In the same week that Arket announced plans to debut in Ireland with its first physical store there, the brand said it would open another London store this summer.

The company will open a flagship on the King’s Road in Chelsea, joining a recent stream of openings there such as BasicNet’s K-Way label, Birkenstock (which opens on Friday this week), Penelope Chilvers, and KayaNuka. And Arket’s H&M Group stablemate, H&M, also opened on the popular shopping thoroughfare a year ago.

The Arket flagship will be the brand’s fourth store in London following previous openings on Regent Street, Covent Garden, and at Selfridges, which was the label’s very first in-store concession.

Arket MD Pernilla Wohlfahrt said London “holds a special place in our hearts after opening our very first Arket store on Regent Street in 2017. We look forward to deepening our relationship with our local customers and inviting them to explore our curated, modern-day market offering”.

As mentioned, the news comes as the brand prepares to enter Ireland and not long after it announced that it’s also to open physically in Greece for the first time this year with a debut in Athens.

H&M’s festival-ready. The global fashion brand has secured Tyla, FKA Twigs and Caroline Polachek as headline acts for its SS25 collection. With the first drop due to arrive on 20 March, the brand’s also lining up an LA festival, blending fashion and music, in April. 

H&M says the new collection’s “an ode to femininity: an intriguing exploration of moods, sensibilities and identities” so the “choice of a diverse collective of inspiring female icons” to promote the line enables H&M to assert its “strong fashion vision, and its leadership in championing exceptional design and collaboration across the music and fashion fields”.

The collection will be released in two chapters, which complement each other but offer their own unique perspective and attitude, noted H&M and together “they pay homage to the multi-faceted nature of contemporary femininity”. 

The first drop “conjures an air of ethereal Bohemia”, we’re told. It offers a fresh take on spring style, from festival dressing to city chic, “while paying homage to the icons of fashion history, with nods the sweeping blouses of iconic glam rock musicians and the fluidity and androgyny of New Romantic styling”.

H&M design director Eliana Masgalos said: “This season, we were inspired by different stages and moments of women’s lives and the richness of femininity. We wanted to offer exceptional pieces that bring energy and light. A sense of escape felt very relevant: we wanted to play with a beautiful bohemia, rock icons and festival freedom.”

She noted that heirloom-style pieces are updated with an urban and refined edge… 70s, 90s, and today all combine… The mood is carefree and yet sharply confident.” 

The collection is rich in classic rock ‘n’ roll staples, from voluminous sheer blouses through to lace-up shirting and tunics. Textural detailing includes ornate edging on collars and cuffs, intricately crocheted dresses, mini-skirts with braiding or stitch embellishments, and laser-cut pleated ruffle skirts, tiered for maximum movement.

Structured, tougher elements add balance – from a striking studded blazer to 70s multi-pocket jackets, rendered in leather.

Accessories come with a boho spirit with slouchy shoulder bags in a variety of scales and finishes, including with lace-up seams. These can be styled with snake-print slippers and waist-belts, and festival-ready biker boots.

Jewellery includes antique-style pendant necklaces, tassel earrings, chunky bangles and chokers, and rings and cuffs in both metal and resin-style materials. Pilot-style sunglasses complete the look.

And to promote a spring “filled with a sense of freedom, vitality, spirit and light”, it will be celebrated with that festival of fashion and music in Los Angeles early next month… an event that will “pay homage to the city, celebrating its dynamic relationship to cinema, sound and style”.

Value womenswear retailer Bonmarché is to open a store in High Wycombe, Bukinghamshire, on 20 March followed by a further promotional opening by its brand ambassador, TV personality Lorraine Kelly, on 28 March.

The 3,000 sq ft store in the market town’s Eden Centre marks Bonmarché’s first opening in the county and features a new store interior in which to display its full range of fashion and accessories.

Kelly’s appearance marks the second anniversary of her Bonmarché association when her ‘Lorraine Loves’ collection debuted featuring “figure-flattering styles and designs for all”.

Her popular line features alongside a new new denim collection that combine with wardrobe staples, lingerie, nightwear, everyday brand Dash, casual lifestyle brand Autonomy as well as a special selection of pieces for Mother’s Day gifting.

The openings will include special offers of limited free goody bags for the first 30 purchasers, free lucky dip prizes for the first 200 customers on both days, plus 10 ‘golden tickets’ worth £30 each hidden throughout the store on the opening day.

Brand retail director Amanda Waterfield said: This [opening] continues our investment into new stores on the high street, with now over 230 Bonmarché stores.”