It’s safe to say M&S has had a bit of a revival in recent years: in these tough economic times it’s managed to achieve like-for-like sales in the run up to Christmas (better than many other high street retailers) and annual profits are expected to be £700m. You could say this is all down to it’s celebrity-filled advertising campaigns or recent festive promotions. But I just think that it’s really upped it’s game.

I might come across as biased, having taken part in the Limited Blogger Challenge they ran last year, however I genuinely love their collections more and more each season (and I used to hate being dragged into M&S by my Mum!). In fact I loved the spring preview event I went to tonight so much that I just had to post about it as soon as I got home!

I’m compiling a set of lookbook shots for a post rounding up who on the high street I think is doing SS12 best so I’ll focus more on the fashion there, but I had to mention the dress you can see below. At first glance I just saw a graphic print but up close you can see that this pattern is made up from images of swans. It’s just so beautiful. Judging from the amount of people making a beeline for it at this event I predict big things for this piece so I’ll be counting down to it coming into my local store so I can snap it up!

M&S have always made great underwear and hosiery. They’ve just launched a new range of push-up bras, ’2 sizes bigger’ (which are perfectly pretty without being tacky), plus a feminine and flirty SS12 collection just in time for Valentine’s Day. In fact some of the lingerie is so charming it can be used as art – on one wall I spotted a brightly-coloured chemise and matching briefs in a white frame and it looked amazing! (I couldn’t get a photo as there was a vase of flowers obscuring most of it and I’m so clumsy I didn’t want to risk any damage by moving it!).

Another thing M&S is known for is food, of course. I buy my lunch there every day (I’m partial to the king prawns and chargrilled calamari with linguine *drools*) but based on the offerings I sampled at this event I’ll have to stock up on some hot cross buns for breakfast, pancake ingredients for lazy Sunday brunches, and wedding cake because it’s worth it! Oh wait, wrong ad slogan… ;)

There is a fantastic gift selection for your Valentine as well as presents for all of spring’s other big events from Mother’s Day to Easter, and of course all of the weddings you’ll be starting to receive invitations for. Note to Chris: I’ll have a red handbag please.

Flower arranging workshop

This is one of the most interactive press events I’ve been to and as quite a crafty, hands-on person that made me smile widely!

Besides decorating my own Percy Pig Easter ‘egg’ I also got to have a go at flower arranging, which is something I’ve wanted to try for so long. I have a new-found respect for florists – it’s a lot harder than it looks! The lovely man from M&S’s head office who was talking us through the process said my bouquet was very good and while I was very pleased with it I’m sure he was just being kind!

So what do you think? Do you shop at M&S or do you think you’ll start to?

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