A luxurious gift on the highstreet: Rosie for Autograph M&S nightwear review

   If you're looking for the perfect gift this Christmas, lingerie and nightwear can be a wonderful treat to receive! Whilst lingerie is a thoughtful and personal gift, there are many pitfalls to avoid when purchasing it for someone else - factoring in both her size and taste can be a difficult task! A fantastic alternative gift idea is to buy your special lady some luxurious nightwear or sleepwear; think silks, satins, lace, demure detailing and beautiful trims. The big question is..where can you find luxury without the huge price tag? Surely you can't find it on the high street, right? Wrong!

   When I say 'M&S' to you, images of decadent, vintage-inspired silk lingerie and nightwear probably isn't the first thing that springs to mind, but prepare to be impressed (and seduced in equal measure) by the debut collection from supermodel, Rosie Huntington Whitely: 'Rosie for Autograph'. Lingerie has played a huge part in Rosie's modelling career and she is said to hold a real passion for it, making the English rose a perfect ambassador for the M&S 'Autograph' brand. Rosie states:

   "I was particularly drawn to the opulent elegance of the Twenties era which really shows in my designs from the sumptuous silks I chose to the intricate deco-inspired embroidery detailing on the garments. The palette [...] was largely influenced by the rich colours of different types of roses. From the muted tones of dusky pink and green through to dramatic scarlet blooms." (via Daily Mail)

   Rosie's collection certainly channels Great Gatsby elegance and the pieces reflect a softness and femininity that is classic, sophisticated and timeless. As the lingerie from the collection does not come in my bra size, my attention was drawn to the luxurious nightwear styles..cue delightful pure silk and cashmere pieces with lace and ribbon trims.

   The piece that caught my eye above all was the Rosie for Autograph pure silk lace wrap dressing gown in taupe (£59):

   It was an interesting choice for me as I have never really worn anything in this unusual taupe/mink shade, but I really loved the wrap-over design, lace detailing, floaty 'butterfly' sleeves, ribbon waist tie and key hole detail at the back - vintage romanticism at its best! 

   As you can see, the colour of this night gown is slightly darker than the promotional pictures, which was a welcome surprise for me as I am very pale. The quality was also very high and the 100% silk content makes this piece beautifully soft against the skin when worn.

   The design of this wrap dressing gown is gorgeous - it features an inner tie which keeps the cross-over sections in place better and the ties can be tied as tight or loose as the wearer wishes. The night gown is finished off by a silky waist ribbon tie:

   I really love the way that this dressing gown looks and feels when worn. The silk feels lightweight and it is hard not to glide around in this floaty number without feeling like an old Hollywood screen siren! The size 10 fit me nicely and it sweeps over curves and drapes beautifully to just above my ankles. (I'm 5ft10, so it would probably fall to ankle/near floor length on someone shorter) The wrap style is also very flattering to ladies with a bust and I actually found the chest area (which is made from lace with a slight stretch) to be generous - great news for those with larger busts that need extra chest room!

   I was also very impressed with the attention to detail. The main body of the gown is silk, but the bust section and sleeves are predominantly semi-sheer lace. You could either wear this gown over a night dress or alone for a more risqué (but still classy) look.. 

(Close up of a lace sleeve with slightly scalloped edging..)

   The silky waist ribbon tie helps to cinch in the waist and emphasise your feminine curves, whilst its soft sheen compliments the matte silk of the rest of the garment. The key-hole slit detail adds interest at the back of this dressing gown, revealing a peek of skin - a lovely touch indeed!

   Better still, when I checked the washing label, I was thrilled to find out that it is machine washable! (Surprising for something that has such delicate looking details, but it seems very well made.)

   I was really bowled over by how pretty this Rosie for Autograph gown was in the flesh and would really recommend it as a gift to someone else or as a treat to yourself this Christmas! It is a very versatile and flattering piece and even accomodates for a larger bust - a big 'tick' in my books. This piece would be perfect for injecting some grown up, sophisticated vintage glamour into any lady's nightwear collection. It is the kind of piece that I would love for my husband to buy me for Christmas and it looks so much more expensive than its £59 price tag - anyone would think that it was a luxury boutique piece!

   If you're looking for affordable luxury this Christmas, the Rosie for Autograph M&S nightgown is a present-perfect romantic treat that will make the recipient feel well and truly spoiled. It comes in sizes 8-22 and is selling out fast, so be quick if you want a slice of supermodel decadence under your tree this Xmas...

Click here to buy or see more of the Rosie for Autograph collection here.

Love,
Kitty xo