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For a long time, Marks & Spencer label Per Una was associated with waterfall cardigans, embellished skirts and tiered dresses – straddling the line between boho and frumpy, and not always getting it right.
In my mind it was always a place for people my mum’s age to shop, not my own age group – although, to be honest, she would also turn her nose up at the majority of stuff, too.
However, my commute to work involves marching through a huge M&S store every day, and in the past few months I’ve often found my eye caught by a mannequin wearing a stylish, fabulous and – shock horror – full Per Una look.
Then, in a recent You magazine features meeting, a member of the fashion team piped up saying that Per Una has become cool now, no longer the ugly sister to its chic Autograph label but in fact developing an on-trend aesthetic in its own right. Could it possibly be true?
To find out, You magazine staff members took to the store, rifling through the Per Una rails to see if they were indeed full of covetable items we’d want to buy. Here’s our verdict…
Sophie Dearden-Howell, Fashion Director
Per Una has long been considered Marks and Spencer’s slightly frumpier in-house brand by the fashion set. If you think of Autograph as your ‘It girl’ with clean cuts, fashion-led shapes and a neutral palette, Per Una was her lilac dress-wearing aunt. Think lots of frills, florals and crochet.
However, in 2025 the boho era reigns due to designer brand Chloe’s revival under the creative direction of Chemena Kamali.
Now all things sheer, quilted and flouncy are on the fashion hit list. Suede bags, layered sheer skirts, crochet knits and a dusky pastel colour palette to die for – Per Una is absolutely nailing this look.
Suede jackets are the ultimate investment piece right now, and the above is a great example of the look. I find brown a lot softer and more flattering than black, and suede a lot more luxe and elegant than leather.
This cropped option is so flattering; it sits at the point of your body where you want definition, rather than adding unnecessary bulk to your hips.
Another thing I am a huge advocate for is leather or snake-print trousers (however, I know these can be polarising!). This style is more subtle, with warm brown tones and a gorgeous cut and finish.
As someone who isn’t hugely a boho person – I am curvy and find the flounce adds layers in places I don’t want them – I found this look so true to my own style and very fashion-led without looking naff or ‘of a time’.
Tracey Lea Sayer, Head of Channel
I have always thought Per Una has been a game of two halves. One one hand, the range is jam-packed with bog-standard clothing that’s sometimes a bit fuddy-duddy and won’t set the fashion world on fire, but then every so often… Bam!
It scores a total gem, which always knocks me for six. It’s particularly good for a nice ‘fashion folk’ sort of jacket, like Sophie’s below – perfect for those parties when you just want to wear jeans and a nice jacket.
These days, scrolling through Per Una’s ‘new in’ section, you could be fooled into thinking that you are on the Mango website.
The whole vibe is boho, with swishy tiered maxi skirts, soft suede A-line mini dresses and cute crochet jumpers. There are so many lovely, premium, fashion-forward pieces that I could even see my daughter Frankie, 22, loving.
I think the whole new Per Una collection is inspired by Isabel Marant, which is right up my street. This chunky wool-mix Fair Isle jumper with studded embellishment and these burgundy jumbo cord barrel-leg pants feel great on.
They look like they could have come straight off the Net-a-Porter website, too – but they’re a fraction of the price. I got loads of compliments in the office when I tried the look on, which is always a good thing.
Sophie Hines, Lifestyle and Digital Subscriptions Director
Traditionally I’ve associated Per Una with quite wishy-washy colours that don’t really appeal to me, but this jacket is a gorgeous, deep, rich tone and I am totally in love with it. It’s not only the gorgeous colour palette, but the finish, too. The velvet bows and subtly voluminous sleeves make it feel current and high-end.
I would never normally head to Per Una for jeans, either, but this pair felt very nice on (unrestrictive with a little stretch) and I like the wide-leg shape. At 5ft 9ins, I love Marks & Spencer for its ‘long’ jeans length, and was pleased to see this applies to the sub-brands too, which is not always the case.
Overall I’m finding myself increasingly drawn to Per Una. I know it’s been through various revamps over recent years, but the latest collections have all had at least one piece that I’m desperate to get my hands on, which shows the brand is definitely heading in the right direction.
Marianne Jones, Features Director
Recently I was taking my usual shortcut through M&S to the station when my eye was caught by something delightful. I missed my train and instead bought a cinnamon embroidered jacket that could have come from designer brand Ganni but was from the store’s Per Una range at a fraction of the price.
I always had Per Una down as cheap and not particularly cheerful – firmly in the sludge-coloured V-neck jumper category. But it has upped its game of late in terms of quality and relevance.
Its jackets and shirts are spot on – the look and feel of my ecru faux shearling jacket (above) is on a par with clothes from brands three times the price. And at £48 the cream blouse isn’t the cheapest, but is a keeper, made from the softest cotton with pretty embroidery detail on the balloon sleeves.
The chocolate skirt feels less luxe and is made from recycled polyester, but it won’t crease and has a forgiving elasticated waist – perfect for Christmas.