Archive by Alexa verdicts?

[StrawberrytallCake]

I've just bought one of the slip dresses with the cardigans and the black playsuit - what do you reckon? I'm unsure if I've just impulse bought but picking up tomorrow so will check quality and fit then!!

link

[niminypiminy]

I've just decided I'm going to go for the lemon cardigan - I love lemon, it's a colour that really flatters me and is surprisingly hard to come by. And the shape of the cardi will be good with the cropped wide legs I'm liking at the moment

[HMF1]

I was in M&S in Glasgow today & they had the collection at the front door. Didn't look like they had many takers. Some of the collection looks better in real life but a lot of it doesn't. The navy trousers are not good quality at all & the blazer looks awful as does the pleated skirt. The cardigans felt nice & the colours looked OK although if I am going for a short cardi I am looking for a crop the trench looks good & the dress. The pie crust shirt comes in 2 lengths & the longer length just looks like a work style smock with a frill. I bought a skirt from autograph but I won't be buying anything from the Allexa archive.

[Floisme]

I thought it was a one-off but according to this there's a winter collection coming too:
www.theguardian.com/fashion/2016/apr/17/alexa-chung-marks-spencer-fashion

[Love2dance]

I got the pie crust blouse and really like it. I can wear to work or for casual look with jeans.
I also got the red dress with white flowers but that will have to go back. It's been designed to hang loose - like the too-big vintage tea dresses one would wear as a slip of a girl in the 1990's (not that I was ever one of those). It is almost right, but on me fell the wrong side of the line into looking dowdy. A better fit in the body/bodice and slightly shorter puff sleeves would have made a difference. If it was cheap as chips I would keep it and have it altered, but it ain't.
As for the mac, I see it's sold out online but I tried it on in store and whilst it is good quality and superficially looks really good, the belt has no holes so the belt can slip and lose its fit; the waistline and belt loops are set too high so it does up at the bottom of the ribs rather than the waist; finally, the sleeves aren't long enough and flap about. Fine if you like that look, but I wear a smart mac both for smart casual (with jeans etc) but more often, for work over a suit. I tried it on over a smart jacket and the bottom 2 inches of my suit jacket were showing - and that's before any sleeve rolling to show the lining.
Back to my vintage Burberry which I picked up second hand for less than £50 and which has lasted me well over 10 years now...a shame because I love the olive green colour.

[leedy]

I also got the red dress with white flowers and am dithering over it as well - haven't seen it in a full length mirror yet (just arrived in work) but even in the work loos mirror I'm not 100% sure about the bodice or the sleeves. The fabric is lovely, though, and a great colour.

The trench is awful on me - I love the colour, but the too high waist means I can't belt it without looking weirdly rectangular, and without a belt it looks like I'm wearing a dressing gown. Also agree about the flappy sleeves.

[leedy]

Dress also mysteriously seemed to make me look somewhat flat-chested and I'm a DD/E cup, maybe because it's quite loose in the bodice (though fairly tight in the shoulders). Though again, will need to check in a proper mirror.

[enjoyingscience]

The lydia gingham trousers have arrived and I actually love them.

I didn't think I would, but they fit great, and have had loads of compliments on them.

[ilod27]

Those that bought the trench coat - is it true to size?

It's sold out and I'm contemplating getting one from eBay but want to make sure it will fit

[leedy]

Trench is actually pretty roomy - I'm a 12 but often have to go for a 14 in fitted coats to not pull across the chest/arms as I have both a) massive bricklayer's shoulders and b) boobs, and the 12 fitted me fine. Though, as I said above, not flattering on me at all.

Tried the red floral dress in a full length mirror and with a slightly different bra and I think I'm going to keep it - the colour is incredibly good on me, the print is pretty, and I can live with the bodice being a little loose.

[faustina]

The trench is HUGE. I am still dithering about keeping it. The six fitted me (and my top half is so not a size six), but I took that back as the eight is loose and that's the look I'd go for. I agree it's not a formal coat. If I keep, I"ll wear it unbelted. I think they said the waist was high to elongate the figure...?