EDIT: the best of H&M’s debut Studio Collection

H&M is one of those rare organisations who don’t do anything knowingly badly. Respect to the way they work with their factories in Bangladesh, their global recycling program, and that they are the biggest users of organic cotton in the world. When they launched their debut H&M Studio collection for Autumn, “a limited edition collection full of the hottest looks and statement pieces created by a core design team within H&M,” and did it in during Paris Fashion week with an especially starry A-List front row, I was initially skeptical. Would H&M’s designers, normally restricted to designing vests, or creating variations on the same pair of jeans, have what it takes to create an exciting and desirable fashion collection for cash strapped stylistas, rather than create yet more affordable everyday garments?

Done well, a limited edition premium high street collection is massively useful to the fashion lover with finite funds. I’m all for them, and think we should seek them out at every opportunity. The quality is always higher than standard high street clothes, and more often than not the collection is more exclusive than a designer range because the retailer will only do one smallish production run. I hit up Topshop’s catwalk collection Unique for a couple of pieces each season because all my spare cash is still going on my new house which only last week turned into a colander in the torrential rain. The new Unique range goes in store Thursday (look out for our Edit on FEAL this Wednesday), as does this collection from H&M.

This Studio Collection from H&M demonstrates that their core design team do indeed have their fashion spurs firmly in place. They nailed what have become the comment worthy items of the new season way back in March; like an asymmetric camisole dress (think Kate Moss in the 90s), a shaggy teddy fur jacket (it is the season to be a Fraggle) a long, light kaftan-y dress, short tunic dress and dressing-gown coat. The snacky range also bobs around genres and will fill gaps you didn’t know you had, like for red knee high boots, red PVC biker jeans, a brown leather cagoul (trust me) and a sequinned tunic dress; pieces that are new-looking, fashionable and yet still useful for everyday.

If you want to update your wardrobe for the new season with one or two pieces, you can’t really go wrong with this range which I’ve edited down to the most directional pieces here. My advice is to go straight for the aviator jacket or Art Deco sequin top, pieces you can wear for years and years, rather than the short-attention-span two months shelf-life the fashion bosses might prefer.