Of all the shops in the world, there isn’t one that I’ve spent more hours of my life in, than Marks & Spencer.
I should start off by saying though that well over half of these hours were, without doubt, against my will.
From birth and well into my teens – as the youngest of four siblings – I was dragged around their historic flagship store on Guildford High Street by my ‘Marks & Sparks’ loving mother (yes, she used to call it Marks & Sparks…), sometimes for what felt like hours on end.
You’d usually find me waiting (im)patiently outside the women’s changing rooms while she tried on each new season’s offerings (before being sent off to fetch her – more often than not – a larger size). Or grumpily following her around the kids section while she picked out the classic white Y-fronts, black socks and other staples of my school uniform. Or rolling my eyes as she attempted to get me excited by some ‘lovely jumper’ or pair of navy chinos. Before I would inevitably lose the will to live, find a quiet spot to sit, next to a bikini clad mannequin, telling her to come find me when she’s done! Sound familiar?
But as I grew older, wiser and more independent, while I was no longer forced to be my mum’s shopping wingman, I somehow always ended up back in Marks & Spencer. This time though, of my own free will.
In fact, if truth be told, I found myself in there rather a lot during my 20s. Searching for a meal deal during my lunch break (or something more indulgent for supper after work). Buying my first proper two-piece suit and accompanying double-cuffed shirts for my first proper job. Realising that the jumpers and slim fit chinos my mum had once tried to force on me were actually pretty cool now and would fast become a regular feature in my ever growing wardrobe.
But it wasn’t until I bought my first flat, got married and started a family that my relationship with Marks & Spencer really got serious.
Living down the road from one of their largest superstores in South West London certainly helped, with it quickly becoming a regular hangout for our little family on lazy weekend afternoons. Perusing the Home department for cushions, bath mats, bedding and kitchenware to stock out our new digs. And spending even longer in their baby section, pining over their amazing and ever changing collection of clothes for little ones, from the everyday to the super smart (and special shout out to their baby girl clothes, which are hands down the cutest you can buy on the high street).
But this Christmas – and I’m really rather excited about this – we’re taking our relationship with Marks & Spencer to the next level by actually working with them (!!!) after they challenged us to pick out our favourite festive outfits for this Christmas season.
With so much to choose from, it was difficult to whittle it down to just one outfit each, but as you can see from our family photo below, we couldn’t be happier with the results!
Keep scrolling to shop each look, with links below to all of our festive favourites…
Happy shopping! And, if we don’t speak again before the big day, Merry Christmas!
***
SHOP OUR FAVOURITE MARKS & SPENCER LOOKS THIS CHRISTMAS
My Top Picks for Dads
Raspberry Pure Lambs Wool Crew Neck Jumper
Green Slim Fit Pure Cotton Chinos
Midnight Mix Pure Cotton Easy to Iron Regular Fit Shirt
***
Rosie’s Top Picks for Mums
Grey and Pink Pure Cashmere Round Neck Jumper
***
Teddy’s Top Pick for Toddlers
***
This article was written in collaboration with Marks & Spencer, who sent us our chosen outfits to keep after I approached them with my idea for this Christmassy feature!
