Loving the COS…

I know I fully retracted my initial COS-rant when I bought into it with some initial purchases upon further investigation.  Well now, I will confess and stand up and say it with my head held high; ‘My name is Susie and I’m a COS-addict….’.  Ok, so addict might be too strong a word but relatively speaking, when comparing the number of items I buy from various high street stores, since every month, I’m buying one or two items from COS on a regular basis, the word does sort of apply.  I have come to realise, by the power of vintage shopping, sample sales, eBay scores, thrifting and other werid ways of procurement, what I buy on the high street these days, is EXTREMELY selective so whilst 1-2 items a month from COS may not sound a lot, in comparison with the other high street big guns, it almost borders on excessive.

This might strike some of you as rather strange seeing as my style is far from the minimalist, bare, stealthy-cool attitude exuded by the brand (store, ad campaign and SA’s….).  Somehow though, I walk in and I see a certain silk t-shirt with a zip running up the back, a stiff black silk skirt with a discreet bow at the waist, some gunmetal raw silk trousers and even as I’m walking into the changing room, I’m muttering ‘This is so not me….’ and then I yank the clothes on and do that 360 turn in the mirror.  The ‘Hmmm-ing’ and ‘Ah-ing’ starts and grudgingly I say ‘Ok… this looks pretty good….’. 

Well, what do you know?  Then they turn out to be those items I wear pretty solidly in different ways for the next few weeks.  Of course the effect is never very COS-like with the amount of mixing and matching I do, but if I am going to do the white t-shirt and simple skirt combo, I’d rather do it with the stuff from COS.  It’s instant love with the vintage navy patent dress that I found at a car boot sale but I’ll only wear it once or twice when my attention is then diverted elsewhere.  COS items hwoever get some wear and tear from me and for that reason, I’m ashamed to read my former post against the store… 
Also, everytime I do wear something by COS, someone with an eye will pick up on it and ask ‘Is that Marni/Chloe/Prada/Jil Sander?’  Following that predominantly British habit of being quite high-street proud, I say ‘Nope!  It’s COS!’.   

Suffice to say then, the SS08 collection, shown on Saturday gets the thumbs up of course but it’s only when in-store, touching and feeling the clothes, hmm-ing and ah-ing at my reflection in the changing room, that COS’s true value really kicks in.   

Note about the menswear to guys, the boyf bought a pair of perfect tuxedo pants with a black satin trim going down the sides  and has worn them CONSTANTLY.  Not quite the COS-addict yet but come summer, he’ll be loving the sharp suits…