It is everyone’s favourite time of year – wedding season. And graduation season. And it is the summer of sport. And all your friends are hosting fancy garden parties now we have a bit of sunshine. Basically, it’s the season of suiting.
If you’re super popular (like I am) you may find yourself at a wedding or event every other weekend this summer and it can be a lot. How do you stand out from the crowd? Will your ex be there? How will I afford it? Well, this is where M&S comes in.
The wonderful team at M&S invited me in to try out their 1-to-1 suit fitting service at their Trafford Centre store.
With another six weddings to go this year, I jumped at the chance to find the perfect suit for me, and something more summery than my usual kegs.
And in case you’ve not been yet, the new M&S is well worth the trip – it’s absolutely massive.
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I was welcomed by the fantastic Sagvan, who took me through the different styles they had to offer, with a refreshing array of colours and pastel hues to choose from, the choice was fantastic.
The suit section at the stunning new M&S Trafford Centre store. Credit: The Manc GroupThe suit section at the stunning new M&S Trafford Centre store. Credit: The Manc Group
Feeling slightly overwhelmed by the amount of choice, Sagvan recommended we look at the cut of the suit first. He recommended either tailored or slim fit, and we settled on a flashy sky blue tailored fit, and a dusky pink suit I’d had my eye on since walking in.
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Sagvan went through all of the sizing and recommended different accessories, shoes and the whole process was both relaxed and helpful.
I ended up with the pink number, which I wore to a wedding last weekend. Let me tell you dear reader, I was the talk of the wedding.
Everyone couldn’t stop complimenting me (I am also very handsome but they were in awe of the suit).
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Told you I looked devilishly handsome in my M&S suit… Credit: The Manc GroupPeople at the wedding couldn’t believe this suit was M&S. Credit: THe Manc Group
Nobody believed it was from M&S either, with many guests planning their trip to get something similar.
M&S might not classically be your first choice for a suit, but it absolutely should be. The 1-to-1 suit service is available to everyone too, just let the team know when you arrive that you’d like some 1-to-1 advice and they would be happy to help.
This season’s occasion wear at M&S has something for everyone.
So whether it is a garden party with friends, you umpteenth wedding of the year or a day at the races, be sure to check out their vast collection of stylish summer suiting.
Cult US sustainable clothing brand Reformation to open in Manchester city centre
Emily Sergeant
Cult US sustainable clothing brand Reformation is set to open its doors in Manchester very soon.
Since it was first founded in Los Angeles all the way back in 2009, Reformation has gone on to become one of the largest sustainable womenswear brands on the planet, and is now known and loved for making beautiful, timeless apparel and accessories that aim to ‘inspire confidence’ across life stages and occasions.
Operating on a business model that pairs a smart approach to merchandising with a responsive supply chain, Reformation now operates more than 70 retail stores across the US, UK, Canada, and France.
At the heart of the Reformation story is a genuine commitment to ‘doing things differently’.
Since day one, sustainability has been woven into everything the brand makes – from the eco-certified fabrics and responsible factories, to its famously transparent sustainability reports.
Currently, Reformation has five UK stores to its name – but, it may come as no surprise to fans of the brand that they’re all in London.
That’s why the news of this new Manchester opening is such a big deal.
Set to be the label’s first UK store outside of the capital, Reformation has secured a prime spot on King Street in the heart of the city centre, and although there’s no confirmed opening date as of yet, if the shop windows saying ‘Summer 2026’ are anything to go by, we can only imagine it’ll be very soon.
“For Manchester, it’s a landmark moment, and for King Street, it’s the latest signal that this is one of the UK’s most exciting retail destinations,” a spokesperson for King Street said in a statement.
Stay tuned for details on opening dates to be announced in due course.
Featured Image – The Manc Group
Shopping
Andy Burnham to begin rolling out new ‘everyday fixes’ for Brits amid cost of living crisis
Emily Sergeant
A series of ‘everyday fixes’ to help combat the rising cost of living crisis are soon to be rolled out nationwide.
Kicking off with two measures today, new Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced that he plans to ban retailers from making ‘misleading’ claims to customers about discounts.
The Government says shoppers have ‘increasingly complained’ about outlets artificially inflating prices to give a false sense of value, such as increasing prices only to then immediately advertise ‘discounts’ to make savings look larger than they really are, which goes on to create an uneven playing field for honest competitors.
The Prime Minister also wants to see an end to so-called ‘subscription traps’, where people find it hard to cancel their subscriptions, and contracts are automatically renewed at a higher cost.
Set to come into force in January 2027 and saving people an average of £14 a month for every unwanted subscription, the changes will mean businesses will need to provide clearer up-front information, regular reminders. and a ‘much easier’ exit to contracts.
Andy Burnham to begin rolling out new ‘everyday fixes’ for Brits amid cost of living crisis / Credit: gov.uk | Piotr Cichosz (via Unsplash)
A new 14-day cooling-off period will also be introduced to let consumers cancel after a trial or long-term contract renews.
Certain charitable memberships, like the ones for cultural and heritage organisations for example, will be excluded from the new subscription rules due to the fact they have a unique role in preserving the nation’s history, landscapes, and cultural collections.
The Prime Minister says he is ‘determined’ to use every chance he gets to restore fairness and take pressure off people.
“I know people are sick and tired of rip-off discounts and subscription traps,” Andy Burnham said. “Westminster has got used to telling people that everyday hassles like this are just part of life, but I don’t think that’s right, especially when the cost of living continues to weigh heavily on so many people’s lives.”
Kristen MacGregor-Houlston -
24th July 2024 
