New Flagship COS Store Opens in Dublin

Attention shoppers – prepare yourselves for two storeys of Cos which opens this week on Dublin’s Wicklow Street.

Shoppers have been visiting BT2 over the last few years for Cos alone: Now the minimalist offering of the Swedish retail giant H&M is opening a flagship store on Wicklow Street. Those of us in love with Cos’s clean lines and stylish cuts rejoice as this operation is much, much larger than the BT2 concessions in Dundrum and Grafton Street.

Tower Records has moved to a new location on Dawson Street to make room for Cos. While this deplacement of an iconic music shop is sobering – reminiscent of HMV’s decampment for Massimo Dutti – it’s a sign of the times and every cloud has a lining that is somewhat silvery: In this case the new Cos premises will house the full womenswear, menswear and childrenswear collections over 8,000 sq. ft. of retail space.

For those who haven’t yet had the pleasure Cos is a relatively affordable label – it’s high quality high street wear, understated and slick. The ethos of the brand is that style trumps fashion. Each season Cos revisits certain designs, like shirts and coats, with subtle tweaks and changes. It doesn’t grasp at trends, so you can expect any purchase to last more than one fashion cycle.

Cos, which stands for Collection of Style, was born from a love of natural fabrics and cottons, denim and linen reign supreme. Perennially chic black, white as well as grey and blue star in each collection. This season rich wines and greens and pastel shades of lemon and pink feature strongly too. There isn’t much pattern. It’s more about the shapes, where structured and oversized are the brand’s signatures.

The accessories will please even those who shy of decoration and accoutrement. They’re functional with an industrial design aesthetic as opposed to the superfluous and excessive, beloved of the most avid accessorisers.

Cos also publish beautifully produced and intelligent bi-annual magazine on art, architecture, culture and design, that is well worth picking up.

In typical Scandi and Cos style the store’s interiors will make use of natural materials and minimalist design. Think light and utility in a surround that is stylish, pared back and thoroughly modern.

Cos is located on Wicklow Street and opens this coming Friday, 25th April.