There’s something about the transition between autumn and winter that makes it feel especially difficult to dress for. My mind says “trench coats, jackets and trainers,” but the weather says “wool coats, scarves and boots” 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 10 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 reading some seriously good reviews of its knits, jeans, and boots, I thought Marks and Spencer seemed as good a place as any to start my search.
We all know that M&S has a reputation for affordable, quality basics and standout accessories, but what of its 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.
Despite being up against some seriously arctic temperatures and a couple of stock shortages (the viral borg is still sold out every time I check), this is my week in perfect Marks and Spencer outfits. Keep scrolling to see the pieces I really rated and why.