Look familiar? M&S’s fashion f lashback…
THEY say that fashion trends go in cycles. So when Marks & Spencer overhauled its womenswear department, the retailer knew where to look for inspiration.
The firm, which started out as a penny bazaar in 1884, raided its archives as it designed its new autumn/winter collection.
And the influence of its past is clear to see, with its new range featuring floral blouses and flouncy sleeves.
M&S style director Belinda Earl said the firm has shifted its focus to a more classic style.
‘We’re trying to make it more ageless and create more wearable styles that can be layered with neutral colours and tops or jackets across seasons,’ she said.
There are tweed and heritage checked prints that she told the Sunday Telegraph play ‘very well with our customers when there is a modern twist on a classic’. The firm has tried to ‘weatherproof’ its clothes so they can be worn through all seasons, after previously complaining its sales had been affected by the wrong type of weather.
Last year, M&S chief executive Steve Rowe promised to ‘cherish Mrs M&S’ as he took the reins of Britain’s biggest clothing chain.
He added: ‘We need to cherish and celebrate her and make sure we’re giving her exactly what she needs at the right time.’
The collection marks the latest step in a turnaround which Mr Rowe has already warned could impact profits. Analysts expect the company to report a 3.3 per cent drop in clothing sales in the three months to the end of March on Wednesday.