Welcome to The Great Try-On. With autumn well and truly in the air, we seized the opportunity to try on some of the best new-in pieces from some of your favourite brands, documenting the process along the way. We believe the best way to shop online is to see an item IRL and read candid reviews, so we hope that this leads you to your most successful purchases of the year.
With the advent of autumn, I have again come to my annual realisation that I have nothing to wear. I thrive during the summer in light cotton dresses, but it’s the autumn/winter season that I find the hardest to dress for. Now, I might be overreacting a little, as I definitely have enough to get me through the next few months, but when it’s dark outside and I’m staring into my wardrobe with a background of drizzle and a cold breeze, I always get the urge to treat myself to some cosy knitwear, a new coat and a pair of sleek boots.
Although I’m largely content with what I own, there are a couple of gaps I can justify filling with a couple of key wardrobe staples; pieces I’ve probably over-worn now and are due a refresh. I managed to tick a few of these off with secondhand buys, and now it’s time to take to the high street to get me over the finish line. Overwhelmed with options, I headed straight towards a reliable old favourite, walking right into Marks and Spencer. Having worn the brand’s tights for school and bought my bras from there ever since my first fitting, M&S is still my first port of call when I’m looking to make a purchase. I find its collections almost always include the refined silhouettes I shop for most frequently—and often at very reasonable prices—and it’s still nailing those fundamentals all these years later.
On the shop floor, I plucked a few key items that instantly caught my attention. Selecting a warm knit, a roomy coat, the perfect ’90s-style leather jacket and a leopard-print blouse, I also grabbed some wearable denim, trending shoes and a couple of bags I couldn’t resist giving a closer look. To the changing room! Size-wise, I tend to sit between a 10 and a 12, often opting for the former for my bottom half and the latter for tops and jackets. At 5’7″, I like a bit of roomy fit, and my clothing choices attest to this. Keep scrolling to see the M&S autumn 2024 pieces I tried on, and read my honest thoughts on each.
See My Favourite Pieces From My Marks and Spencer Autumn 2024 Try-On
Style Notes: I have to confess that I’m a bit of a sceptic when it comes to faux leather. Perhaps because I spent so much of my teens in head-to-toe polyester, I’m now very reluctant to buy any “leather” item that isn’t 100% genuine. As such, I was incredibly surprised to find myself falling in love with this faux-leather jacket. In a rich brown shade that falls somewhere between camel and chocolate, this slim-fitting jacket has a boxy cut and a neat finish that reminded me of the ’90s-inspired styles I always look out for.
Cropping slightly above the hips, this jacket features a zip fastening and an elasticated hem that ensures a polished silhouette and some extra insulation. Wanting a comfortable, slightly oversized fit, I reached for a size 14, which was fitted enough not to appear too big, but large enough to wear over a knit—exactly the kind of layer I need for these in-between days. Suffice it to say, this sub-£60 jacket went straight onto my purchase pile.
With a slim fit up top, I wanted a little bit of volume on the bottom and tried on M&S’ Wide Palazzo Leg Jeans and a pair of chunky Chelsea boots to ground my outfit. The jeans fit comfortably in a regular-length size 10. The great thing about M&S jeans is that they’re available in short, regular and long lengths so you can get a much better fit.
SHOP THE LOOK
M&S Collection
Faux Leather Harrington Jacket
