The word “utility wear” isn’t the most exciting thing on its own — it brings to mind dull engineer-style jumpsuits that bulge at all the wrong places, heavy overalls you only bust out when you’re repainting your room, or just a sturdy pair of jeans, but nothing really sexy. You’ll get an entirely new impression after looking at COS‘ latest designs though. Now, it’s no question that we’ve long loved the brand for its crisp basics and minimalist lines, but here’s where they’re doing us a solid, with great functional everyday wear that we can’t wait to invite into our wardrobe.
While most utility-inspired fashion come in dark shades or a cool khaki green, which we still love anyway, this time, the brand is incorporating exposed zippers and pockets in the clean styles we’ve known them for, along with neutral tones, pastel shades, and bold, vibrant pieces, which they’re calling ‘Reworked Utility’. The lightweight materials, combined with the thoughtful construction — boxy sometimes, and flowy at other times — means we can easily weave this in with the summer-weather wear we already own.
It helps that details like a drawstring or cinched waist helps keeps the overall boxy form more feminine too — seen for both the aqua blue jacket and bright green dress. And oh yes, everything has pockets, even on a dress. The large patch pockets on the jacket come with clean flaps that keep the look more utilitarian, but with a nice design touch.
Similarly, that simple design element is used across their range of dresses, shirts and skirts. The COS website even has a small ode to the humble pocket, calling it “an essential detail in modern clothing” since its appearance almost 250 years ago.
While pockets previously referred to small pouches tied to their wearer, they slowly morphed into the sewn-in design that we all love. You can argue that they represent an era of empowerment too — womenswear only really started featuring pockets during mid-century America; previous garments had lacked pockets since they deemed women didn’t need to carry anything so practical. This Golden Age made pockets a necessity in everyday wear, “for carrying things, as a way for designers to define silhouette, and as something that impacts gesture and stance”. The last one describes the #ootd classic of placing your hands in your pockets for a casual yet confident pose.
COS’ emphasis on them this season then becomes more significant; we’re glad they come in so many shapes and sizes.
There are boxy versions of the denim and bomber jacket on display, the first in a vibrant orange made with soft denim and a single visible button closure that pulls the simple silhouette together elegantly. The latter comes in a relaxed fit, with crisp cotton and linen making its whole vibe less sporty and more versatile.
Their draped silhouettes come just as refined too, with an asymmetrical top that we’re dying to wear over all our culottes, or voluminous designs that play on the drawstring detail of earlier pieces, making it something you’d wear all the time just because it’s so easy to match, and slip on and off.
At most, you’ll be sorely tempted to snag one of these bags. The Shoulder Bag with Front Pockets is the minimalist version of the satchel, in long-lasting leather, simple topstitch details that blend into its creamy shade, as well as both a matte finish and push buttons that complete the not-trying-too-hard style. As for that waist pouch, it’s something you can easily sling around you for your essentials, without looking like a beer aunty, simply because of its obviously superior style. As with everything COS, it’s highly functional while serving a great dose of fresh style, something we can’t help but fall in love with every time.
COS ‘Pockets’ and ‘Reworked Utility’ collections, available at COS stores. cosstores.com
You must be logged in to post a comment.