Designer and high-street collaborations might have been one of the fashion sensations of the Noughties

Designer and high-street collaborations might have been one of the fashion sensations of the Noughties, but they've stayed firmly on our shopping lists into the new decade. The next couple of days will see the launch of two big-hitting double acts – a capsule collection by Valentino for Gap launches in Milan today and in London on the 27 November, while Lanvin for H&M arrives worldwide on the 23rd.

These are just two of numerous designer collaborations around this season. Like those other Noughties sensations – Uggs and skinny jeans – they're still here. According to Charlotte Woods, at the retail analyst Verdict: "Well-executed collections with high-profile individuals still hold substantial pull."

It's hardly surprising, really. What's not to like about the chance to buy clothes with some designer flair at affordable prices? However, what has changed is that consumers have become more discerning and are no longer impressed by celebrity collaborations passed off as credible design. We're increasingly familiar with the names of the head designers or the houses originated a trend and we want integrity.

The unlikely pairing that is Valentino and Gap is likely to intrigue. Gap is known for preppy basics, Valentino for classically feminine clothes, ruffles and showstopping red dresses. Aficionados will know that the house's founder Valentino Garavani retired in 2008 and the label is now designed by Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli.