I Just Snuck Into H&M's Showroom to Try the New Collection—Here's What I Loved

There are a few perks to being a fashion editor, I must admit. One of them is that we get to go behind the scenes at brand HQs and get a sneak peek of new-in products, often before they’ve even hit the shop floor. Whether it’s for re-sees of runway collections, press days showcasing next season’s garms or just popping in to high-street showrooms to get a closer look at the latest pieces about to drop. So when news reached the Who What Wear UK team that H&M was about to release its new spring collection any day, we called on our connections and asked if we could get a sneaky look at the pieces in question beforehand. We take our responsibility for reporting back to you on the best pieces to buy very seriously, after all. 

And that’s how I ended up popping in to the rather beautiful (the perks of having H&M Home on tap) new H&M showroom behind a busy Oxford Street one lunch break last week to try on as many of the new styles as I could get my hands on.

I'm wearing a brand-new crochet lace set that's coming soon. 

Turns out the collection was as good as we’d heard. Think plenty of expensive-looking, relaxed tailoring to see you through this transitional time of year, as well as some gorgeous dresses and warm-weather pieces that got us seriously excited for the summer ahead. 

As a dress-avoiding minimalist, I wouldn’t have necessarily picked out the floaty styles, lace and pops of colour that feature in this new drop. (Give me that beige blazer any day, though.) But I’m so glad I had the opportunity to try them (for research purposes, of course), as I was actually really impressed. This maxi dress, in particular, was so good it almost made me want to fly to Bali for a wedding and "accidentally” miss the plane home. Trust me; you'll understand once you try it too. 

So whether you’re heading to far-off climes this year, planning on attending all those postponed weddings Victoria Beckham–style or simply looking to take on spring and summer in the city, below you’ll see the 11 new-in H&M products I thought were the most impressive. Most of the collection has only just gone live, with some pieces even selling out already. Let that be a lesson to us all. Keep scrolling to see and shop.

1. Lace-Trimmed Maxi Dress + Braided Leather Mules

I could totally see myself wearing this to a summer wedding this year or even just with bare feet on a beach (a girl can dream). For reference, I'm only 5'2", so if you're taller, this would be slightly less floor-skimming. 

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2. Lace-Detail Satin Dress

Another beautiful, floaty number. It was the rich tangerine colour (the shade of the season) that really sold this to me, though.

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3. Oversized Twill Suit

I honestly can't get over how expensive this suit looks and feels. The oversized cut could easily pass for something The Frankie Shop would do—just with a more accessible high-street price. 

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4. Tie-Detail Dress

One more versatile dress that could see you through summer events and holidays for years to come. Full disclosure: This is a size 12, and I'm usually an 8 in dresses—hence it looks so slouchy on me—but the back actually has adjustable ties, which is great news if you're in between sizes or need to adjust it for your bust. This also comes in extended sizes. 

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5. Leather Pull-On Shorts

Okay, this is more within my minimalist comfort zone. These leather shorts have proven so popular the white has already sold out online, but the navy is still available, and you can bet we'll be keeping an eye out for restocks. I've paired them with the blazer above for the perfect summer office look. 

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6. Voluminous Embroidery-Detail Dress

Basically a mini version of the first dress above in a creamy, similarly billowy fabric. Comfy but still polished thanks to the embroidered sleeve detailing, this is a really easy throw-on style I'd wear with chunky sandals all summer long. 

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7. Linen-Blend Tailored Suit

Sleek tailoring seems to be H&M's strong point this season. This linen suit is another piece that feels much more expensive than it is. The blazer comes up quite oversized and long in length (especially on my petite frame), but the trousers are true to size, in case it helps when ordering. 

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8. Crinkled Chiffon Dress

I fell in love with this crinkled dress as soon as it landed online recently, and I just had to try it when I spotted it hanging in the showroom. It certainly didn't disappoint and I ordered it instantly for all the weddings I'm attending this year. This colour is still available in stores, but I'm also seriously tempted by the very chic chocolate-brown version below, which is probably more versatile since it would also work for autumn/winter weddings and events. 

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9. Oversized T-Shirt + Knitted Pencil Skirt

Sure, you have to be brave to wear an unlined crochet skirt around London—or anywhere, really—but I was surprisingly won over by this piece. You might want to add a slip if you're planning any family meet-ups, but just a bikini will do when you're moving from beach to bar.

We all know H&M does basics really well, and this crochet-pocket T-shirt is a great little nod to spring paired with jeans right now as well. 

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Up Next: The 9 Most Expensive-Looking Pieces on the High Street This Week