On Sunday, COS returned to New York Fashion Week for a fourth time, bringing with it its brand of British cool and Swedish ease—the relaxed, refined, and thoughtfully crafted style it has come to be known for. Yet, the H&M subsidiary and quiet fashion retailer’s Brooklyn takeover was anything but.
West Street was lined with paparazzi and screaming fans. Arms-length from famous friends of the brand like Lauryn Hill, Jodie Turner-Smith, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Naomi Watts, and Odell Beckham Jr., to name a few. The volume increases with every black Sedan that pulls up to the Greenpoint Terminal Warehouse. A cold glass of champagne against a meditative soundtrack, the reward for making an entrance. Then guests waited for the real show to begin.
Once inside the industrial brick and concrete space, it was easy to understand the appeal of the location as its character complemented the clean COS-ified modernity of the set. Light boxes were hung above the white catwalk to bathe the clothes in a flattering light.
The forty-seven look Autumn/Winter 2025 collection was designed in a smart and understated palette of black, grey, navy, and neutrals, crafted in supple leather, shearling, heritage-inspired checks, basketweave knits, chenille, and pony-effect surfaces, with sharp shoulders, and classic cuts by Creative Director Karin Gustafsson.
One of the womenswear references was the 1950s New Look, for which Gustafsson honoured its silhouettes—think cinched waists, feminine cuts, and open necklines, reimagined for a woman today. COS’s softly sculpted silk dress, a perfect example and a standout in its own right. More standouts—a full-length faux fur coat in neutral and a slightly oversized unbuttoned leather trench coat in black.
The menswear focused on handsome tailoring with a balance of utility and innovation. Some playful details included complementary fabrications and buttoned epaulette shoulders. Like the womenswear, Gustafsson incorporated oversized proportions in her design patterns. She also refreshed classic cuts with sharp shoulders.
The womenswear accessories mirrored the ready-to-wear in leather loafers, heeled Mary Janes, and sock boots. As for the menswear accessories, footwear was the focus, on offer this season with leather boots and trainers in tonal colorways.
As another runway show came and went, COS continues to hold its title as the if-you-know-you-know aesthetic authority in the quality over price landscape for which it competes, and the message remains: wear great clothes, live a great life, and sacrifice nothing.
Select pieces from the COS Autumn Winter 2025 collection are available now at COS stores and cos.com, with limited drops available throughout the season.
words. Malcolm Thomas
