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On a bright, sunny Tuesday in Marks & Spencer’s London showroom, the April cyber attack – which brought its online operations to a halt for almost two months – seems like a distant bad dream.
Outside signs proclaim: We’re Back! But when it comes to the new autumn fashion collections, I’d argue it’s not just back, but stronger than ever.
Because here’s where we are with M&S at the start of the autumn fashion season: Relying on it to dress us from head to toe. ‘Good old M&S’ has, in the space of a couple of years, gone from reliable for basics to the store we trust to deliver slickly executed fashion we can all wear.
We know it will get the new season’s core looks right, curate them for real women (not young colts) and make them to a high standard at prices we can afford. (There’s also plenty in the Autograph and Jaeger higher-priced collections that we can aspire to and maybe put on a Christmas wish list.)
That’s how M&S rolls now. There’s the aspirational (quality leather jackets that sell for £250) alongside the affordable; the fashion forward next to the collectables – which is just how we like it.
Most noticeable of all in the newly unveiled autumn ranges from Per Una, M&S Collection and Autograph, is how expensive most of the clothes look, both in terms of cut and fabric. In a label blind testing you might mistake some of the coats and leather pieces for Jigsaw, Cos or Massimo Dutti, where they would doubtless cost double or more.
Forget ‘I thought this could be useful’: M&S is putting us all in the style driving seat. The only drawback? You now have to snap up the best pieces fast. Here are my favourites…
The Heritage Jacket
Remember that picture of the newly-wed Prince Charles and Princess Diana, leaning against a fence on the Balmoral estate, him in a kilt, her wearing a brown-check blouson jacket and skirt – what would now be called a heritage check co-ord and back then was just classic country style? It’s one of my favourite pictures of Diana. She looked radiant and also country not-so-casual without a hint of Sloaney dowdiness.
Forty-something years later, that yen for heritage looks without the high-pants stuffiness is alive and kicking, and the brown-check heritage jacket is a key piece in high street shops from Maje to Wyse. This M&S Collection brown check, soft and boxy, cropped-on-the-hip jacket with gold buttons, epaulettes and blouson sleeves (£60) is as smart as it’s a steal.
The Slick Patent Accessory
Patent is back in a big way and while you might not be in the market for a shiny black patent trenchcoat or midi skirt (both available from M&S Autograph), it’s worth investing in patent accessories to give autumn clothes new polish. This M&S Collection bucket bag (£40) looks good – and expensive – tucked fashion-style under your elbow or armpit (as seen on the catwalk), or just slung across a shoulder.
The Little Red Shoe
Quite remarkable what a pop of red does for an autumn 2025 outfit and these M&S Collection red flats (£36) are just right – the right almond toe, cut just high enough on the foot to make them look modern and flattering. Wear them to fire up trousers or smarten up your best jeans. The cut is all important and the colour (not too bright) is perfect.
The Classy Faux Fur Coat
There are several coats on offer across the M&S ranges – the womenswear team headed up by Maddy Evans know their customer loves all things leather and pleather and faux fur – but the one that scores tens across the board for a smart, grown-up style is Autograph’s scarf coat (£150) in dark brown faux sheared shearling. Minimal, versatile, elegant, this looks like something you’d see a Milanese woman wearing in mid winter and that’s what we want in a faux fur now – Value Added Gloss. It won’t be in store until early October… so set your alarm.
The one that scores tens across the board for a smart, grown-up style is Autograph’s scarf coat (£140) in dark brown faux sheared shearling… Out in October
The Glamour Fur
Bigger shaggy furs also have their place and are great for shrugging on in the evening or just injecting some easy glamour at the weekend. This M&S Collection one in a beige-y mink colour is right on the make-a-fashion-entrance spot (£100).
The New Velvet Jacket
Animal prints are as big as they’ve ever been this autumn and leopard is still one of the easiest to wear (less stark than zebra, warmer than snake and subtler than cow). The stand out style from M&S Collection – the one that will serve you best with no risk of tipping over into Roxy Music territory – is the velvet blazer (£85). Don’t forget leopard is officially a neutral. It’s also a great way of wearing mainly black without looking funereal, and suits any age providing you don’t wear it with satin or leather trousers (leave that to Heidi Klum) and keep it plain underneath.
The Chic Country Classic
Back to the royal references, this time a style favoured by Queen Elizabeth II rather than her daughter-in-law. Fashion is continuing its fascination with traditional country wear and the shops are full of wax jackets with corduroy collars in every shape and size. This M&S Collection one is a hooded cape (£90) lined with that brown heritage check, with a contrasting cord collar, and if you’re in the market for a practical waterproof with extra flair, it has a lot going for it. The late Queen would have worn hers out for a ride in Windsor Great Park, but it’ll work just as well on a bicycle.
Also on the country outerwear shopping list is a great softly padded dark green cord-collared blouson jacket (£60) and a smart lightly padded parka with a faux fur collar (£100). Yes, they are back.
Rich Lady Rings
As established, M&S keeps raising the bar – and surprising us with something we never previously expected. This season it’s jewellery. I would never have thought of heading to M&S for on-trend jewellery, but now there are going to be women stampeding to get Autograph’s selection of sculptural gold and silver earrings with a distinct look of uber-cool designer Phoebe Philo.
And I’m particularly taken with the M&S Collection chunky rings that look like they might have been leftover from stylist Kate Young’s range for Monica Vinader. The classic heavy gold ring with an inset stone is an irreproachable signifier of cool, timeless style and M&S has done several (from £22.50 to £18.50).
Pick up a belt too. The fake snake (£26) in just the right medium slim width is this season’s tailored trouser uplifter.
The Slouchy Suede Boots
These will be a bit too high for some of us, but they’ve got the essential bit of slouch that was much in evidence on the catwalk and this Per Una boot (£146) will put new autumn energy into old midi skirts and dresses. Boots plus a dress is back at the top of the autumn going out looks, and if you prefer, there’s a good leather kitten heel style (£50).
The Fun Ski Jumper
So we’re not all going to Klosters for Christmas, but it’s a mark of M&S’s confidence and its sharp eye for grown-up glamour, that its proudly launching its first ever skiwear collection under the Good Move label. Chic and very well priced, it includes some white salopettes with braces (£90) and a great ivory turtleneck sweater with Le Ski emblazoned on the front in black (£46). It’s a little bit Bella Freud, a little bit Gwyneth Paltrow Utah ski trial. You can wear the sweater at home on a Saturday night and look a million dollars. No one will ask any questions.
