The Marks and Spencer Autumn Collection: Wide Legged Trousers, Romantic White Blouse and Strappy Leopard Heels

Marks and Spencer recently contacted some of my fellow bloggers and me and invited us to choose items to the value of £200 from their Autumn Lookbook. The new season’s collection is a strong one and there are more hero pieces to come. It seems that  M&S really are curating some beautiful styles that are attainable and infinitely wearable but are very definitely runway inspired. 

Other than jeans, I rarely wear trousers. The Fall Winter 2016/17 catwalks showed a sea of sailor-inspired wide-legged trousers and these wide leg trousers stood out as soon as I looked at the collection. These come in three lengths: short, regular and long which is excellent, because it is essential with this style of trouser that it covers almost all of the shoe. I’m just under 5 feet 9 inches tall and chose the long leg. You’ll see below that the heels I’m wearing are high and these trousers would reach the ground if I were to wear them with flats. Because the style also needs to skim rather than cling, I chose a UK size 12. They are on the large side and I think I’ll have them taken in slightly just to fit a little more neatly at the waist. 

The Victoriana trend has been popular for several seasons now in various guises which makes me think it has earned “wardrobe staple” status. The long sleeved romantic lace blouse is a soft cream colour, fabricated from a super soft viscose. The lace trim is equally soft and doesn’t itch or rub as some lace can. The sleeves are nice and long too. Being long-limbed, I do find on occasions that full-length sleeves stop short of actually being full-length on me, so this was very pleasing. It was a very hot day when we took these photographs, warmer than most of the summer actually and I’d been wearing denim shorts. I put the blouse on with them and it looked great, so I can see versatility with it all the way through to late spring. I envisage styling it with (slightly) distressed boyfriend jeans for a less formal look and I think it would look fabulous with a leather or metallic pleated midi skirt. It also comes in a gorgeously rich teal colour too.

And now it’s time for the shoes. THE SHOES. I lost my heart to these beauties as soon as I saw them in the lookbook but when they arrived and I saw them in the flesh, I actually squealed. They are simply divine. Now, to my mother’s despair, my shoe of choice throughout my teens was a Doc Marten boot in a very nice shade of green and a black Doc Marten shoe for special occasions. I can hardly believe it of myself either but they complimented my tie-dye dungarees and multiple ear-piercings rather well. They may not have been dainty but they did allow my teenage feet to develop perfectly which means I can now wear the highest heels and the pointiest of styles without a second’s worry and I absolutely love to do so. The double strap pointed court shoes are leather and their incredible comfort belies the 95mm heel height. They benefit from Insolia which redistributes the weight away from the balls of the feet so reducing pressure. The double strap makes them feel secure and they come in half sizes. They are available in black and berry too and I’m veeerrrry tempted to get at least one more colourway.

Here are some of my closest blogging friends wearing their outfits from the Marks and Spencer autumn collection too.

Nikki at Midlife Chic in her polo, her shirt dress and the same leopard print heels as mine

Michelle, RetroChicMama in her slip dress, her olive green pea coat and her berry trainers.

Lisa, The Sequinist looking super sexy in her olive green pea coat and over-the-knee boots

Avril from School Gate Style wearing the same outfit as me with different shoes and with the same pea coat as Lisa and Michelle above.

You’ll see from the outfit details and prices below that my three items didn’t add up to £200. The remainder went on a pair of beautifully made black leather Chelsea boots with Insolia that I’m very much looking forward to wearing throughout autumn and winter.

So well done and thank you M&S. This is definitely not an autumn of discontent.

Love Liz x

Outfit details:
*Long-sleeved romantic lace blouse, £27.50, Marks and Spencer (Click here for the U.S. site £41)
*Wide-leg trousers, £35, Marks and Spencer (Click here for the U.S, site $52)
*Double strap point court shoes,brown mix (animal print), £49.50 Marks and Spencer (Click here for the U.S site $73)
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Linking with:
I Will Wear What I Like/ Visible Monday/Shoe and Tell/ Brilliant Blog Posts/ Fun Fashion Friday/ Top of the World Style/ Turning Heads Tuesday

Photographs: Poppy Johnston

*Disclosure: These items were gifted. All opinions are 100% honest and all content is my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that support What Lizzy Loves.