Marie Claire UK
  • Fashion Fashion
      • Fashion
        • View all Fashion
        • Fashion Trends
        • Shopping
        • Watches and Jewellery
        • Fashion News
  • Beauty Beauty
      • Beauty
        • View all Beauty
        • Fragrance
        • Hair
        • Make Up
        • Skincare
        • Nails
        • Marie Claire Beauty Awards
  • Health Health
      • Health
        • View all Health
        • Fitness
        • Nutrition
        • Female Health
        • Wellbeing
  • Life Life
      • Life
        • View all Life
        • Opinions
        • Travel
        • Sustainability
        • Weddings
        • Money & Work
        • Competitions
  • Culture Culture
      • Culture
        • View all Culture
        • TV and Film
        • Celebrity News
        • Books
        • Royal News
  • Vouchers Vouchers
      • Clothing
        • View all Vouchers
        • Mint Velvet
        • Karen Millen
        • H&M
        • nobody's child
        • ASOS
        • ARKET
        • MANGO
      • Designer Clothing
        • View all Vouchers
        • Reiss
        • THE OUTNET
        • SSENSE
        • Mytheresa
        • Liberty London
        • Selfridges
        • Farfetch
      • Accessories
        • View all Vouchers
        • AllSaints
        • Aspinal of London
        • Charles & Keith
        • River Island
        • FitFlop
        • Kate Spade
        • Vagabond
      • Jewellery
        • View all Vouchers
        • Pandora
        • Abbott Lyon
        • Goldsmiths
        • Beaverbrooks
        • Astrid & Miyu
        • Swarovski
        • Angara Jewellery
      • Beauty
        • View all Vouchers
        • Sephora
        • Cult Beauty
        • Space NK
        • Dyson
        • Clarins
        • Look Fantastic
        • Clinique
      • Activewear
        • View all Vouchers
        • Lululemon
        • Gymshark
        • Sweaty Betty
        • Nike
        • adidas
        • New Balance
        • Helly Hansen
  • NEWSLETTER Signup to our newsletter
  • logoCreated with Sketch.
    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!


    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    You are now subscribed

    Your newsletter sign-up was successful


    An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
    Trending
    • Latest Issue
    • Marie Claire Masters
    • Autumn Winter 2026
    • Nail Trends 2026
    • Best Investment Bags
    • Best Perfumes
    1. Fashion
    2. Shopping

    Trust me, these 8 COS bags will NEVER go out of style

    No need to spend a fortune to look chic

    Penny Goldstone's avatar
    By Penny Goldstone
    Published 22 January 2025 In Features

    When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

    COS handbags
    (Image credit: COS)
    Jump to category:
    • Shop COS bags
    • Facebook
    • X
    • Pinterest
    Share this article
    Join the conversation
    Follow us
    Add us as a preferred source on Google
    Subscribe to our newsletter

    I've long been a fan of high-street label COS' elevated everyday essentials. From cosy knitwear to stylish coats and timeless tailoring, there's practically nothing I wouldn't buy in the COS new in section.

    Their latest launch, the Alcove bag, is no exception. I would go as far as to say that it is the perfect embodiment of a designer handbag, without the price tag.

    Its silhouette is clean yet sculptural, thanks to a elegantly folded centre which gives the style its name.

    It's practical too, with a spacious central compartment that also features a detachable zip-up pouch for when you're on the go. Available in two sizes, a large as well as smaller size that also fits in a surprising amount, it's a clear icon in the making.

    My vote goes to the butter-soft suede style in chocolate, although you can also get it in moss green and a classic black leather too.

    You may like
    • Work bags Need a New Office Tote? These Are the 19 Best Work Bags Fashion Experts Swear By
    • Celebrity Handbags Everyday Handbags are Stealing the Spotlight—These are the 9 Styles Celebrities Including Rihanna and Kaia Gerber are Championing
    • image of Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's with gift guide products around it Gifts for the Woman... in Her ‘Iconic for a Reason’ Era

    Retailing at just £225 for the big version, it's proof if proof were needed that you don't have to spend a fortune to own an expensive-looking bag (although if you do want to splurge, check out our top investment handbags of 2025 here).

    I've been the proud owner of a couple of COS handbags for a few years - the banana bag and the quilted bag below - and can attest to their versatility and durability. They are not purchases I regret making.

    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!

    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    If you're a timeless COS bag yourself, here are some other styles I guarantee will remain timeless and will go with everything you own.

    Shop COS bags

    Alcove Tote - Suede

    COS Alcove Tote
    £225 AT COS

    Taking its name from the chic centrefold of the design, the Alcove is big enough to fit a small laptop. Your ideal everyday companion.

    Tome Mini Crossbody - Leather

    COS Tome Mini Crossbody
    £115 AT COS

    The perfect evening bag.

    Cavatelli Clutch - Leather

    COS Cavatelli Clutch
    £135 AT COS

    This clutch comes in other colourways - including black and brown - as well as a smaller size, but I love how much you can fit into this one.

    Quilted Mini Tote

    COS Quilted Mini Tote
    £45 AT COS

    It's hard to argue with the price tag on this one. I own it in black and I love it for my more casual days.

    Eastside Mini Bowling Bag - Leather

    COS Eastside Mini Bowling Bag
    £95 AT COS

    Named for its elongated east-west shape, this mini bowling bag ticks off one of this season's major bag trends.

    Serif Tote - Suede

    COS Serif Tote
    £200 AT COS

    Another timeless tote, the Serif features cleaner lines than the Alcove, if that's what you prefer.

    Tome Mini Crossbody - Suede

    COS Tome Mini Crossbody
    £115 AT COS

    This mini crossbody comes in a dusty pink shade that will be ideal come Spring.

    Studio Bowling Bag - Leather

    COS Studio Bowling Bag
    £225 AT COS

    Bowling bags are everywhere at the moment, and I can't see them going away any time soon. If you want to jump on the bandwagon, this bag is the way to do it.

    Penny Goldstone
    Penny Goldstone
    Social Links Navigation
    Contributing Fashion Editor

    Penny Goldstone is the Contributing Fashion Editor at Marie Claire UK. She writes about catwalk trends and the latest high street and Instagram sartorial must-haves. She also helms the Women Who Win franchise.

    She has worked in fashion for over 10 years, contributing to publications such as Cosmopolitan, Red, Good Housekeeping, and Stylist.

    Read more
    Work bags
    Shopping Need a New Office Tote? These Are the 19 Best Work Bags Fashion Experts Swear By
    Celebrity Handbags
    Shopping Everyday Handbags are Stealing the Spotlight—These are the 9 Styles Celebrities Including Rihanna and Kaia Gerber are Championing
     
     
    image of Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's with gift guide products around it
    Shopping Gifts for the Woman... in Her ‘Iconic for a Reason’ Era
    Mytheresa Linkby
    Shopping I’m a Fashion Director—Any of These 13 New-In Autumn Buys Would Make a Great Addition to Your Forever Wardrobe
     
     
    Latest in Shopping
    What Lily Loves
    Shopping These Black Leggings Are My Secret to Easy Autumn Style Plus the Celine Loafers I’ll Never Regret Buying
    A scattering of gift guide products on a beige background
    Shopping A Gift Guide for the Eras
     
     
    image of Michelle Pfeiffer in Scarface with gift guide products around it
    Shopping Gifts for the Woman... in Her ‘Less Is More’ Era
    image of Reese Witherspoon in Legally Blonde with gift guide products around it
    Shopping Gifts for the Woman in Her... ‘Bring Me Joy’ Era
     
     
    Latest in Features
    Grey Blending hair colour trend
    Hair Grey Blending Is Changing the Way We Colour Our Hair—Here’s Everything You Need to Know
    XERF treatment review
    Skincare I Tried XERF, the Skin-Tightening Treatment Everyone Is Talking About—Here's My Verdict
     
     
    AI relationships: Woman lying in bed at night, looking at her smartphone while seeking relationship advice from a chatbot.
    Relationships AI Knows All Our Relationship Problems. Is That an Issue?
    Health freelancer Georgia Brown hiking in Korea
    Wellbeing I Tried Korea’s Approach to Stress for Seven Days—Could It Help My Permanently Switched-On Brain?
     
     
    logoCreated with Sketch.
    • Site Archive
    • Contact Future's experts
    • Contact us
    • Terms and conditions
    • Advertise with us
    • Privacy policy
    • Cookies policy
    • About us
    Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google

    Marie Claire UK is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

    © Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.