After weeks of waiting, the big moment has finally arrived. No, not Christmas — although for fans of boundary-pushing fashion designer Glenn Martens, this comes close.
The Belgian star’s hotly anticipated collab with high street heavyweight H&M dropped today (October 30), and while we’ve seen sneak peeks of the collection online, the full range has been under wraps — until now.
It’s been worth the wait. The collab, which offers Martens’ flavour at affordable prices, democratises fashion beyond the RRP. Many of the menswear, womenswear, unisex and accessory pieces take H&M’s archival bestsellers — think tees, checked shirts, bomber jackets — and transform them into new styles through the addition of foil and clever wiring. It means you can wear the clothes as you like, rather than them wearing you.
Sizes are refreshingly inclusive too, with many options running to 2XL or size 24, meaning the collab can be enjoyed by more fashion lovers.
The vision was brought to life through a fabulous ‘family portrait’ ad campaign, led by actors Joanna Lumley and Richard E. Grant, full of distinctly British humor and idiosyncrasies.
“It was great fun to be a part of Glen Martens’ and H&M’s special family portrait”, said Lumley. “I always say that the best fashion is rule-breaking — people should wear whatever they want to wear — and I admire Glen’s daring spirit and eye for twisting things in unusual ways”.
Meanwhile, Grant said, “I love the spirit of the collection — everyone can wear it in their own way and bring out their personality. The shoot was a riot! I enjoyed playing the patriarch of this stylish yet motley crew!”
Now it’s time for the rest of us to get involved. The collection is live — but who knows how long the best pieces will be around for?
I’ve earmarked my favourites: bag them before they sell out.
Shop now
Glenn Martens H&M Wool-Blend Coat
If you’re hoping Martens brought the drama with this collab, your wishes have been granted. This tailored-looking wool blend coat finishes with an asymmetric hemline, designed with flutter around your calves as you stride around town.
Available in sizes: XS - 2XL.
Buy now £229.99, H&M
Glenn Martens H&M Ribbed Vest Top
The basic white vest gets a Martens makeover with a spaghetti strap insert that makes staying up look like a magic trick and shaped cups. You’ll see it at 3am on dancefloors across the country every night. It comes in black too.
Buy now £27.99, H&M
Glenn Martens H&M Printed satin dress
The cut of this dress is the unsung hero of this piece, outshone by the lace trompe l’œil print that undoubtedly steals the show. The shoulders feature the same invisible straps as the vest tops — are they there, or is the maxi staying up by itself? Long enough to pair with stompy boots.
Available up to size 24.
Buy now £74.99, H&M
Glenn Martens H&M Thigh-high denim boots
Power boots, taken to a whole new dimension. Made from rigid, washed-looking denim, with internal leather shafts to keep them stable around the calves, this is footwear designed to cause commotion. Looking forward to seeing how they fare on the tube.
Get them in sizes 3 - 8.
Buy now £379.99, H&M
Glenn Martens H&M Printed satin skirt
Tartan is having a moment, but Martens gives it a fresh spin with this maxi satin-like skirt finished with a statement trompe l’œil. It comes unlined, so you can pair it with jeans to lean into seasonal trends.
Buy now £54.99, H&M
Glenn Martens H&M Wool-blend blazer
Oversized and made with a layer of mouldable foil on the front and wire boning on every edge, this blazer can be worn straight up or with a twist, depending on your mood of the day. The unisex piece comes in XS - 2XL.
Buy now £189.99, H&M
