Top Marks for your wardrobe: take a first look at M&S's AW15 collection

A coat for all occasions, animal instincts and hard-working basics - Karen Dacre gets the first look at next season's M&S 
Wild and wonderful: we get the first look at next season's M&S
Karen Dacre8 May 2015

Animal print is the new pink

If we are to accept the theory that every M&S collection brings with it an attention-greedy leading lady - see this season's suede skirt and of course, that pink coat - I would place bets on the leopard-print coat from AW15 (yours for £159) and one rather stunning vinyl snakeskin skirt (£69) being this winter's strongest contenders. Both sit comfortably within a story the design team describe as their "most catwalk-inspired" and have a distinctive Sixties twist.

Coats are the new shoes

At least they are at M&S, where the design team wants you to have a cover-up for every day of the week. "For our customers, it's no longer about having one coat but about having one for all occasions," noted M&S style director Belinda Earl, as we stared longingly at one ankle-length tweed style (£169). A faux-fur style in lilac and one deep-claret crombie coat are also relative bargains.

M&S AW15 - in pictures

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Minimalism is catnip for capital dressers

There is no denying that Londoners get the best M&S has to offer. But it's not just the most fashion-forward pieces - see animal print - that are likely to win hearts among us capital dwellers this season. M&S dedication to minimalism means classic cashmere sweaters and streamlined joggers come to the fore this autumn. A pair of rib knit trousers (£49.50) - a dream for Stan Smith's wearers - are set to delight the discerning Céline fan. Silk blouses - are you reading this, Gillian Anderson? - are also major news.

Belinda's getting braver

While previous M&S collections have gimmicks devised to lure customers back to store, M&S's latest offering comes with a sense of self-confidence. This is undoubtedly down to a design team that is comfortable in its stride; a small but significant hike in sales (up 1.3 per cent) is also taking effect.

Global warming is in fashion

M&S is not saying the hole in the ozone layer is chic but it is saying our summers are getting longer, acknowledged in its latest autumn offering. Keen to offer an option for those mild late September days, the chain has increased its lightweight jacket offering. One double-faced grey biker is certain to win fans, although another faux fur-trimmed flying jacket may be a step too far for the more conservative M&S shopper.

M&S hearts Prada

As well as taking its inspiration from Miuccia Prada's warped lady-like princess - a heroine unveiled in Milan in February - M&S's "Modern Muse" collection has the Italian's feminist values at its core. "These are clothes for women to wear in whatever way they want," noted Earl. "She is in control. We give her the tools."

An M&S carrier need not be green and plastic

While bags are, I'm told, a prerequisite for M&S, the store have ramped up the creativity on offer. A series of cute Thatcher-inspired handbags (£29.50) are a mainstay in the new collection while a tote that nods to Anya Hindmarch's playful aesthetic stands out. Undoubtedly keen to woo a discerning customers with lower price points, shoes are also a focus. M&S has the perfect the running-from-the-tube-to-the-office shoe for next season.

British is still best

Ask any fashion editor and she'll tell you that M&S Best of British, launched in 2013, is its secret trump card. Offering a pared-back aesthetic and a dedication to homegrown craftsmanship, the latest range offers a killer navy blue coat - "You could buy that and nothing else," agrees Earl - as well as trainer collaboration and a seriously useful pair of wide-leg trousers.

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