When I was a toddler, I screamed every time my mum would turn my pram in the direction of our local M&S. In hindsight, I now understand that this is because she spent inordinate amounts of time browsing the rails while I became increasingly restless. But my, how times have changed, and I totally get how my mum could quite happily spend what felt like an eternity in M&S, mainly because that’s something I like to do now that I’m a grown-up (gulp). Honestly, I can come up with just about any excuse to hit up Marks & Spencer: “I need new bras,” or, “I’m all out of milk,” or, “I’ve reached the end of the wick in my last Apothecary candle.” Truly, there’s no place I’d rather spend an hour or two working my way through fashion and homeware pieces, inevitably ending up with armfuls of edible treats in the food hall.
But let’s turn our attention back to fashion, shall we? As we’ve established, I know my way around an M&S, and during the hours I’ve spent there, I’ve deduced that all of my favourite M&S fashion items have one thing in common: They all come from the Autograph collection.
M&S’s core fashion department is broken down into the following departments: M&S Collection (which focuses on wardrobe basics), Per Una (a more feminine diffusion), and Autograph, M&S’s premium collection that boasts luxury staples with an on-trend twist. In my opinion, the pieces that look the most expensive on the shop floor and online always sit under the Autograph umbrella.
You can feel the quality in Marks & Spencer’s Autograph edit, which is made of premium fabrications including leather, cashmere and Irish linen. Silhouette is a key focus within the collection, with details like exaggerated cuffs, billowing skirts and perfectly cut trousers setting the capsule apart from other lines. Although it does feel decidedly more minimalistic than M&S’s other collections, Autograph also explores statement prints and bold hues—but always with elevated flair. My mum (who remains a loyal M&S customer 30 years on from my tantrums) and I swear by our Autograph finds. Below, I’ve assembled an edit of the best Marks & Spencer Autograph items you can buy now, should you be in the market for a wardrobe update for spring. Enjoy!
Next Up: The 9 Most Expensive-Looking Pieces on the High Street This Week