On Tuesday Marks & Spencer reported a spike in sales of waistcoats made famous by England boss Gareth Southgate during the World Cup.
And ahead of the team’s semi-final against Croatia in Moscow on Wednesday night, the retailer shared a hilarious review left by a customer posing as the England boss.
The mock feedback left by a football fan under the hit item on their website – which Marks & Spencer was quick to post on its Instagram feed – quickly garnered thousands of likes and comments.
The anonymous five-star review was posted by a man who needed a waistcoat for a ‘business trip to Russia’, who said he was so impressed he ‘would bring it home again’.
Ahead of the team’s World Cup semi-final against Croatia on Wednesday night, M&S shared a hilarious review left by a customer posing as the England boss under their hit waistcoat made famous by Gareth Southgate
It reads: ‘Was starting a new job and needed an outfit for a business trip to Russia.’
Alluding to Gareth’s famous waistcoat, tie and shirt combo it continues: ‘Goes with everything, but I tend to wear it with a pale blue shirt and natty striped tie.
‘Mud, blood, sweat and tears all wipe off easily, so no fancy dry cleaning required!’
It concludes: ‘It’s no overstatement to say this waistcoat makes me feel whole again. 10/10 would bring it home again.’
The post shared to Instagram garnered almost 10,000 likes, with one follower commenting: ‘Bring it home Gareth. And the waistcoat too.’
The mock-feedback left by a football fan under the hit item on their website and then shared to their Instagram account quickly garnered thousands of likes and comments
The retailer, which has been official tailor to the England football team since 2007, revealed it’s been rushing to keep up with demand after initially selling out of the smart £65 garment altogether when sales doubled
Another added: ‘Best review ever!’, while one wrote: ‘Brilliant, this made my day!’.
This come after the high street favourite revealed it had to restock its stores with waistcoats as football fans rush to emulate England boss Gareth Southgate ahead of the team’s first World Cup semi-final in nearly 30 years.
The manager has emerged as a national hero from England’s thus far successful campaign in Russia, and his popularity is now such that sales of waistcoats like the one he famously sports on the touchline at games have spiked dramatically.
The post shared to Instagram garnered almost 10,000 likes, with one follower commenting: ‘Bring it home Gareth. And the waistcoat too.’
The retailer, which has been official tailor to the England football team since 2007, revealed it’s been rushing to keep up with demand after initially selling out of the smart £65 garment altogether when sales doubled.
It’s now available again in some stores in limited sizes, but disappointed shoppers have still been venting their frustration on social media after failing to find one that fit.
England face off against Croatia in Moscow at 7pm GMT on Wednesday night, after sailing through a quarter-final clash with Sweden 2-0.
M&S has caused a shopping frenzy after their popular waistcoat momentarily sold out following Gareth Southgate’s appearance in the hit item at the start of England’s run to the world cup semi-final
Gareth became an unlikely style icon after donning the tailored navy waistcoat during all of England’s World Cup matches this season, and M&S reported an inital 35 per cent spike in sales.
Southgate’s signature style has even inspired a charity drive, which is aiming to use the match tomorrow to help raise funds for the blood cancer charity Bloodwise, by encouraging people to dress like Gareth to cheer on the Three Lions against Croatia, and making a donation to show their support for the charity too.
When contacted by Femail, M&S revealed they were restocking the item in slim fit.
The retailer, who have been the official tailors for England’s football team since 2007, have since restocked the £65 item, however it is still sold out in a range of sizes after they reported a staggering doubling in sales
An M&S spokesperson said: ‘Gareth’s sideline style has meant our waistcoats are really scoring with our customers with sales doubling since the World Cup began.
‘We’ve got enough different styles in stock for everyone to show their support for the boys on #waistcoatwednesday.’
Wednesday sees football fans across the nation don waistcoats in aid of ‘Waistcoat Wednesday’ as they watch the highly anticipated match.
Gemma Peters, chief executive of Bloodwise, said: ‘As the whole country is gripped by football fever, and with Gareth’s waistcoat-wearing having elevated him to the level of footballing fashionista, we thought that urging people to wear waistcoats on Wednesday would be a way of getting behind the boys at the same as raising money for a good cause’.
Waistcoat Wednesday’ aims to raise funds for blood cancer charity Bloodwise, and coincides with England’s semi-final game against Croatia