After World War Two, more women than ever claimed their place in the workforce, with a whole new doctrine of office dressing to digest – we explore how they’ve worked their look through the decades
Following World War One, industrialisation boomed and there was a greater demand for ready-to-wear clothing. M&S introduced womenswear in the Thirties, including overalls for busy housewives.
During the Fifties, M&S increasingly catered for the working woman. We produced wool-crepe dresses and double-jersey tailoring that worked for both the office and as eveningwear.
More women were juggling home and office life in the Sixties. Wool-worsted skirt suits were bestsellers and M&S introduced ranges of smartly tailored two-pieces, with accessories to complete the nine-to-five look.
Up to the early Seventies, the smart shift dress was a versatile go-to, and the mini silhouette was the definitive look for young women. Thankfully for them, M&S was increasingly innovating with ladder-resistant hosiery materials and construction.
In keeping with Seventies trends, wide collars and flared trousers increasingly appeared in customers’ wardrobes. In the summer of 1970, opting for a safari-inspired tunic and trousers co-ord was a natty way to show who was boss in the style stakes.
Huge shoulder pads and TV shows ‘Dallas’- and ‘Dynasty’-inspired power dressing defined the Eighties. Other popular office looks included Victorian-style ruffled blouses, nautical-themed blazers and tailored dresses.
The masculine tailoring trend was a womenswear hit in the late Eighties and M&S enlisted renowned designers such as Betty Jackson and Bruce Oldfield as womenswear consultants. Jackets had a looser, boxier shape and skirts were straight and worn knee-length.
During the Nineties, consumers saw a welcome return to softer tailoring with less shoulder definition and a pared-back colour palette of office-ready options. The tailored jacket was often teamed with jersey separates – Eighties pearls and hairspray optional.
Our new sub-brands helped customers find a style to suit their taste and budget. Autograph launched in 2000, with input from British designers Katharine Hamnett and Julien Macdonald – think premium-quality pieces that reflected a more flexible working environment.
Today, M&S’s office-ready pieces have evolved to suit a more sartorially relaxed workplace. Whether it’s in the boardroom or the coffee shop, our modern looks reflect the dynamic roles of women.
