LINGERIE UPDATE:
NOTHING NEUTRAL ABOUT IT
Introducing our latest lingerie, now in even more colours, styles and sizes. Nothing Neutral About It is all about choice, confidence and having the freedom to complement or contrast your individual skin tone in a way that suits your personal style
You’re in control
From smoothing T-shirt bras to beautiful silk knickers, our expanded range of neutral lingerie is all about more colours, more styles and more choice. Soozie Jenkinson, head of lingerie design at M&S, says, “Each piece is designed so that you can either complement your skin tone or choose to contrast. Neutrals are very on trend right now. Every woman is different, and these ranges are all about providing a beautiful and broad range from which you can decide how to wear these gorgeous tones.”
We developed the range in collaboration with our colleague-run Culture & Heritage Network to ensure diversity of thoughts and ideas from the earliest stages. “Nothing Neutral About It celebrates underwear that can be worn seamlessly, without impacting the structure of clothing worn on top,” says Diana Mukundagiri, senior email manager and Culture & Heritage Network member. “Each piece can match my skin tone, but also match neutral clothing to be completely invisible. I love a neutral clothing palette and mixing various shades of neutrals together. For me, the model selection was very important to demonstrate the diverse range of bodies and ages as well as being open with so-called beauty flaws. Each model really demonstrates individuality and the beauty of different shapes and sizes.”
Why wear neutrals?
Audrey Vincent, online trading manager for brands at M&S and member of the Network, also played a key part: “It was liberating to be able to speak freely about our concerns and needs when it comes to lingerie,” she says. “I like to have a lingerie wardrobe that complements my figure and works with my style. This means invisible lingerie under white shirts, so it needs to be as close to my skin tone as possible. I also like a pretty strap, as it may be visible under sleeveless tops in the summer, so I will choose a shade with undertones that align with my skin tone – similar to choosing a lipstick shade.”
“The naming of each colour took a lot of time to develop, with multiple rounds to find words that cherish and celebrate the variety of shades,” reveals Diana. “It was very interesting researching colour-naming conventions and identifying that within the industry there is a real bias.”
Audrey adds, “I did my best to bring multicultural considerations to the table, not only thinking about the colour names but also their meaning and associations in other languages and cultures.” Across our Flexifit™, Rosie, Wild Blooms, and T-shirt bra collections, you’ll find pieces in opaline, rose quartz, rich amber, topaz and rich quartz, all with coordinating knickers to match.
Discover Wild Blooms
We don’t subscribe to the idea of saving nice things for ‘best’, so we make sure even our most sumptuous styles are super comfy too. Take this delicate lace set from our bestselling Wild Blooms collection, for example – once it’s on, it’s so soft you’ll forget you’re wearing it. “Wild Blooms is one of our customers’ favourite bra styles,” says Soozie. “The combination of matt and shine fabric with gorgeous textured lace creates a modern yet feminine aesthetic, while emulating the wild blooms that inspired their namesake. The non-padded bra gives great support and fit for everyday wear, even up to an H cup.” There are also plenty of pretty matching knickers – from bikini to full brief – to finish the look.
Flexifit™: lingerie that moves with you
Designed to be invisible under lightweight, semi-sheer or white tops and trousers, nude-coloured underwear is a sure-fire way to feel confident in any outfit. Plus, who doesn’t long for one less decision to make in the morning? For the ultimate in no-show lingerie, look to our ultra-comfortable Flexifit™ range. “Flexifit™ fabrics are developed exclusively for our lingerie and are designed to have all-round 360-degree stretch for incredible comfort,” says Soozie.
This wire-free crop top, one of Audrey’s favourite pieces, offers full-cup support so it’s ideal for those with larger busts, while the seam-free Cool Comfort™ shorts are designed with extra stretch to ensure comfort on every figure. “The bra feels as if it’s a second skin. It’s wire- and seam-free, breathable, stretchy and supportive even in an F+ cup! I simply forget I have it on,” she says.
Rosie Exclusively for M&S lingerie
Sometimes you want that little something that adds a sense of occasion to your day. Designed in collaboration with supermodel Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, the Rosie Exclusively for M&S collection is just the thing to hit the spot. “Rosie has been involved in the creation and development of the Rosie Exclusively for M&S range since the first collection in 2012, and Nothing Neutral About It was a natural extension of the collaboration,” says Soozie. “Rosie is as passionate about the campaign as we are, and together we chose the bestselling bra and knicker shapes in luxurious silk and French-designed lace.
“What’s so incredibly special about lingerie is that it all comes down to personal choice, and that’s exactly what the campaign is all about: more colours, more styles, more choice.”
For Diana, it’s all about creating an elevated look: “I’m going to buy all the colours across the Rosie collection – they just give that extra luxury feel.” Learn more about Rosie’s latest lingerie collection to find your new favourite.
Words: Ellie Spicer
