Marks & Spencer has officially entered its high fashion era. The beloved British retailer swapped Marble Arch for Ibiza this week as it unveiled its best summer collection yet with a sun-soaked runway show overlooking the stunning Cala Carbo – and honestly, I want everything.
Hosted at the aptly named Casa del Compliments, The Summer of Love That felt worlds away from your average high street campaign. But while the idyllic setting screamed escapism, the collection itself was rooted in exactly what M&S has become so good at lately - elevated, wearable fashion that looks undeniably expensive.
© M&SThis season, the mood is effortless Mediterranean glamour. Floaty embroidered dresses arrived in sun-faded neutrals, while lace-trimmed silks featured highly and crisp white cotton separates nodded to the ultra chic enduring quiet luxury aesthetic.
Elsewhere, there were flashes of 1970s-inspired Ibiza dressing with printed co-ords, crochet textures, oversized raffia accessories and slinky swimwear layered beneath sheer cover-ups. It's the kind of holiday wardrobe that works just as well for long lunches and city heatwaves as it does for glamorous beach escapes.
© M&SHELLO!'s Cassie Steer attended the Ibiza showcase and says the collection looks even better in person. "If summer dressing were an Olympic sport, M&S would take gold without breaking a sweat," she said. "After seeing the new collection, I’m fully convinced I should spend the rest of my days swathed in linen somewhere along the Balearic coast.
"The high street heavyweight whisked us journalists off to the sunshine isle alongside a glamorous mix of friends of the brand (Rachel Stevens was even on our flight, looking impossibly chic in aviator sunglasses). And while the setting made Casa del Compliments feel even more seductive, it was the catwalk show itself that delivered pure dopamine.
"The casting was flawless, the Ibizan sun showed up on cue with the dreamiest backdrop imaginable, but it was the clothes that had everyone murmuring the collection’s unofficial slogan without a trace of irony: "love that".
"The second the show ended, I panic-added a sheer seafoam crystal-embellished cardigan to my basket (real-time shopping is a dangerous game), fully ready to live out my Ibizan fantasy. But the piece I’m truly desperate for is an ankle-length mesh skirt that doesn’t land until June. Serotonin levels remain at an all-time high."
While the first edit has officially landed online, some of the most coveted pieces are still yet to drop, and I’ll be updating this story as new arrivals launch throughout the season.
