Marks & Spencer: The Autumn'13 Collection

I remember shopping at Marks & Spencer ever since I was a young child and I was always fascinated by the quintessential 'Britishness' of their clothes and styling.  As a child, I used to dream that one day, I'd be the lady of a manor, on some estate in one of the green English 'shires and I'd be walking my dogs (whippets, specifically) dressed in head to toe M&S ...

I think that M&S is quite naturally, usually associated with classic cuts which tend to be more popular with a more mature generation.  This morning's event in a way sought to change that notion.

M&S Sliema organised impromptu fashion shows under the talented styling of local fashion guru extraordinaire Marisa Grima and Stylist of the Year winner Caroline from Caroline's Fashion Styling.  I would be lying if I said that what we saw this morning was hipster / street style fashion, because that is not M&S.  Yet, the collection presented, and the way it was presented, was fresh and appealing to various age groups.

see the whole album from this morning's event on my facebook page here

Of particular note for me were a print placement mini shift dress and a winter white bias cut dress with black lace embellishment.  I loved the white dress so much (I think the Peter Pan collar was the seller for me!) that I even tried it on.  Unfortunately, the bias cut on the lower half of my body doesn't do anything to me and so I had to leave it in the shop (and that's why you're only seeing the top half of me here!)

I did try on a couple of other items and I actually bought this green blouse which has a couple of patch pockets on the front (they don't show on the photo) and tiny pleats in the middle.  What I loved most about it is the colour which is somewhere in between pea green, khaki and chartreuse.  I tried it on with a high waisted dark jeans and a crimson coloured cardi which beautifully complemented the green. Both the blouse and the jeans were from the Autograph collection,  and the cardi was from the Classic collection.  I tend to consider both these collections as too 'grown up' for me ... but with the versatility and wearability of this blouse (and the other items I tried with it), there's really no age!  I can't wait for the colder temperatures to kick in to pair this blouse with a skinny jean and my jacquard coat.

I do suggest you pop down to M&S if you haven't been in a while ... the collection in store at the moment is well worth doing the rain dance for!

with lara from boffism