Ten years ago, M&S launched its famous brown suede skirt. Calf-skimming, with a front slit and white embroidered pocket detailing, the only difference between it and the four-figure suede styles that had appeared on the Miu Miu and Tom Ford runways was the price: M&S’s was just £199 and no less chic for it.
Alexa Chung and Olivia Palermo wore it during fashion month – and with scores of news stories dubbing it the ‘buy of the season’ it had 3,500 people on the waiting list before it even hit the shops. It then sold out instantly, bagging the store its best sales figures and first womenswear profit in four years, leading the FT to hail it ‘the skirt that saved M&S’.
Now there’s another suede sensation in the form of this £279 jacket, which landed in stores last week and sold out instantly. After last autumn’s suede trench sold out twice (I was too late), and this season’s brown suede loafers were gone in two days (I bagged a pair), I expected the same frenzy over this latest suede offering.
But I’ve got some exciting news for those who missed out: M&S will be restocking the jacket on Thursday 10 April and Sunday 13 April. I expect it won’t hang around for long so get in line, behind me!