There’s something about the transitional in-between of winter and spring that makes it feel especially difficult to dress for. My mind says “trench coats, dresses and pastels” but the weather says “don’t forget a jumper!”, so as I find myself either shivering in the outfit I desperately wanted to wear, or sweating profusely in a badly judged combination of knits, I just want simplicity. You know the kind of outfits I mean– the ones you can assemble in ten minutes but look like you spent an hour getting ready? Usually for me this magic ensemble happens when I’ve invested in a particularly good key piece. It could be a flattering black dress, a luxuriously soft jumper, or a killer pair of leg-lengthening jeans, but the ultimate goal is to build a roster of these, creating the perfect capsule wardrobe, but where does one even find such game changers? Well, after some seriously good reviews of their knits, jeans, and boots, Marks and Spencer seem as good a place as any to start my search.
We all know that M&S have a reputation for affordable, quality basics and standout accessories, but what of their new collection? Every summer I find myself going straight to the store for all of my swimwear and sandals, but I have been guilty of letting it fall down the list for my other seasonal top-ups. However, scrolling through the site over the last few months has thrown out some seriously good pieces that gave me reason to look again, inspiring the idea to try out a (mini) M&S capsule for a week. What better way to road test a brands credentials and wearability than a seven-day crash test?
Despite being up against some seriously arctic temperatures and a couple of stock shortages (the ankle boots I desperately wanted are still sold out in my size in store, so I’ve substituted with a pair of my own), this is my week in Marks and Spencer outfits. Keep scrolling to see the pieces I really rated, and which I’d prefer to leave on the shelf.
Quite possibly the only trench coat I’ve ever seen with a hood, but you wouldn’t know it from the front. A cool, classic take on the trench in a versatile sandy beige that I think would go with just about anything in my wardrobe.
I probably don’t have to tell you about the virtues of M&S cashmere, but for those who don’t know, Marks and Spencer have always been market leaders in good quality, well-priced cashmere, and this jumper is a prime example. Even on a freezing cold Monday, this kept me warm, and unlike a chunky cable knit, it’s fine enough to layer up without looking bulky.
One of my favourite parts of this outfit is the mini skirt. As soon as the trend micro mini trend burst on the scene last year I dreaded the thought of the knicker-flashing hemline, but this skirt manages to be both modest and show just enough leg. I’m about 5ft6, and standing the skirt comes to a couple of inches above the knee, so you get a short skirt that doesn’t look like a belt.
Easily the best bit of the look. I. Am. obsessed with these shoes. A little bit Miu Miu meets M&S, the two toned slingback is such a good design choice, but it’s the kitten heel and Insolia padding that make them feel just as good as they look. If you aren’t a fan of the camel and white, they also come in all black.
Having always loved them but never worn one, my first experience with a leather blazer is a good one. Honestly, there isn’t much difference between wearing this and a biker jacket other than the far dressier finish–not overly heavy and easy to layer, this combination is a lot warmer than it looks, which is welcome for the commute to Who What Wear HQ.
I’ll put a lot of my toastiness down to this fluffy mohair knit. I love knitted vests as it is, and this cute colour was almost too good to have to cover with a jacket, but just imagine this over a white tee, or a pinstripe shirt, or a tea dress, or a poloneck…
Going into this I already had high hopes for the jeans after Affiliate Editor Emily Dawes review, and I’m happy to say, I wasn’t disappointed. A note re sizing: despite being “average” height, I chose the “short” length in these jeans over regular as I wanted enough crop for my ankle boots, but the length still came down to my ankle. A great choice for taller girls (there’s also long length too), but petite girls might want to turn up the hem. There’s no denying the comfort of the stretch though, and as someone who always struggles to find jeans that don’t gape at the back, these fit pretty well true to size.
Once again, it’s the feel of the cashmere that makes this a winner. Ultra-soft, super-strokable, but most importantly, cosy, this feels like the perfect piece to wear to the office now, just add jeans, tailored trousers or in this case, a pencil skirt.
I hadn’t actually noticed when I picked this up that it was a pencil skirt, I was expecting an A-line midi, and my first thought is “can I actually wear a pencil skirt to the office without looking like an extra in Mad Men?” but as Managing Editor Poppy Nash assures me “it’s ticking off so many trends: leather, tonal, timeless… and great for desk to dinner” so I’m going to take this a positive. I don’t know that my wardrobe needs several, but if I were to have one pencil skirt, it would be this. Incredibly comfortable, buttery soft faux leather, and a great fit.
As soon as these landed in the new-in section I shared them in the Who What Wear editors group chat. If you thought M&S would just be practical flats, think again, because these platform Mary Janes are such a good find. Once again it’s the attention to detail that make M&S some of the most easy-to-wear shoes on the high-street, and you actually feel the padded insoles in these fashionable yet functional platforms. On reflection I do wish I’d worn this look with tights, but I was just so excited to get these shoes on that I rushed to get ready. These shoes are staying with me for a loooong time to come.
Thanks to the likes of The Frankie Shop, Ralph Lauren, and Victoria Beckham, a striped oversized shirt is in the wardrobes of just about every fashion It girl across the world, and I don’t blame them. It’s easy, versatile, and always looks smart, even though this one is girlfriend fit (longer length and nipped in at the waist), it’s still big enough to be slouchy for a “borrowed from the boys” look.
In hindsight I should have chosen another style to try, but I’m now so faithful to the fit of the Sienna that I grabbed another pair in the indigo wash too. The perfect everyday, blue jean that will flatter every body. These made the perfect choice for a day for running around to meetings, packing suitcases, and shooting stories as the stretch fit makes them feel just as comfortable as leggings.
As someone who isn’t a big fan of mini dresses, I spend a lot of time in midis, and this dress was one of the first on the shop floor that wasn’t the kind of bright floral that doesn’t tend to work for me. I love the zip neck that you don’t tend to get often on jersey dresses, but as you might be able to tell, I had no idea what to do with the tie-belt. Instead I’d swap this out for a belt of my own, and with a pair of knee-high boots, and hey presto, you’ve got an easy instant outfit. After all, nothing says Friday quite like a black dress.
If the weekend isn’t made for duvet days I don’t know what is, and this coat is the very definition of comfort. I could have spent my time happily hibernating in this (as a tip, I sized up a couple of sizes to make it extra blankety, and to fit a jumper underneath), but I highly advise you–if your weekend plans involve any sort of outdoor activity, you won’t regret falling into this pillowy soft cloud of coat.
When it comes to shopping for leggings, it’s easier said than done, and two things I need to make sure a legging can deliver are thickness and support. Nobody wants a legging that goes see-through when you pull them on, and any pair that aren’t high-waisted and cut across the stomach are a personal pet peeve, so good to know then that M&S’ don’t fall into either category. Just as opaque and stretchy as the picture suggests, it can be hard to get leggings right, but M&S can be confident in these.
I dug out an old turtleneck to wear under this gilet, but had I spotted this in store, I’d have gone for this. The funnel neck feels like a much chicer way to do the high neck without all of the bulk of a roll neck.
Last, most more certainly not least, the perfect weekend piece–a borg gilet. It wasn’t too cold for me to pop out in this, but normally I would have worn this open over a denim jacket for an extra layer. The best thing about it though is most definitely the fact that it’s reversible, one side is khaki quilting, the other the fluffy, cream shearling, so depending on what you feel like wearing out (in this case to walk the dog) you’ve got two different options in one easy jacket. That’s more bang for your buck.
