What’s new in fashion right now

Fashion moves fast and the noise is relentless. New collabs every week, limited drops that sell out in minutes, launches announced with a lot of hype. Here's what our editors are actually excited about, and how to shop it without losing your mind.

Designer x high street

The big collabs are still the best way to own a designer piece for high street money. H&M designer drops cause queues for a reason. Uniqlo collaborations, like Uniqlo : C with Clare Waight Keller, are quieter but often better made. Set a reminder, know your size and shop online the moment it goes live.

Brand launches

The high street keeps raising its game with premium lines. Arket capsules and Mango Selection use better fabrics and sharper cuts than the main ranges, at a fraction of designer prices. Worth checking every few weeks.

Trainer drops

Sneaker collaborations remain huge. The Adidas designer collabs and slim, retro silhouettes are the ones to watch. END. runs raffles for the most limited pairs, which is fairer than refreshing a page at 8am. Never pay resale prices for a trainer you'll actually wear in the rain.

Resale goes mainstream

The newest thing in fashion is often something old. Vinted and Vestiaire Collective have made second-hand the first place many people look. More brands now run their own resale and repair schemes too, which is genuinely good news.

How to avoid the hype

Ask one question before you buy anything limited: would you want this if nobody else did? If the answer is yes, go for it. If you're only excited because it might sell out, let it go. There will always be another drop next week.

Our edit below rounds up the new pieces we think are worth your attention right now.

Beauty launches worth the hype

Beauty moves even faster than fashion. A new lip product seems to arrive every Tuesday. The launches that last tend to come from brands that fix one problem well. rhode's Peptide Lip Tint sold out again and again because it is a genuinely good balm with a sheer wash of colour, not because of the phone case. Merit's Flush Balm is the cream blush for people who don't like cream blush. Both are under £35, both live in handbags for months rather than days, and Space NK stocks plenty of the newer names if you want to swatch first.

The return of the department store

Selfridges, Liberty and Harvey Nichols have stopped trying to compete with websites and started giving you reasons to visit. Pop-ups, repair services and personal shopping that doesn't require a black card. Liberty's beauty hall is still the best place in London to try a fragrance properly before committing to a full bottle. If you have a free afternoon, it beats scrolling.

The collabs we'd skip

Not every partnership earns its press release. Be wary of the collab that is basically the brand's standard range with a second logo stitched on and a 40% mark-up. The same goes for celebrity capsules that arrive with a big launch party and vanish from conversation within a month. If the clothes wouldn't tempt you without the famous name on the label, keep your money.

When to buy, when to wait

Most new-season stock is discounted within eight to ten weeks, particularly anything in a bold colour or an unusual cut. If a piece is a basic you'll wear constantly, buy it now and enjoy it. If it's a trend piece you're only fairly sure about, put it in your basket and leave it there. Prices drop, sizes come back and, quite often, the urge passes. That's money saved and space in the wardrobe for the next thing you actually love.

It also pays to sign up to the newsletters of the brands you buy from most. Early access and private sale codes go out there first, and our discounts page rounds up the live codes every week.