This skirt will save Marks & Spencer (again)

For the last few months shoppers have been clamouring for the ‘must-have’ item of this season– a 1970s-inspired suede midi-skirt from Marks & Spencer.

The skirt, released in February, was worn by celebrity style icons Olivia Palermo and Alexa Chung in quick succession, resulting in a much-needed boost to the brand’s fashion credentials. The midi was hailed ‘the skirt that will save M&S’, and the PR hype may have been right as Marks and Spencer have just announced a profit increase for the first time in four years.

From the Autograph range, the skirt isn’t cheap costing €279. However the brand has cleverly cashed in on the hype by releasing a cheaper version of the skirt through their Limited Edition range, costing €59 (see above). Unfortunately though, this faux suede version has been sold out everywhere since only a few days after its release.

This journalist came across the skirt through the most fashionable of channels, my mother. She happened to be in store the day the skirt arrived and snapped two up, one for her and one for her own mum who was visiting that day. She had no idea about all the excitement behind the skirt or its predecessor, despite being a die-hard M&S fan.

As it turned out, the skirt was a little snug on mum, and so as I arrived for dinner I was gifted it. She then, of course, went off to get herself the next size. Will the skirt save M&S? Three generations of happy, M&S midi-skirt wearing ladies think so anyway.