First sneak peek of the M&S summer collection. These are the pieces every woman wants – and the ones you need to know before they sell out…

We live in strange times where every day seems to bring more “Oh no, now.” that is also went south’ news. The local pub, the cinema, the banks, the post office (don’t mention the post office!). But there’s one notable exception to the ‘It can only get worse’ rule: Marks & Spencer.

The country’s trusted provider of all the basic necessities and then some has had what the youth call ‘a shine’ and is now in a better place than anyone can remember. Especially when it comes to fashion. People are talking about M&S ​​clothes and not just the swimsuits and jumpers.

The company has achieved a remarkable fashion achievement. Since last autumn’s bumper collection under new head of womenswear Maddy Evans, with that memorable ad campaign fronted by Sienna Miller, it has built a reputation for absorbing the key trends and creating consumer-friendly versions of a high standard of quality at affordable prices.

And, crucially, these aren’t just the safest and most accessible trends.

Signature Blazer €99 – Signature Bandeau €45 – Signature Shirt €49.50 – Signature Jeans €65 – Earrings €12.50 – Shoes €49.50

Blazer with signature €99 – Shirt with signature €49.50 – Shorts with signature €45 – Earrings €10 – Shoes €39.50

Goodmove long jacket €59 Goodmove jacket €59 – Goodmove top 25 – Goodmove shorts €29.50

M&S Collection Dress €45 Earrings €14

M&S wants to be the brand that ‘every woman has something of’ and therefore produced the silver trousers (fashionista bait) last season; that quilted khaki jacket that became every park-walking woman’s favorite, and why the basic jeans are suddenly worth a try – not least because they come in 25 different styles, all in short, regular and long lengths. Sales of holidaywear and denim in particular are behind the 56 percent increase in profits reported at the end of last year, making M&S the largest retailer of women’s clothing in Britain.

Per Una Jacket €49.50 – Per Una Shirt €45 – Per Una Short €35 – Earrings €10 – Belt €15

Dress with signature € 119,- – Earrings € 10,- – Bag € 45,-

M&S Collection Dress €49.50 – Sunglasses €15 – Earrings €16

And with their new spring/summer collection, unveiled today, it’s clear the store is aiming even higher.

So what’s on offer for the summer? The answer is the best customization you will see on the high street.

Confident that we use it for its quality and value for money (that’s covered), M&S has turned its attention to the kind of smarter clothes you wear for socializing and work, and to the 300,000 weddings (gulp) expected to take place in Britain. this summer.

M&S Collection Blazer €55 – M&S Collection Waistcoat €35 – M&S Collection Trousers €39.50 – Sunglasses €15 – Earrings €14 – Bag €99

Swimsuit from the M&S Collection €29.50 – Trousers from the M&S Collection €29.50 Necklace €30 – Bracelet €16 – Bracelet €16 – Bracelet €16 – Belt €25

Goodmove padded jacket €59 – Goodmove jacket €35 – Goodmove vest €15 – Goodmove leggings €27.50 – bag €39.50

In the TV campaign that starts next week, you’ll see the hero pieces: a three-piece linen shorts; long dark denim city shorts with a black one-shoulder top: a white sleeveless cotton poplin dress, worn under a black linen blazer with one button and beautiful silver pumps. These are fashion-conscious, well-cut clothes for a confident customer. (If you’re worried about the one-shoulder look, because it’s M&S, totally bra-friendly.)

Still, I’ll spend my money on the extra quality clothing you get with the premium Autograph and M&S Collection labels. These jackets, trousers and skirts are finished to almost Savile Row standards. Standout pieces for summer include a cobalt blue single-button linen jacket (€99) and matching wide-leg trousers (€39.50) and an ice-coloured light pink linen trouser suit with a long buttonless jacket. (£55) and a pair of high-waisted trousers with pleats at the front (£39.50), which I would love to wear to a wedding.

There’s also a matte satin, silver-grey tuxedo-style wrap jacket with shawl collar (€69), as well as matching wide trousers with darts that sit high on the waist to elongate the legs (€39.50), in red carpet quality. (You’d wear it with nothing underneath and silver heels.) This is great tailoring for less than half the price you’ll find elsewhere.

Per Una vest €39.50 – Per Una top €45 – Per Una shorts €35

M&S Collection Swimsuit €32.50 – Earrings €10 – Bracelet €16 – Bracelet €16

Per Una Blazer €79 Per Una Dress €79 – Earrings €10 – Belt €25 – Shoes €69

M&S Collection top €19.50 – M&S Collection Shorts €19.50 – Bag €19.50 – Sunglasses €15 – Earrings €14

If you’re looking for something chic but more everyday, the oatmeal linen trench coat (£79) would brighten up one of M&S’s khaki cargo skirts or those palazzo jeans. Or a beige utility shirt, discreetly sprinkled with sequins (€49.50), would be a great way to dress up navy blue or white trousers.

This collection is big on ‘feminized’ tailoring: shorts, in all lengths; jackets from belted to cropped; wide and wider trousers – because that is the direction fashion is going. But this is M&S, so it’s suitable all ladies and there are skirts (of course in two lengths, midi and long), including the best-selling slip skirt, tried and tested and now back in leopard print (€29.50). There’s also a short-sleeved draped chiffon dress with leopard print that would look great on my 30-something niece.

Signature waistcoat €99 – Signature skirt €79 – Earrings €12.50 – Ring €12.50 – Ring €8.50 – Shoes €49.50

Signature dress €119 – Earrings €10 – Bag €45 – Shoes €35

That is the mission of M&S. They are leading in the market for customers aged 35 to 55 and they now want to become one everyone’s first point of contact – not just for holidays and linen shirts and sweaters – but for every summer event, high and low.

If you like customization, you will love this new collection. And if you don’t… there are many more casual hits in the Per Una and holiday collections.