I Took My Tax Refund Straight to COS, Massimo Dutti, and The Row—Here's the Damage

Neelam Ahooja wearing a red utility anorak from The Row.

(Image credit: @neelam.ahooja)

I finally received my tax refund the other day, which, despite being smaller than I would have liked, has gone a long way in convincing me that I deserve a little bit of retail therapy. After all, I didn't work as hard as I did throughout 2024 to not gift myself with something nice at the end. At least, that's how I'm justifying the damage I just did at three of my favorite stores right now—COS, The Row, and Massimo Dutti.

This spring and summer, I'm really focusing my style and prioritizing high-quality basics and fun pieces that, without any effort, make outfits interesting and unique. Think red thong sandals, a plaid shirt, and a controversial pair of culottes. All three can be paired with easy drawstring pants, relaxed denim, and a breezy skirt and be complete. No outfit anxiety in sight. Fortunately, COS, The Row, and Massimo Dutti provided me with all of that and more during my latest online shopping session. My accountant might not be thrilled about my purchases, but I certainly am.

Scroll down to find out what to buy from COS, Massimo Dutti, and The Row this spring. Everything included is either still in my shopping cart for future reference or has already been swiped for. Trust me. They're all very good—too good, honestly.

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Senior Fashion Editor

Eliza Huber is an NYC-based senior fashion editor who specializes in trend reporting, brand discovery, and the intersection of sports and fashion. She joined Who What Wear in 2021 from Refinery29, the job she took after graduating with a business degree from the University of Iowa. She's launched two columns, Let's Get a Room and Ways to Wear; profiled Dakota Fanning, Diane Kruger, Katie Holmes, Gracie Abrams, and Sabrina Carpenter; and reported on everything from the relationship between Formula One and fashion to the top runway trends each season. Eliza lives on the Upper West Side and spends her free time researching F1 fashion imagery for her side Instagram accounts @thepinnacleoffashion and @f1paddockfits, watching WNBA games, and scouring The RealReal for discounted Prada.