Since the release of Annie Liebowitz’s new shots for Marks & Spencer’s autumn 2013 campaign, a lot has been said about its eclectic cast of models. Hollywood royalty such as Mirren aside, who are they, and why have M&S chosen them to represent the iconic brand? You know it wasn’t just thrown together, right? 

Here’s our breakdown of who’s who, and how we think M&S wants each face to lure you… 

 

1 – Katie Piper
Who’s she? TV presenter and founder of the Katie Piper Foundation, a charity supporting people who like Katie, who was the victim of an acid attack, have suffered burns and other disfigurements. 

What she’s saying: via their Plan A campaign, M&S support numerous charity endeavours, including Forever Fish, to see that the sea’s stocks aren’t depleted, and Sustainable Suit, which produces this key item in the most eco-friendly way possible, so to have someone on board so focussed on ethical endeavours, makes sense.  

2 - Monica Ali
Who’s she? Man Booker Prize winning author of Brick Lane and Alentejo Blue.

What she’s saying: Ali’s most famous novel, Brick Lane is a key component in telling the tale of our country’s diverse culture, and as a bastion of modern Britishness, M&S would undoubtedly want that to be part of their story too. 

3 -Tracy Emin
Who’s she? A key figure in the Young British Artist movement and Turner Prize winner. 

What she’s saying: Emin’s infamy mean’s she’s as ubiquitous with the idea of the ‘British Woman’ as the WI, but like, way cooler. As a brand looking to outfit said ‘British Woman’,  Emin is a pretty credible one for M&S to associate themselves with. 

4 – Karen Elson
Who’s she? World-famous model.

What she’s saying: This season alone Elson stars in a campaign for Louis Vuitton , and her magazine covers and editorials are too extensive to even list, so there’s no doubt that she’s a top fashion ticket for M&S. Face it, if Elson’s wearing something, there’s no denying its cool-level. 

5 – Grace Coddington
Who’s she? Creative Director of US Vogue.

What she’s saying: As well as having a starring role in creating one of the world’s top fashion publications, she was a model in the 60s, so it’s not just the fact that she has an uncannily similar look to Elson that means she ticks a lot of the same boxes as her younger red-head doppelganger, while being more relatable to M&S’s older customer. 

6 – Helen Allen
Who’s she? Award-winning nurse and AIDS charity pioneer. 

What she’s saying: like Piper, Allen’s charity credentials are off the scale, and her inclusion in the campaign helps with M&S’s endeavour to raise ethical awareness. 

7 – Nicola Adams
Who’s she? Became the first ever female boxer to win an Olympic gold medal, during London 2012.

What she’s saying: What brand wouldn’t want their clothes to be associated with powerful women, and you don’t get more powerful than a woman who’s won gold for fighting her way to the top.

8 – Helen Mirren
Who’s she? Like, duh. 

What she’s saying: Everyone loves Helen Mirren – she’s familiar, endearing, and quintessential British. Just like M&S

9 – Laura Mvula
Who’s she? Brit Award nominated singer-songwriter. 

What she’s saying: fashion and music have long been associated, and Mvula’s credibility more than rubs off on M&S.

10 – Ellie Goulding
Who’s she? Singer-songwriter topping numerous festival bills this summer.

What she’s saying: where Mvula lures in the Radio 2 crowd on a music tip, Ellie Goulding, who appeared at V Festival this weekend, speaks to a younger audience, who will no doubt be keen to snap up some of M&S’s more fashion forward pieces.