Cult suede skirt lifts M&S clothing sales

London

MARKS & Spencer Group plc said its long-awaited return to clothing sales growth was partly down to a new suede skirt - that hasn't even gone on sale yet.

The UK retailer wooed the fashion world in February, as style icons Alexa Chung and Olivia Palermo were photographed wearing the £199 (S$401) item at New York Fashion Week. The resulting discussion on social media helped drive more shoppers to the Marks & Spencer website, according to the company.