Do you think this is attractive?

[friendlyflicka]

I don't mean the model, I just mean the pose and the clothes. This is just a standard photo on the Cos web site.

I think the way the model is posing and the clothes themselves are incredibly unflattering and unaesthetic, but I wonder if it is because I am 50 and things have changed.

When I was looking at clothes on Selfridges web site, I just thought some of the clothes were just styled so unpleasingly. Coats tied up at an unflattering level and models standing in an unstylish pose, but I am quite willing to accept that I am old and times move on....

I don't have a problem with the pose, it's good to see what clothes look like without overt sexual poseyness, ie how a normal person would look.

But I do think those clothes are pretty hideous.

It's awful. It looks ill-fitting, drab and like some kind of uniform that would be made of cheap fabric. There is a middle ground between bodycon and whatever this is, surely?

I dismissed Cos for years but once I actually started trying stuff on I realised that it could actually look good. It's never going to be bodycon and some pieces are hideous (think North Korean reeducation camp) but occasionally you can find a gem. There's a dress in there atm which I love but sadly I'm between sizes and the smaller size is way too right across the bust. And I'm not exactly huge of nork!

I can see that a lot of Cos clothes are lovely. I am quite straight up and down, so it wasn't really about Cos. It was just that kind of styling which I see quite a lot.

This image does unfortunately look drab and ill fitting but in general i agree that it is refreshingly relaxed and makes a pleasant change from bodycon and scaffold clothing.

Love the idea, but if i wear straight fit jeans I seriously look awful - like this model, only shorter. I have 'zero tit tissue' and a big tee makes me look terrible. I go for COS vneck tees (tucked) which are more fitted and very nice - high waist jeans seem to suit me.

People have called me 'Columbo' in the past when I've worn loose fit clothes, but I will never gravitate towards tight fit because it's just not me.

That model works for Zara too. She is very unusual and often styled badly. Not her fault she's lovely.

Floisme I very much take your point about likening complaints that she looks miserable to men saying "cheer up love" and the like. I actually felt a bit uncomfortable making that complaint in my post above, but I guess the difference is that you'd expect, to an extent, there to be an aspirational element - retailers want us to want to look like their models, hence they're usually smiling, or at least looking like they're having an exciting/glam/envy-inducing time. I am not envious of this glum-looking lady.

Laquila sorry for being snarky. I'm not even sure I was thinking of your post but anyway I admit, I get impatient with this expectation that women should always look cheerful and with this fear of looking cross that you so often see expressed on here. But that's a far bigger topic.

As for Cos - there's nothing you can say that I haven't said myself but then one day something just clicked with me. It coincided with getting bored of seeing bodycon everywhere I went and finding androgyny far more interesting.

I do think of Cos as being Hush's evil twin. The Hush models look so happy and the clothes are so cleverly styled but then you get them and wash them and actually (in my experience) they're shit. With Cos it's the polar opposite.

No I dont. I'm not a fan of baggy clothes unless worn with a tight fitting item (so baggy top/skinny jeans or baggy trousers/vest top etc.)

I agree with previous posters that the aesthetic for less 'bodycon' clothing is due to the fact that women dont have to display their bodies now that theyre successful in business, the way they once did when their only value was based on their appearance. It's the nordic influence (see COS and other 'earnest architect' type clothing retailers).

It's the opposite of the 'up for it' look peddled by River Island and BooHoo.

I was browsing the Mango and Cos sites last night, and was struck by how bleddy miserable the models looked. Quite a few appeared to have greasy hair, too. And I think the styling of the clothes is dreadful.

Yet, I know many of the clothes are nice IRL as several friends wear stuff from there.

Not particularly keen on this photo but am finding myself feeling rather liberated after I recently bought the Hush boyfriend jeans. So so nice not to be wearing skintight jeans. Women's fashion often is all about sex appeal whereas men are allowed to be comfortable.

But then Sunshineandeggshells that's not strictly true. Some young men wear skinny jeans all the time and have done for the past few years. Others wear trackies.

I look and feel hideous in boyfriend jeans. Too much fabric everywhere. I'm comfortable in skinny jeans, and believe me I'm not trying to look sexy.

No but I think that's the point. It's Nom Core.

Norm Core even

This is what I wanted: What is norm core - explain!

And where does the phrase come from?

I thought norm-core was a bit 2015? Haven't we moved on from that?

I didn't think you were being snarky, Flo! Interesting and much bigger debate though, as you say.

It's probably over and done with as hairy says but the jist of it is wearing functional, basic clothing, well made but without trying to look too styled/trendy. Not my thing at all btw. It's like the no logo thing in the 90's I think.

Thank you, LoisWilkersonsLastNerve