John Lewis is pretty much a one-stop-shop for every life milestone (kitting out your uni room, aka choosing a duvet cover that semaphores cool; registering for those all-important wedding presents; testing out buggies on the shop floor). But it's also the retailer that has quietly been making a name for itself as one of the best high street destinations for directional pieces that, whisper it, look designer.
For spring/summer, it's brushed up on its fashion credentials even further via a raft of collaborations, as well as new brand acquisitions, with pieces that are almost guaranteed to sell out as soon as they drop. From the party shoe that will tempt you out of sneakers to the ultimate spring jacket, here are the five pieces the retailer's fashion buyers are predicting will be huge this spring (and we agree).
The Caped Trench
There are trench coats and, then, there are trench coats. John Lewis's latest design falls in the second category, with the addition of a cape that falls over the shoulders and stops just above the waist belt. Styled with a pair of wide-leg trousers in the brand's lookbook, above, it's a chic take on the ubiquitous style and, just shy of £150, will give you plenty of bang for your buck.
www.johnlewis.com
The Woven Tote Bag
It bags sometimes come with logos, hardware and a waiting list of thousands, but not always. Last year, it was a low-key, yet decidedly beautiful, tote that was it: Dragon Diffusion's woven leather bag. The brand is launching this spring at John Lewis, where it'll be available to shop as of late February, and will surely fly off the shelves when people discover that its bags are somehow appropriate for the beach and the office. Miraculous!
The Monochrome Loafer
This black-and-white loafer technically sits in the men's section, but the shoe is definitely trending for SS25, with preppy leather styles, as well as butter-soft suede, everywhere you look on Instagram. These are G.H. Bass, a leather brand that makes the best loafers in the business (in my humble opinion).
The Utility Jacket
The John Lewis buying team is constantly adding brands to its roster and, for spring, it's debuting S.S. Daley. The Harry Styles-backed label has dressed the likes of Emma Corrin, Sebastian Croft and Golda Rosheuvel, all of whom sat front row at the designer's last show at London Fashion Week, and now you, too, can get the look. The Utility Jacket, a relaxed workman-style jacket with a single row of buttons and contrast placket, is a thing of beauty that will definitely stand the test of time in your wardrobe.
The Tassel Shoe
It's too cold now to contemplate bare shoes (perish the thought!), but, come April, you'd hope that your pedicure might, just might, be able to see the light of day. For its sophomore outing with John Lewis, AWAKE Mode suggests not only a sandal but a tasseled sandal in a tantalising shade of key lime pie. Launching 3 April, it's never too early to start filing and painting.
Natalie Hammond is Grazia’s Senior Fashion News Editor. She loves winter, hates summer and can often be found writing about the weather (and what on earth to wear).