In my role as a professional shopper, I’m no newcomer to trialling and testing new products.
Only every now and then, something stops me in my tracks and I very quickly realise that I can’t live without it.
It could be a pair of flattering jeans or a perfectly tailored blazer that I find myself constantly reaching for, unaware of how great they are until they become part of my everyday rotation.
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This month, the one item that has blown me away is a Mary Poppins style bag from COS.
I’ve already declared the Croc Gallery Tote as the ‘bag of the season’ because in just a week of wearing it, it’s already proved endlessly useful.
From Australian Fashion Week to coffee runs and office commutes, it has carried my essentials more stylishly than any other bag in my wardrobe.
COS has long delivered elevated basics — without the overly hefty price tags or the cheaper-made fast fashion pieces that only seem to last a season.
With its structured silhouette, deep chocolate brown colour and glossy croc finish, this one looks far more expensive than its high street origins suggest.
Office girls know that finding the perfect bag to carry to work is no easy feat, because despite there being so many options on the market, not all tick the right boxes.
Is it large enough to carry lunch? Can it fit a laptop? Are there internal pockets? Does it close securely? These are all the kinds of questions we find ourselves asking on a quest to find the best of the bunch.
Well, this COS bag delivers all of the above.
Balancing practicality with polish, I cannot stop raving about the high-end look without veering into luxury-house territory (and price tags).
Yes, it still retails for $530 and while it sits considerably higher than many high street bags, the quality and cost-per-wear potential makes it worth considering.
Many totes traditionally lack structure, offering a cool, slouchy style.
While this is great for a boho, Chloe-like look, it’s not always the most functional, and many of us end up with said slouch without the practicality.
Yet this COS number strikes the perfect balance.
Safe to say, my search for the perfect work tote is officially over because this Croc Tote will be glued to my arm for the foreseeable.
