This Brand Is The New COS—But Half The Price
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by Audie Metcalf
COS is the best-designed mall brand in our opinion—gorgeously designed, semi-weird basics that instantly elevate anyone’s wardrobe.
But we recently were served this ad for a barrel skirt that was so gorgeous, we felt sure it was COS.
But upon further investigation, we discovered … it was ASOS! Which meant the skirt was $59. Which meant … we immediately ordered $900 of other fun ASOS pieces—for “research.”
And now, together, we can figure out which pieces are chic and high-quality, and which will be going straight back whence they came. Let’s see how they look on the emaciated model, vs how they look on a regular, old perimenopausal gal.
Shall we? Let’s go.
1. This maxi camel skirt
WHAT: ASOS Design Volume Detail Midi Skirt*
Well. We can all go home now. This is a perfect skirt. I didn’t realize a camel skirt is so essential in one’s life, but it is. This one is so comfortable, and it has an elastic waist, but you can see it also has that flat front band which elevates it. I’ve already worn it like 8 times with these flats.
Verdict: 100000000% keep. And you should buy one for yourself.
Price: $60
2. These insanely wide leg, flattering pants
WHAT: ASOS Design Cotton Nylon Super Wide Leg Pants*
These pants might only appeal to 3% of you, but I feel certain for that 3% they will become your favorite pants. Beyond comfortable and instant chicness.
Verdict: My new favorite pants. Keeping and proselytizing. If you also have a small waist and big butt, you need to buy them.
Price: $65
3. These adidas balloon pants I was really excited about
WHAT: Adidas Originals x ASOS Balloon Pants in Cream Plaid Seersucker*
Welp. These are clearly a no. I wanted to love them because they’re weird and cool but I truly don’t have a handle on what’s happened here.
Verdict: Returning. They’re so enormous on my stump legs they look like a melting candle. But if you have long legs, get them! They’re chic!
Price: $100
4. The cropped striped shirt
WHAT: ASOS Design Boxy Cropped T-shirt in Chocolate & Cream Stripes*
This shirt is an immediate yes. The deeply shiny pants* are an immediate no. Here’s the clogs* in the pic since, weirdly, I’m asked more about those clogs than almost anything else I wear.
Verdict: Keep! I’m eschewing old wives’ tales about horizontal stripes!
Price: $20
5. The polka dot pants because when I see polka dots I get weak
WHAT: ASOS Design Cotton Nylon Blend Pull On Balloon Pants*
I would’ve said hard yes but I have since found the single most thrilling pair of polka dot pants* in all the land, and I feel strongly that we should only buy things that are perfect and which have the potential to become our favorite thing. See evidence of this here:
That said, these pants are still pretty great:
Verdict: On the fence. But I think they’re immensely flattering for balloon pants.
Price: $50
6. The shirt that is SO un-me but maybe it’s incredible?
WHAT: Topshop Wrap Waist Tie Detail Top*
I don’t own many “hyper pieces” because I tend to feel like I’m playing dress up, but this shirt is a star. It covers all manner of bloat, and I love where it hits my arm and I especially love that I can just throw on with a pair of jeans with it and poof, it’s an outfit.
Verdict: Keep! I think every woman should own this shirt.
Price: $38
7. The truly unwearable pants that oops, I love
WHAT: Arrange Waist Seam Balloon Leg Pants*
These pants are very weird, and I think they’re fantastic but the reality of my life is that I will not wear them. I love how they look in the product pic with heels but I’m just not about that life anymore. Hooray for knowing who we are and who we’re not at almost 50!
Verdict: Return. Too psychotic!
Price: $149
8. The flash dance shirt that is, of course, necessary
WHAT: ASOS Design Slouchy Off Shoulder Oversized Tee Choc & Cream Stripes*
An off-shoulder moment is where most of us cut our teeth, isn’t it? I’m helpless for it. It’s sexy on everyone without really showing too much. And it’s casual with the stripe so I can wear it in an everyday way like with these jeans* and boots*.
Verdict: Do I even have to say it?
Price: $30
9. The cropped t/shirt I’ve been searching for for a lifetime
WHAT: 4505 Icon Heavyweight Cotton Cropped T-shirt*
This shirt is the piece I’ve already worn the most since I got this haul. I know it’s just a dumb cropped t-shirt but it is SO perfect and the crop is cropped just so across the midriff and arms and I just love it and wear it with everything. I know you hate the pants*. And that’s ok.
Verdict: Of course I kept it and am buying pink*, grey*, cream*, and light blue* immediately. Also, those pants* aren’t flattering at all. And yet I kept them. Because sometimes you have to dress not for a man’s gaze.
Price: $28
Audie Metcalf is the Editor-in-chief of The Candidly, and lives in LA with her family. You can find more of her articles here.
At The Candidly, we try a lot of stuff so you don’t have to. We only recommend things we truly love, and that we think you’ll love, too. All products are chosen independently by our creative team, and all details reflect the price and availability of products at the time of publication. If you buy something we link to, The Candidly may earn a commission.
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