A review of the COS Monument Tote, assessing its functionality, style, and price point compared to other work bags. The author tested the bag's suitability for office, press events, and social outings, evaluating its comfort and wearability.
loyalist and putting many of my friends and co-workers onto the extra-large carryall, I started neglecting it for a new find, thefor this column and kind of fell in love with it. I still swear by my Cuyana, but, for the past few months, I’ve been rotating between all three.
Now another new work bag has come to my attention.In March, COS launched the Monument Tote, designed for commuters who need a bag that can go from the office to happy hour to a dinner date. It’s spacious without compromising on style. Both versions of the bag are 100 percent leather and priced at just $329. When I saw the announcement, I thought,— if the bag is as pretty and well made in person as it looks in photos.Scroll on to read my breakdown of the functionality, style, and price point of the COS Monument tote, plus see how it stacks up against my holy grail work bags and whether or not it’s worth the splurge.How many times did I wear it? I wore this bag at least five times, every time I went into the office during the month of March. I also carried it on a few days that were stacked with press previews . I styled it with black Everlane straight-leg jeans, an Aritzia black button-up, and Jenny Bird silver hoop earrings.I also paired it with khaki shorts, loafers, and a striped long-sleeve top that matched the burgundy bag so well, plus a gingham Barbour funnel-neck jacket and my new favorite low-waist jeans.What makes this bag special is how comfortable it is to carry. I often find myself choosing between a tote that can hold all my stuff but crushes my shoulders and a tote that’s lightweight but not quite spacious enough — this COS tote strikes the perfect balance. It never feels too heavy, even when I stuff it to the brim. I’m no engineer, but I’m guessing this has to do with the elongated shape and the fact that the weight gets distributed evenly throughout. The leather straps are long and slightly grippy. They never slide off the shoulder, so I can wear this bag with a puffy or slick coat, no problem. It also features an extra-long zipper, which I appreciate. I love the side panels because they create a true east-west shape that is hard to find in tote-bag form. But I wish the bag was designed to expandcollapse inward, that way it would still look structured, even with nothing inside. Since the side panels don’t fold in, they lose their shape a bit when there is nothing inside the bag to prop them up and provide structure.How much stuff can the COS Monumental tote hold? A lot. If you own the Cuyana Classic Easy tote, you know it’s the real-life version of the Mary Poppins bag. I’m packing for a long trip to Asia, and it’s where I’m storing all the overflow from my checked bag, including an extra sweatsuit, an extra pair of shoes, my makeup bag, and my, and some skin care. It’s the world’s most spacious tote bag, and much to my surprise, this one gives it a run for its money. Last week, I packed my laptop, daily planner, water bottle, and chargers for a day at the office, along with my makeup bag and a pair of pants to change into for a nighttime event. I could barely zip up the bag, but I was pleasantly surprised that everything actually fit. It also has one interior pocket, which is where I store my wallet, hand cream, and lip balm, which makes it great for easy access. This bag is still slightly less spacious than my Cuyana, but it can hold significantly more than my other two go-tos: the Parker Thatch Jack and the DeMellier Stockholm.How does the COS Monumental tote feel? Super-smooth but not quite as soft and supple as the DeMellier Stockholm and other Cut editor–approved options, like the. Still, it has the slightly distressed, worn-in finish you would expect from high-end leather. I like the vintage look as someone who is hard on my bags, because it helps disguise wear and tear. I also think this bag strikes the perfect balance between structured yet flexible enough to be functional. Both the exterior and interior zippers feel sturdy and durable.Is the COS Monumental tote worth it? Absolutely. I’m not going to tell you this bag looks like a designer leather tote because it doesn’t. But it definitely looks, feels, and functions like a bag in the $500-to-$700 range — at just $329, the price is. It’s made from real leather, it holds everything you need for the workday, and the elongated silhouette is so stylish and unexpected. The mahogany leather acts like a neutral in the sense that it goes with just about everything. But if I could buy only one, I would splurge on the croc print because the finish is so multidimensional and a textured bag can completely transform even the most boring of outfits. Sign up for the Cut Shop newsletter.Vox Media, LLC Terms and Privacy NoticeAre Repetto Ballet Shoes Worth It?‘Ketamine Queen’ Sentenced to 15 YearsAnnie Ramos Was Released From ICE Detention Five days after being handcuffed while arriving at a military base with her new husband, Matthew Blank, Ramos was released with an ankle monitor.‘I Have a Gigantic Crush on My Co-worker’
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