How do you choose clothes at Cos (cut/shape)?

[JessicaRaah]

I can identify the cuts that suit me in other shops but their cuts are so different than what im used to. I know i can use Klarna payments and order loads of stuff, but returning is such a pain.

Just wondered if someone has any tips when it comes to getting the right cut/shape at Cos? Thanks.

[Bezalelle]

You go in, look for anything that doesn't resemble the attire of a dystopian dictator, and then swiftly leave!

[JessicaRaah]

[JessicaRaah]

It's alright forget my question I have found my answer.

[ilovecherries]

I like CoS but I think if you are buying for the first time, their website is crap and it’s really hard to know what stuff will look like. I think with this one, I’d wait till things are more normal!

[Jakadaal]

I love their Knitwear especially the merino wool jumpers

[MayFayner]

I like Cos in real life but the website does not entice me to buy.

[ZaraW]

I've been shopping at COS for ten years so don't really have issues shopping on the website. Tops are usually huge and I go one or two sizes down. Slim fit trousers and those without elastic true to size. Those with elastic waist size down.

I love their cotton knitwear.

[Charlierocks111]

It took me a few times to get the hang of Cos styling. Agree to size down tops and dresses. Trousers true to size. If I buy online I tend to buy two of everything as the sizes can vary. I avoid anything that says voluminous as they don’t suit my shape (even though I’m tallish and slim). I love Cos and their clothes last for ages!

[DidoLamenting]

I love Cos but I think it would be very difficult to buy online. Firstly the sizes are very erratic. I'm probably genuinely a 14. Most of my Cos dresses are 14 apart from 2 18s.

Secondly I don't think pictures give an accurate representation of what clothes will look like in real life.

I think this is a shop where you have to try it in real life.

[DidoLamenting]

Agree to size down tops and dresses

Except I've got dresses at my real size 14 and others at 18!

[Wincarnis]

Tops are usually quite generous, as are the coats. Trousers I have found true to size, dresses can vary. The clothes are very good quality.

[habibihabibi]

I have broad shoulders and long arms and cos is one of the few places that has tops/dresses that fit properly. Probably no good for small upper body types.
Ditto for shorter people. I am 5'11 with 36 inside leg and the trousers are perfect.
I think the concept is more for tall northern European bulid.

[jcurve]

^ the only caveat I’d made to that is that I often don’t find COS good as a long armed, broad shouldered person as the rib cage/waists are often huge & I end up looking like the Hulk.

OP, Coronavirus is not the time to try COS online. Even on the rack it can bamboozle me. Save this one for a post lockdown blowout.

[DianaT1969]

Just to add that I'm not the typical tall, lean COS shape, but I love everything I bought there. My two most flattering dresses are from there and the quality is great.

[CountFosco]

I've never been to a shop but I do tend to spend a fortune on the website and then only get one or two things. The quality of the clothes is generally excellent and when you get something that fits it is wonderful.

I'm a short hourglass. So, I buy skirts or dresses that look indecently short on their giraffe-like models, they tend to be a good length on me. Their fitted dresses are excellent, they tend to have quite a high waist so fit well on the upper torso of someone short, I've never had the gaping at the back you get if the waist on a dress is too low for my shape. I do best with their clothes that look very plain and simple and have to avoid the cool asymmetric stuff because it completely drowns me. And I avoid their crew necks because they tend to be really high and unflattering for me. And big baggy tshirt dresses are always worn with a belt.

[DianaT1969]

I also love their shoes and accessories.

[Floisme]

I did a u-turn over Cos live on Mumsnet and I'm a big fan now, A lot of the clothes are perfectly normal but I still wouldn't shop with them online - sorry op.
Maybe this will make them realise that they need to sort out their website. There's no excuse for it being so shit - it's not like they're a small startup.

[peaceanddove]

So if I'm generally a small 14/large 12 in places like M&S what size would I be in Cos?

[DidoLamenting]

The thing about Cos website is it must be only online retailer where you have a pretty good chance that the clothes will look better on you than on the models. They use astonishingly unflattering poses and pictures.

[Floisme]

It has to be deliberate. I think they like to exude this 'too cool for fashion' vibe.

I would help you if I could peaceandlove but their sizing is a mystery to me.

[Floisme]

peaceanddove - sorry!

[ChainsawBear]

I think you have to have already got the feel for their sizing in store, tbh. Sorry! From having done that, I know that I size down in tops and anything not made fitted, that trouser waists are pleasingly snug which suits hourglass me, and anything notably cropped or mini by their standards will be about the right length on me. You can also sort of get a feeling for how things might fall on a normal person rather than in the insane website styling. But I guess you could always just order several things and give it your best shot.

Oh, and the ugliness of the styling on the website is definitely a deliberate, too-cool-for-school style choice. Their #cosbyyou feed gives a much better idea of what stuff looks like on.

[ChainsawBear]

I would find it very hard to say on sizing. I am a petite hourglass 8 - I buy 8 or XS from them generally. Trousers fit very well around waist and hips in an 8 but run long so I usually only buy cropped styles. Oversized-type garments I buy XS and even then there is a risk it will just drown me.

[DidoLamenting]

The "too cool" vibe is weird. Cos shop assistants are lovely. The shops cater for all ages and the clothes are comfortable and easy to wear.

Possibly it's some sort of inverted snobbery as "comfortable and easy to wear" isn't a huge selling point and they want to keep that quiet for fear of putting off shoppers like me?

[JessicaRaah]

Hi thanks everyone i read all your replies. I actually like the website. My order arrived unfortunately the sizing was all over the place so returning everything 😔

Very true about quality, loved the fabrics. I think i wont order again til i can physically get to a cos store. Thank you all.