As 2023 draws to a close, it’s only right to look back at the things that stood out last year, from a shopping perspective of course. And if you’re a Marks & Spencer fan, you might want to find out what the high street store’s bestsellers are this year (and what gems you might be missing).
From viral scents to sequined dresses, chic scalloped lamps and effortlessly chic wide-leg trousers, this year’s M&S standout products feature across home, beauty and clothing.
As a final treat for you this year, we’ve rounded up the M&S buys you need to know about (and found out which ones are still available to buy).
M&S’s most popular products of 2023
Christmas dresses: Following the success of M&S’s Christmas fashion TV advert, which saw Hannah Waddingham, Sophie Ellis Bextor and Zawe Ashton wearing a variety of party-ready dresses, M&S sold enough party dresses to dress the entire capacity of The O2.
While Waddingham and Bextor’s dresses have long since sold out, you can still pick up the silver number Zawe Ashton wore in the Christmas advert. Complete with an elegant high neckline, long sleeves and statement lace details, this dress is absolutely stunning and almost the perfect party dress.
Shop now: Sequin Lace Midi Column Dress | £49.50
Shop now Shop M&S party wear
Christmas gift cards: The total amount of physical gift cards M&S sold at Christmas is 692 times the height of the Empire State Building.
A gift card may not be the most exciting purchase you can make, but it’s definitely a smart purchase. If you’re stumped for gift ideas or just want to buy something small, this is a great way to show someone how much you care. It’s no wonder Marks & Spencer’s gift card collection is on this list.
Shop now: M&S Gift Card | £10-£500
buy now
Christmas trees: More than 54,000 have been sold this year, reaching a total elevation of 67 kilometers (equivalent to London to Brighton). While many are currently sold out, some options are currently 30% off.
buy christmas trees
Tree decorations: In the week following M&S’s Christmas dinner advert starring Dawn French, M&S sold a fairy decoration (depicting Dawn) every one and a half minutes. While the sold-out decoration won’t be coming back to stock, M&S currently has a 30% discount on a tonne of other ornaments.
Buy Christmas decorations
Women’s wide leg pants: If you line up the wide-leg trousers that M&S has announced this year, end to end, you can follow the journey of the Trafalgar Square Christmas tree from Oslo to London. Yes, that’s a lot.
Although M&S won’t say which style is most popular, one of our top picks this year (and a new style for 2023) is this pair, which has been selling left, right and centre. A hassle-free option; Comfortable, versatile, and easy to dress, it’s available in eight (yes, eight) colors.
Shop now: Crepe Stripe Detailed Wide Leg Trousers | £39.50
Shop now Browse all wide leg trousers
Must-have household items: M&S’s Kirsten Lamp has sold out an incredible five times since its initial launch in February 2023, and there’s a reason it’s sold out so much.
Available in three gorgeous colours: Green, Blue and Dark Red, it features a fistsch edged shade and checkered base for a bit of kitsch appeal. The lampshade itself is designed with colorful stripes and its base is covered with a durable material in gold color and a flat base. It’s even been said by shoppers that it looks “much more expensive than it is” and is a “perfect addition” to their nightstands.
Shop now: Kirsten Ceramic Table Lamp | £59
buy now
Townhouse Light Candle: M&S sold 110,000 magic light candles at the rate of one every minute during peak sales. Although the popular townhouse design has long since sold out, there are still a variety of designs available for £10.
Buy lighted candles
Disney Frozen™ dress: This Elsa-inspired dress, featuring a sequined, short-sleeved bodice and ruffled neckline, sold 6,000 units. The M&S team say they’ve sold enough units to clothe the population of the magical kingdom of Arendelle 12 times over.
Shop now: Disney Frozen™ Sequin Tulle Dress (Ages 2-8) | £28
Pharmacist Temperature smell: This affordable M&S fragrance has gone viral on TikTok because it smells like a popular designer perfume, garnering millions of views and selling nearly 70,000 units. Scented with aromatic notes of cardamom, cinnamon, cedarwood and sandalwood, shoppers said they loved the “woody scent” of this perfume and that it “lasted all day” when used.
Shop now: Warmth Eau De Parfum 50ml | £10
buy now
Discover the scents: Overall, M&S’s own brand perfumes have remained bestsellers due to their expensively scented fragrances and incredibly affordable prices. In fact, M&S sold almost 100,000 liters this year; This is enough to fill a swimming pool. You can take a look at the collection here.
Shop Discovery fragrances