I Wore This COS Dress on My First Day and Got So Many Compliments

Every so often, there comes along a dress with such universal appeal that it is a guaranteed success. You know the type—styles that spawn Instagram accounts, waiting lists and people stopping you in the street to ask, "Excuse me. Where is that dress from?” I’m pleased to tell you not only have I found that dress but also it’s an affordable hidden gem from COS.
I love minimalist dresses in bold colours, so COS is often my go-to. At Who What Wear, we're all in agreement that whether it's a statement sleeve, a subtle detail or simply a great cut, the brand always manages to get its dress silhouettes right, and the current collection is no exception. It was on one of my regular trips to the store to find the next It dress that I came across a distinctive shade of orange that immediately caught my eye, and so I found the dress. Not quite bright orange and distinctly darker than yellow (I’m going to call it clementine for now), the slightly A-line midi is made in a pleasingly sculpting stretch cotton with a ruched side detail to emphasise the waist. So far, so good.
The real test came from wearing it for the first time to the office in my first week as shopping editor at Who What Wear, where it proved an across-the-board hit with all of our editors—petite, tall, bright-colour skeptics and all, which is a testament to its broad appeal.
And although we haven't seen it everywhere just yet, I have a feeling I may be letting one of the best-kept secrets out of the bag in sharing this number because once COS pieces sell out, we're on tenterhooks waiting for them to come back in.
A quick aside for those of you unsure about pulling off the colour (although, I assure you it works on just about everyone): It also comes in powder blue and black, so if you prefer soft pastels or a classic monochrome, you're covered.
Shop the Dress
At the moment, I’m wearing it with chunky Birkenstock sandals and a crossbody bag for casual weekends (the best-selling COS bag is perfect for this) or dressing it up with pointy shoes for more formal occasions. In fact, it even works with platform sandals for dinner, which goes to prove its real selling point is its versatility.
Shop More Must-See COS Dresses
Up Next: 8 Elevated Outfits Our Fashion Editors Wear on Rotation in Summer

Remy Farrell is a London-based fashion editor with 10 years of experience covering fashion, beauty and lifestyle. After graduating with a journalism degree and working on the fashion teams for titles such as Grazia, Elle, and British Vogue, she moved into the luxury e-commerce sector, working as fashion assistant at TheOutnet.com After expanding an assisting and styling portfolio that includes talent such as Gigi Hadid, Victoria Beckham and Miquita Oliver, she ventured into beauty, compiling reviews and diverse beauty content.
In her role as fashion editor at Who What Wear, Remy is interested in discovering new brands to share with the WWW UK readership, and loves uncovering hidden gems to make shopping accessible to everyone.
-
People With Impeccable Taste Swear By COS—21 Chic Sale Finds to Take Advantage of Right Now
25% off? Yes, please.
-
Skip the Logos—Here's What French and Italian Women Are *Actually* Wearing for a Euro Summer
Chic.
-
Holy Ref! Holier COS! These 27 Finds Just Got Me So Excited for Fall (Sorry, Summer—I'm Over You)
These buys plus a Gilmore Girls rewatch.
-
I Accidentally Started a Capsule Wardrobe When I Added These COS, Madewell, and J.Crew Items Into My Closet
And I got rid of all the pieces that couldn't compete.
-
These 31 Effortless Summer Basics Make Getting Ready So Much Easier
Low lift, high reward.
-
Forget Burgundy—COS Has Declared *This* the It Color to Wear for Fall
It's lighter and more romantic.
-
If You're Anti-Jeans, These Nordstrom Skirts, Dresses, and Pants Will Make You Giddy
Stylish bottoms to the front!
-
I'm a Shopping Expert—31 of the Hottest Summer Finds According to My Revolve, Zara, and Nordstrom Tabs
From trendy lace-trim shorts to flip-flop heels.