I am baffled by the popularity of Cos

[crystalgall]

Who wants to look like this?!

The model looks like her head has shrunk or that she is wearing clothes about 10 sizes too big for her.

Everything is so shapeless and blah and yet it's lauded as a style haven.

I don't get it.

They really do Frugal - some of their leather wear reminds me of reins that are used with runaway toddlers.

I think I'll have to go back to Cos and try on a few more things. The last time I tried on stuff (5 foot 1.5, curvy 10/12) I looked like I was wearing sack cloth. It was not pretty.

It's the older sister of H&M, apparently. Same company.

It is mostly shite.

I've never tried it but I have always though that it looks awful because of the way it is put on the models on the website. I actually really like some of the stuff. I love that whistles type dress posted in black. I have never ordered because I'm not sure about sizing and it puts me off. The jewellery is lovely.

I also like Toast. Their stuff can look awful but in RL I have found some gems.

plimsolls I've been defending Cos on this thread but whose fault is it if people have a skewed view of their clothes? Their website is appalling - even their fans so so - and the last time I looked, 13 of their 17 branches were in London. I think that says quite a lot about their attitude.

even their fans say so

I live near a branch of COS in a Scandi capital and their core clientele is Japanese tourists and middle-aged local women and their daughters - I'd say architects, engineers, academics and head teachers, and people in other serious, intellectual or creative professions. You have reached a level in your career where you don't want to wear high heels or look feminine. With the clothes, you are signalling power, gravitas, seniority, restraint and good taste. The other places where you shop are Acne Studios, Filippa K, minimalist Japanese designers and, maybe after completing a particularly fruitful project, Celine.

I don't know whether I should be worried but my children love their stuff.

And I can see a Japanese tourist grabbing the silly frock in the opening post - they go for the quirky stuff and it looks fabulous on them.

Its the Scandinavian Architect look so loved by trendy young people.

Looks absolute shit on most people though.

I'm 5,0 a pear shaped 12, size 32e of boob.

My go to places are cos, stories and Hobbs. I'm in a professional role.

Unfortunately the websites are shit (aren't they all?) but I've stopped buying altogether online. Except shoes and bags.

The quality of the clothes is brilliant. I've got a 5 year old cos top on today.

Apart from Warehouse and some trews from h&m (a rare find) I've bought nothing else from any other high street store.

Only thing is I live in the frozen north, so I stock up when I'm in London.

I had 9 items in the m&s changing room on Thursday. I bought nothing, all shit.

Shops try to cater for so many styles and shapes these days, it's all about trying on and looking for the 5% that suits you.

taybert apologies I wasn't trying to suggest anyone who wears their clothing has to conform to that but she suited Cos in part because that's what she was like if that makes any sense. Just my perception of their brand. I'm sure you look fabulous in your jumpers

I'm in Stockholm a couple of times a year and always drop by one of their branches I think people just like their clothes and has nothing to do with looking professional or serious, plenty of teenagers when I was in there. The Scandinavian aesthetic like their design is minamalist and unfussy. It's a look that either works for you or doesn't. I certainly don't walk in there thinking I want to look like a Scandinavian architect......

Went past toast in Harrogate a couple of weeks ago.
( Sunday, store was closed)

What I saw wasn't pretty.

I mean that in all sincerity folks. What was hanging on the bare rails ( shapeless , sackcloth type dresses) would not have brought me joy.
But, we are all individual . What I wear is not everyone's cup of tea either.

Thenlaterwhen
I love your attitude
No messing with you I'd say.

I completely agree with people who have said you need to try on a LOT of items to uncover the gems. I would say for every 10 things I try on, I will find one that is superlative, and the rest look actively awful. I have pretty much given up ordering online, as the fit is so erratic.

I have a lot of work clothes from Cos (I am neither a architect, nor do I wear flat shoes except on very rare occasions), and I love them. The quality of the pieces I have is outstanding and they look practically brand new, despite most things being on very heavy rotation. Would be distraught if Cos (and Jaeger, Jigsaw and, lately to a lesser extent, Whistles) ever went out of business.

And agree thenlater, Zara can fuck the fuck off with it's sizing, bears no resemblance to any kind of reality.

Giddygoat that second dress you linked to is the one I just got - it's lovely!

I'm still a bit about all this 'yes the website is shite, you have to try on' business. Why is it shite? I cannot believe a company the size of Hennes & Mauritz couldn't improve it if they wanted to. Same with the Londoncentricity.

I do like Cos but there's a distinct whiff of 'the plebs don't get it' about them and it's not attractive.

Oh no Puppymouse no need to say sorry, I was just having a laugh at myself. It's just my ineptitude with the smileys.
I'm keen to see what it's like as I've been after some good quality knitwear this winter. I'm Northen and rural so no chance of trying on in a shop (though I think they've got a concession in Selfridges in Manchester?) Alas my days of spending the day shopping in a city have been at least suspended for a while.

It's true Flo. I guess in a way it's the opposite of the thing people are saying on the Boden thread where they see it on the model on the website and think it looks lovely then get it home and they look like "a vicar's wife". Maybe Cos would say that the minimal styling helps you to see the clothes. The difficulty is that most people (me included) just can't see past it.

Yeah and I've been known to wear Cos and Boden together so what does that say about me

Dunno. Scandinavian vicar's wife who is also an architect? One of the jumpers I bought I'm hoping to wear with the ruched skirt.....

Floisme, I'm guessing if they wanted the plebs not to get it, they'd up the prices. As it is, cos is generally cheaper than Boden, jigsaw, whistles, Hobbs etc etc. And the quality is fantastic. I don't get the general hate for cos; if it's not your thing, it's not your thing but (as someone pointed out on another 'isn't cos shit' thread) if the aforementioned shops aren't you, then cos is like a beacon in a sea of darkness. It is amazing: for quality, for style, for designer style stuff at high street prices. I have that navy dress and I'm 5'3 and I have had people stop me in the street to ask where it's from.

taybert My cos jumper goes really well the Boden ruched skirt. In fact, as there's a nip in the air this morning, I might wear them today as an homage to this thread. I could even finish off with an M&S jacket and go for the treble of hate.

phoolani I agree the prices are pretty reasonable but it's not that kind of exclusivity. I think it's more an intellectual snobbery, an 'only clever people understand these clothes' vibe. Please note, I'm talking about company strategy, not posters or customers.