In close, judge houses (6)
I believe the answer is:
trendy
'in' is the definition.
('in' can mean trendy or fashionable)
'close judge houses' is the wordplay.
'close' becomes 'end' (I've seen this in other clues).
'judge' becomes 'try' (as in trialling a defendant).
'houses' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'end' inserted into 'try' is 'TRENDY'.
(Other definitions for trendy that I've seen before include "all the rage" , "Voguish" , "In vogue" , "Less sensible; a dye plant" , "Cool" .)