporary check prints for £36, bold patterns, comfy wide-leg trousers and mix-and-match two-pieces that offer more value for money.
It’s safe to say the hardest part of the new season might be choosing what to buy first.