With a leaden sky above us and the frequent downpour of icy rain, looking forward to Next’s Christmas collection wasn’t quite the shock it should have been in July. So with that in mind, let’s take a look ahead at what Next have in store for Christmas 2012…
Next Christmas 2012 Press Day
Look, I’m going to come clean here. I’ve never been a Next shopper. I don’t think I own a single item by them – I’ve no idea why, but I’m a creature of habit, and I just never visited my local shop, opting instead for the holy trinity of Topshop, H&M and Zara. So it was with interest that I accepted the invite for the press preview Christmas 2012 collection, knowing that this would either cement my long term eschewing of the store, or would convert me into a Next shopper.
Stepping off the hot Bloomsbury street and into a cool underground room full of blue lights and Christmas trees, my eyes adjusted to the rows glittering clothes and embellished shoes, to cosy knits and delicate homewares. I got stuck in without hesitation, and the more I flicked through rows of silky shirts with studded collars, lace trimmed sheer tops, soft fake furs and tuxedo jackets, the more excited I got.
To say the collection was up my street is a massive understatement. The phrase ‘country house party’ would probably give you a good idea of how the cohesive, beautiful collection was put together. The clothes had a heritage feel, with a healthy dose of classic British eccentricity, and a touch of 60s cool. My favourite pieces included a glittery boucle mini skirt and suit jacket, the perfectly tailored shirts, the tweedy jackets and military cut of glorious coats, Russian style fake fur hats, Edie Sedgwick-esque oversized earrings, tapered cigarette pants, preppy jumpers, riding boots…Erm, as you can see, I was pretty damn bowled over by the entire thing.
I couldn’t believe I’d missed out in shopping at Next for so many years. To see the collection and feel the quality of the fabric was brilliant, and it was a treat to see such a cohesive, clever, charming high street collection. Not to wish my time away, but I can’t WAIT to get my hands on a load of these pieces. Studded heels anyone? The men’s clothing was hugely impressive too. I was delighted to see Harris Tweed being used, as well as some lovely details like elbow patches and gorgeous tartans. I scribbled down the phrase ‘country gent’ in my Moleskine notebook watching the fashion show, which sums it up perfectly.
We also got to take a peek at the homeware collection, which was an absolute winner; and the range for children. From party dresses to tiny furs to tweed jackets for the boys, the pieces are adorable. I’m unbelievably taken with the whole collection, and I’m definitely a convert. As someone who wouldn’t even really go into Next, I can safely say that I think I’d now consider queueing up to get to the clothes! The whole experience was enchanting, from the classic British vibe to the snow that fell at the end of the catwalk show. Next have a collection to be proud of, and they’ve managed to achieve the impossible from me: I’m actually looking forward to Winter.
[...] I say in my article, I’ve always eschewed Next with a firm hand. I have no idea why, but I took against it in my [...]