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Cos - who is their target market?

81 replies

Whatalie · 20/01/2014 19:38

I bought a dress in the sale at Cos. I love it and it suits me. DH loves it as it's quite fitted!! Had I seen it online on the model I would never have bought it. We then looked at the rest of their range and although some of it is lovely it just all seems quite shapeless. Quite androgynous I suppose. I just wondered who buys their clothes I suppose.

OP posts:
noddyholder · 21/01/2014 14:26

Shoes and boots are nice too and socks I love got a few for xmas.

Bluestocking · 21/01/2014 14:28

Target market = borderline anorexic gallerinas.

noddyholder · 21/01/2014 14:32

DOn't be daft and anorexia is a mental illness.

Francagoestohollywood · 21/01/2014 14:35

I am 43, and I really like Cos. I've never bought a dress there though, but then I don't often wear dresses.
I mainly buy their tshirts (great cotton and shape), their jumpers (I have just bought a thick oversized one in the sales, I adore it), and socks.

Francagoestohollywood · 21/01/2014 14:37

Ah, never bought from the website, there is a shop here.

justasecond · 21/01/2014 14:37

I dont think I would buy anything based on the website either. I sometimes see something I like in store that I come home and struggle to recognise on the website.

Floisme · 21/01/2014 14:39

I quite like minimalist which is why I want to like Cos. But I also like things to be reasonably fitted and to show off my waist so it's the shapes that are putting me off. And the colours - everything seems to be either black or off-your-head bright. However you have convinced me to go in and give them a try the next chance I get.

Tweet2tweet · 21/01/2014 14:43

Floisme, I've bought some fitted things from COS. However, their sister company 'and other stories' has some great minimalist fitted things. Really good quality too.

Francagoestohollywood · 21/01/2014 14:45

I believe that shapeless dresses/coats are often very flattering.

Notawordfromtheladybird · 21/01/2014 14:53

Swoon. I vaguely heard of them and today visited the regent street branch in London. I heart you people. I'm an apple shaped/top heavy with skinny legs and can't believe how many shapeless looking tunic dresses suited & flattered. I can never usually buy dresses. Smile More than half the stuff was 1/2 off, too.

Floisme · 21/01/2014 14:56

Tweet2tweet thanks, I'll take a look there too.

bialystockandbloom · 21/01/2014 14:59

I've always avoided Cos too, being 5'5", not being skinny, and having ample tittage, but bought this dress last week and it looks great. I veered between "shapless sack / good drapes" for a while before buying it but really glad I went for it in the end. The picture doesn't do it justice at all. Hangs really well, looks good over skinny jeans and sort of elongates me. The boat-neck flattering too. Not sack-like at all on reflection.

But I agree most of their stuff does seem made for tall, skinny androgenous types.

monkeysmama · 21/01/2014 15:22

I know what you mean Notaword. I'm top heavy with slim legs too and I adore Cos. I think the quality is high for the price too in comparison to other high st stores.

Francagoestohollywood · 21/01/2014 16:07

I agree monkeysmama, the jumpers are especially good quality and I lile bialystockandbloom dress

FluffyJumper · 21/01/2014 17:12

People who wish they could afford Dover Street Market.

wiltingfast · 21/01/2014 18:20

Never heard of Dover Street Market

Also have to say disagree about it being for skinny model types, think half the reason the website looks so bad is all the ah skinny model types trying to wear the clothes.

The clothes look better on normal people imo.

Littlepinkpear · 21/01/2014 18:24

Me and I am not the target market at all. I'm 35, professional and need to be suited for work. However I'm 5ft (on a good day) pear, very very chunky legs and lots of boob.

The website is rubbish but I often take 10 - 12 things into the changing room and the jewelry is great.

I have many of their dresses and skirts, makes work a breeze and is different from the usual Zara selection in my workplace.

&otherstories is great for the same styles too

KristinaM · 21/01/2014 22:53

I'm a 50 something apple shaped person with large norks and I love Cos. I mostly buy dresses , tops, jewellery and knitwear and occasionally trousers. Most of their skirts are short and very a line which doesn't suit me.

I never wear black or prints, most of my clothes from there are navy and grey. I avoid high necks due to the norks. I've just bought a lovely purple dress . I also have the top that someone linked to up the thread

I have two of their navy dresses with sleeves which are great for work.

I agree that the shapeless dresses look much better on women with boobs. I have no hips so don't know if they work for pears.

I also agree that the website is terrible, I only buy in store. Someone on mumsnet once described the models as " zombies in lab coats" Grin

williaminajetfighter · 21/01/2014 23:13

Love Cos and think their clothes are so elegant. However being chubby and very pear shaped I look like crap in most of their stuff. Great shoes this season though!

Funny I do work in galleries but sadly the pay is so shit that most of the 'galleristas' can't afford Cos and get to rock the Primark look instead! Hmm

Financeprincess · 21/01/2014 23:32

Agree that COS clothes are on the boxy side, which is good for us tall, thin and wide of shoulder types. I like their double layer tops, which disguise my lack of waist. I think they are also tapping into the vogue for Scandinavian design, which ranges from simple/chic to geeky.

Actually, tall straight up & downers are a bit over-catered for on the high street. Karen Millen and Reiss are cut for the same shape. Not sure where you'd go if you had a pronounced waist & hips!

BriarRainbowshimmer · 22/01/2014 10:22

YY, Financeprincess. Where is all the clothing designed to flatter hourglass/pear-type bodies?

aoife24 · 22/01/2014 13:59

I saw women of a very wide range of ages and styles in the Copenhagen store. I agree about trying stuff on. IME, the more unlikely cuts can look good. The colours can sometimes be a bit drab and I do eschew black.

QueenThora · 22/01/2014 14:14

I love cos, but only have one item of clothing (a miniskirt) and some jewellery so far - because there is no cos in my town so I have to go 50 miles, which I rarely have time to do. I find it impossible to work out what I will like from the website, you have to experiment and try it on. But I love their style. Can't wait to go again once I'm feeling time- and cash-rich.

QueenThora · 22/01/2014 14:15

(I'm 44 and creative career so fitting the predictions of some on this thread...)

Chewbecca · 22/01/2014 15:44

I'm short and round and had often looked at Cos links and thought, urgh, not for me.
However, I recently went into a store for the first time and it was a revelation, liked a lot of items on the hangers and came out with a wool dress and an everyday top and both are current favourite items. I can barely locate the items on the website they look so different to they do on me.

I'll be back to the store but still will not bother with the website.

(41years, professional totally non arty job but clothes were for casual/pub type occasions)

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