A safe distance from the relentless madness of fashion month, COS strayed from the schedule and presented its spring/summer 2024 collection on Tuesday, March 26, in Rome.
The London-based brand is known for elevated classics and laidback pieces that look as chic in meetings as they do at happy hour—and this season is no exception. The 33-look show included included pieces from both COS’s main and Atelier lines. Under design director Karin Gustafsson, the slate fused fluidity and structure. Voluminous garments billowed in neutral hues of stone, black, white, and sand, with bold pops of red. Textiles alternated from translucent to woven to denim, all of which were expertly tailored, even if the effect was airy and oversized. Details and silhouettes got experimental at times with pleated shoulder pads, textured leather, and hand-painted accents.
The show was held at Corsie Sistine, a restored portion of Santo Spirito, a 15th-century hospital—Europe’s oldest, in fact. Editors, such as myself, Italian fashion critics with notebooks in hand, and global influencers decked out in the brand’s designs ducked out of the grey rainy afternoon and into the ancient building lined with frescoes courtesy of Umbro-Roman artists of the 1400s.
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“I love the androgyny,” said Pamela Anderson from the front row, observing that this collection is for those whose style transcends gender. “I’m drawn to COS’ true minimalism and simplicity—and some punk British elements,” she finished. Timeless sets that lend themselves to a mix-and-match capsule wardrobe and steal-from-his-closet menswear were foundational to the show.
That punk element Anderson alluded to came in the form of sporty sunglasses, chunky silver jewelry, open knits, and mesh, which carried into the details of the very pair of pointed toe slingbacks she wore. Hoods were a common theme, notably adding a fresh a take on the classic trench coat and adding a bit of street style to the collection.
Of course, COS also debuted a variety of new iterations of its viral quilted bag, which you’ve likely seen tucked under the arm of many a fashion girl.
A portion of the collection is available to shop now in-store and online, with additional drops (including Atelier) coming over the next few weeks. Below, see ELLE’s curated shopping edit from the spring/summer line.