M&S goes all Sixties

Marks & Spencer has gone back to the Sixties with its latest autumn/winter collection.

The preview show, which opens today, has become something of an event since Yasmin Yusuf took over as creative director of the high street giant almost two years ago. This season it certainly does not disappoint.

The upbeat "you've-never-had-it-so-good" Sixties feel might be in stark contrast to the store's recent profits warning and a noted slowdown in consumer spending - clothing sales were down eight per cent during the fourth quarter - but it seems M&S is in an optimistic mood.

"Luckily fashion has swung in our favour for next season," said a spokesperson, referring to the catwalk-led, more grown-up, classic take on elegance for autumn. "In times of recession people always come to us for quality, classic pieces, as we are a brand they feel they can trust."

With a pared-down take on the Sixties theme - think of a gamine Jean Shrimpton in David Bailey's early pictures - M&S's Limited Collection includes slim trench coats in stretch cotton and sleek white leather, low-rise, slim trousers, stripy polo-neck sweaters, leather shell tops and even the odd mini-skirt that should be among the store's best-sellers when they hit branches at the end of August.

The main-line collection looks equally strong, with simple classics in black, white and Op Art prints paired with bright orange and hot pink accessories. And for evenings women may choose from variations of the little black dress, with a biascut, black sequined floor-length number a star piece at £140.

When it comes to lingerie, M&S can still boast that they dress almost a third of British women. For next season they have looked back to the glamorous Thirties and Forties with girlie pale pinks, pintucks, lace and pure silk.