John Lewis x Awake Mode: We’ve Tried On The Whole Collection – This Is What You Should Buy Now

This is a collection filled with stylish twists on everyday classics.

john lewis x awake

by Hannah Banks-Walker |
Updated on

By now, we're all well versed in the phenomenon that is the high street/high fashion collaboration. Since H&M's very first designer partnership with Karl Lagerfeld exactly 20 years ago to this year's paring between Victoria Beckham and Mango, these high/low partnerships are bigger business than ever. For autumn, we can celebrate another brilliant bond, brought to us by high street powerhouse John Lewis and London-based label Awake Mode.

Available now, the 46-piece collection includes outerwear, knitwear, tailoring and accessories, available online and in 10 John Lewis stores across the country. To help you decide what to buy, we tried on the whole collection and you can certainly expect Awake Mode's typically sophisticated take on design, with innovative cuts, avant-garde details and interesting twists on everyday shapes and silhouettes.

Shop: The Best Pieces From John Lewis x Awake Mode

Julia Harvey, shopping editor: 'When I first saw pictures of this dress, I knew I had to have it. It has a clean, elegant silhouette but, thanks to the laser cut-work detail at the bottom, feels both classic and modern at the same time. It's an incredible special piece I would treasure in my wardrobe for years to come – and it requires minimal accessories.'

Julia Harvey, shopping editor: 'I'm sure everyone will go wild for this coat – I know I did. Scarf coats are in-demand at the moment but this is surely the best on the high street. Needless to say, it's extremely cosy, but it also surprised me as I was worried the oversized silhouette would swamp me. It did not. I'd like to live in this please.'

Julia Harvey, shopping editor: 'The puffiness of this bag is very satisfying and makes it very tactile. It's also great for throwing in everything you need before you grab and go, safe in the knowledge that this goes with every outfit you own.'

Gavi Weiss, fashion assistant: 'Studded details are big news at the moment, so I was delighted to find this brown suede bag in the mix. It's a great size – not too oversized but not too small – and I'll be using it for work, weekends and even winter weddings.'

Julia Harvey, shopping editor: 'This is one of the pieces I'd seen before trying it on but I instantly knew I'd love it. The flared sleeves and cut-out detail make for a twist on the classic striped knit, which you'll want to wear as much as possible until spring. And maybe even then, you'll want to keep wearing it.'

Gavi Weiss, fashion assistant: 'I love how Awake Mode takes something simple (in this case a black jumper) and uses one detail to transform it into something altogether more interesting. The quality of this feels really luxe and I love the fact it would make jeans and a jumper something more exciting.'

Julia Harvey, shopping editor: 'This takes all the elegance of a three piece suit and removes the faff of layers. It's a three-in-one miracle blazer which will make you look super-smart with minimum effort required.'

Julia Harvey, shopping editor: 'I'm a sucker for a great pair of tailored wide leg trousers, so obviously I loved these as soon as I saw them. I loved them with the matching jacket but I'd also wear with a plain T-shirt and trainers for less formal days.'

Gavi Weiss, fashion assistant: 'Never did I think that a cable knit jumper could be so sexy. The off-the-shoulder neckline, the vivid shade of red – they combine to create something that must be pure alchemy. I'll wear this all winter with high waisted trousers and skirts.'

Julia Harvey, shopping editor: 'This is the sort of dress which you have to try on to realise how utterly perfect it is. From the cleverly-placed knot detail to the just-right length, it's not your average knitted dress. I'd like to wear this every day to feel like my best self.'

Gavi Weiss, fashion assistant: 'If, like me, you like your dresses to have a bit of drama, this is for you. A classic black dress, the tasseled sleeves elevated it in such a clever way. It's flattering, comfortable and brilliantly glamorous all at the same time.'

Julia Harvey, shopping editor: 'This top is the perfect example of what Awake Mode does so well. It's seemingly simple – the sort of thing you can throw on with jeans – but the asymmetric silhouette adds an edge that's both stylish and still easy-to-wear. Nothing is overwhelming, it's just right.'

Julia Harvey, shopping editor: 'I've been looking for the perfect pair of vinyl trousers for years but always find they have a skinny fit which I don't like. This pair has the on-trend curved silhouette I've been wearing in jean form for a while now, so I was delighted when I tried them on. Paired with the striped top, it makes for an easy, no-fuss outfit with impact.'

Julia Harvey, shopping editor: 'I could wear these boots with even my oldest pair of jeans and still feel more polished. Equally, I loved them under the long red dress with matching black accessories. Despite their kitten heel, they're incredibly comfortable, too.'

Gavi Weiss, fashion assistant: 'Normally, if you'd suggest I wear a voluminous top with an equally voluminous skirt, I would have suggested those proportions together would be too much. But this combo made me feel fab and I loved the ease of it. This would be a chic alternative to a more conventional party dress this season.'

Gavi Weiss, fashion assistant: 'This is the sort of skirt I know I'd end up finding invaluable. It goes with everything, it's comfortable and it makes a statement without feeling too OTT. I'd pair it with an oversized knit and knee-high boots for days when I want to seem like I've made an effort but don't have much time (or energy).'

Gavi Weiss, fashion assistant: 'The ultimate party boots, it was a struggle to take these off once I'd put them on my feet. They'd make any outfit more fabulous in an instant and they're much more comfortable than all of my heels.'

If you're not familiar with the brand, it was launched by Natalia Alaverdian in 2012 and counts some of the world's most influential dressers among its fans – think Kim Kardashian, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and even Michelle Obama. This is not its first foray onto the high street – Awake Mode released a collection with & Other Stories back in 2022 – and if there's anything we can take from previous collaborations, this one is bound to sell quickly.

In a statement, Alaverdian said: 'Having the opportunity to create a bridge between John Lewis and Awake Mode and making a collection that is accessible to both of our customers is very exciting. For me, the collection is a perfect blend of Awake's unique identity and the quality aesthetic John Lewis is known for.'

When does John Lewis x Awake Mode launch?

The full collection launched online and in 10 John Lewis stores on 17th October 2024.

How much does John Lewis x Awake Mode cost?

The collection starts at £49 for a T-shirt, while the most expensive item is a coat, priced at £399.

Hannah Banks-Walker is Grazia's head of fashion commerce. She has previously written for the likes of Harper's Bazaar, The Financial Times, Glamour, Stylist, The Telegraph, Red, i-D and The Pool on everything from fashion to curly hair (hi!) to the patriarchy. Not necessarily in that order. Find her on Instagram and Twitter. But please don't look for her MySpace profile, which until now was the last time she wrote about herself in the third person

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