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Original poster

To not get Cos

87 replies

goose1964 · 12/04/2018 14:50

I've looked at the website and see how miserable the models look wearing the clothes, but when I was shopping yesterday I went into the shop to have a look at what seemed to be rows of sacks in various format and the highlight was a pink cardi that Dolores Umbridge would have been proud of

OP posts:
Mercurial123 · 12/04/2018 15:00

Not this again.... You don't have to get it, maybe it doesn't suit you. I love COS well made clothes and always has something a bit different.

DianaT1969 · 12/04/2018 15:01

What did you think of the fabric and quality? I find some great things in there. I love minimalist designs but give some of their tent shapes a wide berth.
My two go-to dresses are from there. One is going strong, gets washed in the machine and still looks like new after 3 years.

pasturesgreen · 12/04/2018 15:01

I don't get it either. Shapeless, sack-like dreary stuff.

Sorry, not helpful

Original poster
goose1964 · 12/04/2018 15:05

OK there was one dress I like and it was about twice the price of similar dresses elsewhere

OP posts:
TomRavenscroft · 12/04/2018 15:06

A lot of it looks like something you'd expect your anaesthetist to wear, but I've got a few nice things, mainly simple classic stuff like a round-neck wool jumper in a lovely green and a long-sleeved thin wool top for layering. They do some nice tights too.

DianaT1969 · 12/04/2018 15:08

Shops I don't get are:

French Connection - such random stuff and quality. As if their buyers go to China and buy anything by the sackload that's already made and on discount.

Wallis - it's synthetic heaven.

Phase Eight - the colours always seem to be the wrong season. I never go in and think a rail looks attractive with colours which are on trend. Perhaps they aim for winter/summer colouring and I'm spring.

megansmandstop · 12/04/2018 15:25

So what shops do you like OP, for context?

Ellapaella · 12/04/2018 15:50

I don't get a lot of it either, some of it just seems a bit mad but I have to admit I like the look of their knitwear, nice simple designs, cut well with good material. Im intrigued a bit by the love Cos on here, I'd like to go into a store and try stuff on but there isn't one anywhere near me and it's too pricey to take a punt ordering online.

DairyisClosed · 12/04/2018 15:54

They do better for summer clothing imo. I like it because it is one of the few cheapish stores that designer to tall people.

minipie · 12/04/2018 15:56

I can see how Cos would look good if you were tall and rectangular shaped with dark colouring (or perhaps red haired or white blonde).

Opposite of me then.

NoCureForLove · 12/04/2018 15:58

Yawn..

TomRavenscroft · 12/04/2018 15:59

I'm tall, although I'm not sure about rectangular (think I'm more of a pear?) and Cos doesn't always suit me, by a long chalk. I'm slim and a lot of their stuff is boxy, which just makes me look like a stick figure with a scrawny neck popping out of a squareish top, like one of those dolls you cut out paper clothes for. Grin

Niminy · 12/04/2018 17:05

I love that anaesthetist look.

squoosh · 12/04/2018 17:09

There's a lot of not getting Cos on MN. I get it.

Butterflybelly · 12/04/2018 17:16

I buy most of my clothes from cos, whistles and & other stories. Love Cos for every season.

ItWillAllBeFine · 12/04/2018 17:52

I "don't get" flouncy, floral, or fitted frocks. So what? Doesn't make me right or wrong. It's just what I like or don't like. Thank goodness we're all different.

megansmandstop · 12/04/2018 18:40

What is there to "get"? They are just clothes. Tops, trousers, skirts, shoes..you know?

Cos sell neutral coloured, natural fibre clothes in simple styles. Often loose fitting, boxy, or with a interesting twist in the material. Rarely feature the latest trends.

Oasis sell lots of brightly coloured floral tops, synthetic fabrics, very trend led e.g. cold shoulder, frills, fluted sleeves.lots of smart office workwear. Ditto Warehouse

French Connection/Karen Millen sell glam clubby clothes, suitable for weddings and evening wear

Baukjen sell bodycon jersey tops and dresses

Toast sell utilitarian, loose fitting, clothes in muted colours. Like Cos, classic rather than trend led, repeat a lot of styles seasonally.

etc etc. All of the above will feature exceptions to their USP, all will have clothes that look rubbish on hangers. All feature moody models online; we're supposed to look at the clothes, the model is a glorified shop dummy/clothes horse.

Pick the one with the clothes you like the most. God forbid we all dress the same.

CountFosco · 12/04/2018 18:49

Well I'm a short hourglass and I can always find something to buy on the website. I have even bought a sack dress, although I do wear it with a belt Grin. I like the grumpy models, allows me to concentrate on the clothes.

Original poster
goose1964 · 13/04/2018 13:21

I hate buying clothes online as sizing is so hot and miss, for instance in Monsoon I'm usually an 18 but I found clothes that fit ranged from a 16 to a 20. I had a shopping trip and ended up buying from next, m&,s TKMaxx and Primark as I could try them on.

OP posts:
RainyApril · 13/04/2018 13:59

I think it might be one of those shops where the clothes look better on. I have a tall elegant friend who shops there and always looks stunning, but whenever I go in I find myself thinking much as you do op - dreary, shapeless and overpriced. One of these days I might try something on and hope to be amazed. I don't know why some pp seem so offended that you don't like it though, maybe they've got shares.

UnnecessaryFennel · 13/04/2018 14:14

COS clothes definitely look better on. I've just bought two brilliant, easy-to-wear, versatile dresses from their sale, taking the plunge after many dispiriting visits to the website with its lank-haired, gloomy models. Have had loads of compliments on them.

megansmandstop · 13/04/2018 14:25

I don't think there's any offence, perhaps some frustration that this is the umpteenth thread on the subject. It seems on MN that if a shop doesn't sell the most mainstream of fashion styles then it is somehow odd or there's something not to "get" . When in reality it is just a clothes shop that doesn't sell trend led clothes.

You'll either like the stuff or not, it will suit or body shape or not. Or there might be the odd item that is worth a look or not. Like all clothes shops really.

I can't stand all the synthetic faux boho lacey crochet shit that Monsoon turn out every year but I wouldn't say I don't "get" it. It's just not my style and doesn't look good on me.

AlbertaSimmons · 13/04/2018 14:29

I like it, but it's what my DH calls "Scandi-drab" Grin. Sizing is a bit mad though. I have three of their dresses from winter season, one in small, which fits perfectly, one in extra small which is ok and another in XS which is massive. I also have a pair of XS trousers which are massive. I wouldn't buy online from them for that reason.

Hypermice · 13/04/2018 14:30

The stuff looks better on. Never have I seen such miserable, slumped, greasy haired models ... their stylist and advertising team should be fired :)

But the stuff itself is good quality, cleverly cut and often (shock) draped. It’s one of the few places you can get natural fibre clothing as well, since most of the high street descended into polyester/modal/viscose hell (don’t even try with modal and viscose being natural, they are HIGHLY processed.)

Even just selling stuff that’s natural fibre seems to be an act of rebellion these days.

brogueish · 13/04/2018 14:31

That's ok, OP. I don't get Next, Monsoon or River Island. Fortunately we don't have to all like or wear the same stuff.