CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN

The high street’s most unexpected collaboration of the year is about to land — and St Michael has never looked quite like this.

There are certain British fashion partnerships that make perfect sense. Barbour and a heritage label. Savile Row and a luxury house. M&S and, well, just about anything involving a good wool coat.

M&S X Aries? Now that’s a little more unexpected. And that’s precisely why it works.

The new M&S X Aries collection brings together one of Britain’s most recognisable retailers and one of London’s most distinctive cult fashion labels for a 26-piece capsule that raids the M&S archive and gives its St Michael heritage a distinctly contemporary makeover.

For anyone who remembers Marks & Spencer before everything was simply M&S, St Michael has a particular nostalgic resonance. The name was used across M&S products from 1927 until 2000, becoming synonymous with dependable British clothing and everyday essentials, think your Mum, school uniforms, winter coats etc.

Now, rather wonderfully, St Michael is back !!!!!

Only this time it has been handed over to Aries.

Founded by Sofia Prantera, Aries has built its reputation on a delicious collision of streetwear, subculture, nostalgia, graphics and luxury fashion sensibility. Rather than simply plastering an Aries logo over an M&S jumper, the collaboration digs considerably deeper into the M&S archive, revisiting old logos, crests and familiar British fashion codes.

And that is where things get interesting.

The collection encompasses menswear and womenswear, with tailoring, knitwear, sweatshirts, graphic T-shirts, dresses and accessories all getting the Aries treatment.

For the men, this is particularly intriguing.

There are oversized sweatshirts and joggers carrying the revived St Michael identity, alongside tailoring and preppy-inspired pieces that take traditional M&S staples somewhere altogether more fashion-forward.

It is essentially British high-street nostalgia filtered through a London streetwear sensibility.

And frankly, it’s a pretty good filter.

There is something particularly clever about the timing of this collaboration. Fashion’s current obsession with the 1990s has been running for quite some time, but M&S X Aries doesn’t simply reproduce the decade as costume. Instead, it takes the visual language of the period — oversized proportions, collegiate references, retro branding and everyday basics — and makes it feel relevant again.

The result is nostalgic without being twee. Which is no mean feat.

Aries has also reinterpreted classic M&S nightwear, while the St Michael branding appears across sweatshirts, T-shirts and bags. Even the humble M&S carrier bag gets in on the act, transformed into a rather more covetable leather accessory, one I even tempted by !

Because apparently even your weekly trip to M&S now requires a little fashion credibility.

On paper, M&S and Aries couldn’t appear further apart.

One is the great British institution of the high street. The other is a London fashion label with a cult following and roots in street culture.

But perhaps that is the point and its major appeal.

M&S has spent the last few years repositioning itself as considerably more fashion-conscious, increasingly using collaborations, archive references and culturally relevant campaigns to challenge perceptions of what the retailer represents.

The Aries partnership takes that strategy one step further.

Rather than asking M&S to become something it isn’t, Aries has looked at what makes M&S M&S and then distorted, exaggerated and modernised it.

That feels considerably more interesting than simply sticking a fashionable logo on a traditional product.

For the contemporary British male, there are several obvious starting points.

The knitwear looks particularly strong. Anything with a collegiate or heritage feel should work brilliantly with denim, chinos or a pair of relaxed trousers.

Then there are the sweatshirts — perhaps the easiest entry point into the collaboration. Throw one over a white Oxford shirt, add some straight-leg denim and you’ve got that slightly nonchalant British-meets-streetwear thing going on.

The tailoring is where the collection could become particularly interesting. The trick, as ever, will be to avoid looking as though you’re heading to a business meeting. Wear the jacket with denim. Wear the trousers with trainers. Break the suit apart.

And then there are the accessories. The leather interpretation of the M&S carrier bag is perhaps the ultimate expression of what this collaboration is trying to achieve: taking something utterly ordinary and making it unexpectedly desirable.

There have been plenty of designer/high-street collaborations over the years. Some feeling more marketing exercises. Then some feeling like expensive souvenirs. And some genuinely manage to make you reconsider both brands involved, the holy grail of fashion collaborations.

M&S X Aries looks like it could be one of the latter.

It understands that the most interesting thing about British fashion isn’t always something new. Sometimes it is something we’ve seen before — just viewed from a completely different angle.

M&S brings the archive. Aries brings the attitude. St Michael brings the nostalgia.

And somewhere in the middle sits a rather compelling new version of British style.

So, if you’re planning a trip to M&S, you may want to arrive early.

Because for once, the phrase “I’m just popping into Marks & Spencer” could involve rather more fashion than you were expecting.

M&S X Aries launches online and in selected M&S stores TODAY !!!!!.

And yes, I’m rather tempted by the sweatshirt and bag !

American heritage, modern performance – few footwear brands have mastered the balance quite like Cole Haan. Originally founded in Chicago in 1928, the label has spent decades refining the art of versatile footwear, combining timeless silhouettes with contemporary comfort technologies designed for today’s fast-paced lifestyle.

What continues to set Cole Haan apart is its ability to move seamlessly between formalwear, casual dressing and performance-inspired design. From polished leather loafers and smart brogues to lightweight trainers and hybrid styles, the brand has built a reputation for creating shoes that look elevated without sacrificing comfort. It’s this fusion of style and functionality that has helped the American label maintain its relevance across generations.

At a time when consumers are increasingly seeking wardrobe pieces that offer longevity and versatility, Cole Haan’s understated aesthetic feels particularly well judged. Their footwear is designed to integrate effortlessly into modern wardrobes — equally suited to tailoring, premium denim or relaxed weekend styling. The result is a collection that feels refined yet accessible, with an emphasis on wearability over trend-driven excess.

Innovation also remains central to the brand’s appeal. Cole Haan has consistently embraced lightweight construction methods, cushioned footbeds and flexible sole technologies that prioritise all-day comfort without compromising on design integrity. The brand’s hybrid footwear offering, in particular, reflects the growing shift towards smarter casual dressing, where practicality and sophistication now go hand in hand.

Beyond footwear, the brand’s expanding accessories and outerwear collections continue to reinforce its polished American sportswear identity. Clean lines, premium materials and functional detailing underpin the wider offering, creating a cohesive lifestyle proposition that resonates with professionals, frequent travellers and style-conscious consumers alike.

In an era where versatility has become the defining feature of modern menswear, Cole Haan’s enduring success lies in understanding exactly how men dress today — seeking pieces that transition effortlessly between work, travel and everyday life. It’s a philosophy that has allowed the brand to remain quietly influential for almost a century, proving that timeless style and comfort need never be mutually exclusive.

In a fashion industry often dominated by celebrity endorsements, influencer campaigns and carefully curated social media imagery, genuine transparency remains surprisingly rare. While brands are quick to promote the finished product, far fewer are willing to openly discuss how and where those products are made. Behind the scenes, cost-cutting and aggressive margin targets can frequently overshadow craftsmanship, quality and ethical responsibility.

British label Drake & Hutch believes there is a better way.

Originally formed in London in 2012 by a collective of tailors, the brand was created with a simple ambition — to produce high-quality everyday essentials that make people smile. What began as a passion project rooted in British craftsmanship has since evolved into a distinctive lifestyle brand known for combining personality, premium quality and understated humour.

Over the past decade, Drake & Hutch’s journey has taken the brand from London to Manchester before eventually settling within the Ribble and Pendle Valleys in the heart of Lancashire — a move that feels fitting for a label so heavily connected to British heritage and traditional craftsmanship.

While the company initially gained recognition through premium underwear, the brand has since shifted its focus towards socks, refining its identity around stylish, everyday essentials designed to inject individuality into modern wardrobes. The evolution feels natural. In much the same way tailoring uses subtle details to express personality, Drake & Hutch applies colour, pattern and playful design to one of menswear’s most overlooked accessories.

At the core of the brand remains a commitment to quality and transparency. Rather than relying on gimmicks or trend-driven marketing, Drake & Hutch focuses on producing well-crafted products using premium materials, including soft GOTS organic cotton designed to deliver both comfort and durability. The result is a collection of socks that balance bold personality with everyday practicality — equally suited to casual styling or more formal dressing.

The tailoring influence behind the brand remains evident throughout the collection. Founder Pete McGuinness originally developed the concept while working within men’s formalwear for Charles Tyrwhitt, drawing inspiration from the patterns, linings and detailing traditionally associated with classic tailoring. That same attention to detail continues to define the brand today, even as its focus has evolved.

What continues to set Drake & Hutch apart is its authenticity. The brand doesn’t attempt to overcomplicate its message. Instead, it understands that modern consumers increasingly value products with personality, craftsmanship and genuine integrity behind them. There’s a refreshing honesty to the way the company presents itself — confident without taking itself too seriously.

In a market saturated with fast fashion and disposable basics, Drake & Hutch offers something increasingly valuable: everyday essentials with character. Whether worn to bring subtle personality to formalwear or simply add comfort and individuality to daily life, the brand proves that even the smallest details in a wardrobe can still make a lasting impression.