M&s reveals its very chic 2018 collection

* HIGH STREET MECCA IS SET TO IMPRESS SHOPPERS WITH ITS CHIC NEW COLLECTION * THE NEW SPRING/SUMMER 18 RANGE ISN'T AVAILABLE UNTIL FEBRUARY  * RANGE, FULL OF BOHEMIAN DRESSES, IS

ALREADY CAUSING A STIR ON SOCIAL MEDIA  * COMES AFTER CONSTELLATION DRESS SOLD EVERY 90 SECONDS LAST MONTH  By BIANCA LONDON FOR MAILONLINE Published: 06:23 EDT, 15 November 2017 | Updated:

18:28 EDT, 15 November 2017 From the Alexa Chung-approved suede skirt to its sell-out constellation dress, M&S has a knack for releasing sartorial hits. And it seems that the high street

Mecca is set to impress shoppers once more with its chic new collection. The new Spring/Summer 18 range isn't available until February but is already causing a stir on social media

after the store released the first images of the collection. The store is known for nailing outerwear and next season looks set to be no exception with a Burberry-esque beige trench coat

with statement puffed sleeves for £89 getting fashion fans excited on Instagram. The £259 reversible khaki leather jacket is the most expensive item on rails and set to be a coveted piece,

with Style Director Belinda Earl ­saying the customer 'sees the value in it'. The item, which fashion editors have praised on social media, looks set to follow in the footsteps of

other sell-out items, such as the suede skirt, fluted sleeve jumper and navy star print dress, which was selling at a rate of one every 90 second last month.  Elsewhere in the collection,

dress and blouses are emblazoned with botanical prints and muted blooms and trousers and coats come in earthy hues.  There's plenty of billowing layers and feminine dresses, as well as

asymmetric hemlines.    The new collection has been unveiled just weeks after Marks and Spencer’s clothing chief quit just weeks ahead of the crucial Christmas trading period. Retail veteran

Jo Jenkins, director of M&S’s clothing and beauty division, is to leave the retailer to become chief executive of lifestyle brand White Stuff. Her departure will be seen as a setback

for M&S boss Steve Rowe, who has made turning around the ailing womenswear division a priority. This month, he drafted in former Halfords chief executive Jill McDonald as managing

director of clothing, home and beauty to lead the turnaround. Her departure will leave Rowe and McDonald with a hole to fill as they seek to win back shoppers amid fierce competition.

Clothing has long been a problem for the company, which has seen sales in its general merchandise division fall five years in a row amid criticism of its fashion ranges. The firm, which

scrapped 27 promotions, was given a glimmer of hope over the summer after weaning shoppers off sales, fuelling a 7 per cent growth in clothing sold at full price. THE M&S DRESS THAT

BROKE THE INTERNET In September, the £45 Constellation Print Long Sleeve Midi Dress championed by fashion bloggers sold out immediately in every single size. As soon as more were released

online, they sold out in seconds. A second batch of the dress was released earlier this month - and the dresses went on to sell one every 90 seconds. It's not the first time the brand

has whipped up a shopping frenzy with a must-have item that's quickly flown off the shelves. A £199 '70s suede skirt sold out several times after it was seen on socialites Alexa

Chung and Olivia Palermo. Hailed as the must-have piece of summer 2015, the £199 piece was pre-ordered by thousands and sold out several times over.  But now analysts fear the departure of

Jenkins will undo recent progress. Connor Campbell, analyst at Spreadex, said: ‘Going into Christmas, this isn’t a good sign. He added: ‘It seems like M&S is struggling to find something

that sticks in the clothing division and finding it difficult to turn around its image as a slightly older-aimed clothing company.’ M&S downplayed the departure, saying it ‘won’t leave

us with a gaping hole.’ It is understood Jenkins will stay with M&S for a ‘couple of months’ as she serves out her notice period. Jenkins began her career as a range selector at M&S

in 1987, before serving 15 years as Next’s womenswear product director. She returned to M&S in 2013 as director of lingerie and beauty, and was promoted to director of womenswear,

lingerie and beauty two years later. M&S said: ‘We’re delighted for Jo. Becoming chief executive at a company like White Stuff is a natural next step for her. We wish her all the very

best with her new role.’  MARKS & SPENCER SPEEDS UP CLOSURE OF 100 STORES AND CLOTHING DEPARTMENTS AFTER PROFITS FALL 5% IN FIRST HALF OF THE FINANCIAL YEAR Marks & Spencer is to

accelerate the closure of 100 stores or departments selling clothes and products for the home. The move comes as part of a bid to cut costs, shut underperforming outlets and encourage a

shift to shopping online. M&S is also planning to slow down the opening of new Simply Food outlets and offer more value products amid evidence that families are struggling to pay premium

prices. Details emerged as M&S revealed that profits in the first half of the financial year fell 5.3 per cent to £219.1 million. It hopes the crucial Christmas period, together with a

marketing campaign and TV commercial featuring Paddington Bear, will lead to a rebound. The company had previously announced that it would close around 100 underperforming clothing and home

stores or departments as part of a turnaround plan. Six stores have already closed. At least another 24 will close outright and 30 others will be relocated. Some 45 will be downsized –

taking out clothing and home merchandise.          BurberryAlexa Chung