To not get Cos

[goose1964]

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

I love Cos too and am lucky enough to live near their Leeds store, it's my 'go to' place these days. I'm not tall and slim, increasingly short and waistless but I find plenty to spend my money on. However I don't agree that sizing is consistent at all, I would really struggle with mail order. I take a large selection into the changing rooms and regularly hear the assistants advising others to do the same. I also see all ages in there. The quality is great although I have had to mend quite a few hems. I agree some of it is a bit out there but much of it is very flattering.

I think it probably depends on your figure, I'm slim but look shit in the shapeless stuff so never bother with Cos. I see people who look amazing and stylish in that sort of thing though, I bet they are the people who like it on here!

Ok maybe that is the problem. Many Cos clothes are oversized, that is what creates their shapes and IMO is what makes them flattering.

If you decide to size down to make it a closer fit, you are taking the intended shape away. I imagine if I design clothes and people all wore them a size smaller, the shapes they create would look entirely different. Of course it is up to the person wearing them to wear them however they want to wear them, they are paying for them, but to be fair to Cos, they can only recommend you wear the size you are and if you want a tight fit (which goes against their intended shape) Cos can only presume people will buy a size smaller or bigger accordingly.

Or perhaps as a previous poster said, the shapes don’t suit your figure. I admire Ted Baker dresses on their website, on Instagram accounts etc. They look pretty and feminine but when I try them on, I look ridiculously bumpy and lumpy.Imo Ted Baker designs for straight up and down, smaller chested women. However I can’t get annoyed at them because I don’t suit their clothes.

Some of them do suit me though. Whenever I've managed to get to a store, I always find something that works. I've found great things a couple of times in charity shops too. But whenever I order on line - zilch. I cannot think of any other store where I have this problem. This is why I get so annoyed with them - and you are right, I am annoyed It's immensely frustrating.

I get the frustration with online shopping.

I return a lot of what I buy online from other stores, especially Other Stories who fail often to mention that their v neck crossover dresses would have you arrested for indecent exposure if you are over a certain chest size or that the waistline of their dresses has a drawstring that makes rounder stomachs look like bags of potatoes or the length of their short dresses is suitable only for women with fantastic long shapely legs etc. It doesn’t stop me buying from them online but I certainly have to manage my expectations and not rely on them for any occasion.

To be fair there are now only a handful of places where I regularly buy online: Uniqlo, Toast and um.... Occasionally Me and Em (in the sales), very occasionally Boden. That's about it. I think I've given Cos plenty of chances and I'll carry on looking out for them in charity shops and using their real stores whenever I can. But otherwise I'm out.

I've also eyed up Other Stories and occasionally got as far far as the checkout but then decided I haven't got the energy.

I love Cos, but my nearest one is almost three hours away. I agree with PP that the clothes need to be tried on, and online returns are very slow whuch puts me off. I also like And Other Stories, which again, has a cumbersome returns process, but I have now nailed sizing so can generally order with no problems. I think that as the high street disappears, shops need to do online delivery/returns better.

Anyway thank you for listening to my frustrations Thebirthdayparty and sorry for getting cranky. Good to hear from you too phoolani

I know cos clothes pretty well and even I don’t buy without trying on. I think the sizing is pretty consistent but....I don’t know it’s the shapes? Or something? I don’t know really but even I still find myself trying things on which look so terrible I have to laugh.
floisme I think we should get up a petition to get a cos store near you 🤞🏻

Aww. I love Cos. But then my style is definitely on the side of Nordic/Chinese peasant/man repeller chic.

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.

nd me, but.... I have a few things from there that I love and don't look hideous on me. I am 5ft 4, obvs apple shape.