My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

For beauty and fashion style advice, join in our Style forum chat.

Style & Beauty

What's so amazing about Hunter, Barbour, Joules, Boden and Cath Kidston?

31 replies

inconceivableme · 30/10/2014 23:02

Pray tell please?! Sooooo expensive and middle of the road. Or am I missing something major?

OP posts:
DoughnutSelfie · 30/10/2014 23:15

Hunter quality is meh nowadays

Barbour - great quality

Joules, um well, a bit too Country Pile with a London pad for weekends, the boys clothes are fab, same as Boden, nice bags though. Hah.

Cath Kidston, nope, horrid. Apart from the tea towels, they are top noth quality BUT JL own just as nice

DoughnutSelfie · 30/10/2014 23:16

*notch

shadylane · 30/10/2014 23:17

Nothing they are all shit.

peasandlove · 31/10/2014 04:31

what's so amazing is their great marketing teams and consumers jumping onto trend bandwagons

JapaneseMargaret · 31/10/2014 04:55

If it's not your style, then you're never going to get it. I will never get the appeal of those boots that make you look like you mugged a member of Satan's Slaves, but I appreciate other people love them.

A lot of people like middle of the road.

And they're not expensive for a lot of people. There are a lot more expensive clothes shops out there than that lot.

nooka · 31/10/2014 05:11

For me Hunter and Barbour are granny clothes because that's what my grandmother wore. She was quite a chic lady though.

MrsCampbellBlack · 31/10/2014 05:40

That is a lot of brands.

I rate Barbour and some bits of boden are ok. The rest generally not for me.

TheCrimsonQueen · 31/10/2014 06:11

Love everything about Joules (apart from the price). Mostly buy Joules in the sale for my two boys but I love their kids bedding the most.

cathpip · 31/10/2014 06:19

Most boden children's clothes last, as in being used on a 4th child last, now childrens clothes that do that I'm prepared to spend money on, oh and they still look good, not worn! I also like boden and joules :)

MaryWestmacott · 31/10/2014 06:41

Boden is good quality on the whole, cut for the 30-something post baby female body rather for a teenager, the website is easy to use, the reviews brutally honest and make it easy to work out sizing issues for each item, so if you can't get to the shops, it's a great place to shop from. (Although this season it does seem to have gone a bit wrong, but the jeans are great)

Barbour are good quality and last if you need a warm/waterproof casual coat/jacket. Styles are classic enough that you don't have to worry about them looking out of fashion in 5-10 years time.

I don't have hunters, but friends who do always recommend them when I'm complaining my cheap wellies don't last or are uncomfy to walk in.

Joules doesn't seem to tempt me so can't help you there.

But basically, they are "basics" brands for people who dress casually and are happy to spend a bit more for quality but don't want to spend that much on stuff that will look obviously dated within 12 months.

MaryWestmacott · 31/10/2014 06:42

Oh but cath kidson I don't get, mainly because I don't like the style, the quality doesn't seem to be there to justify the price or following.

Captainweasel · 31/10/2014 06:46

I rate Barbour. I have an ancient one but it's still just as good as when I bought it.

Bought hunters in September thinking I could use them every day for my walk to work. So far no rain. So no need.

mooth · 31/10/2014 07:32

Barbour jackets are good quality and they are stylish. If you live in the country you need practical clothes.

I buy a lot of Joules products for myself, my kids, and the home. Fantastic quality and it washes well. Price is fine. I don't have the wellies, I buy Le Chameau. If I want 'going out' or evening stuff I buy from Mint Velvet or the White Company.

Cath Kidston is a bit 'samey' for me.

LightastheBreeze · 31/10/2014 07:34

I love a bit of Boden but only in the sale/clearance. I've had some great bargains there and most of it is good quality, because their styles don't change year on year, I buy out of season. I am quite middle of the road and fairly old though, a clue being I also shop at M & S a lotGrin

MorrisZapp · 31/10/2014 07:34

Which brands do you like, OP?

Marylou2 · 31/10/2014 07:38

Mostly just reasonable quality clothing that you can put on and get on with your life without frightening the horses, literally in some cases.

RockMummy · 31/10/2014 08:37

Boden sells colours other than black/burgundy/grey too which is important to me. I have no wish to look like a corpse all the time.

MrsWolowitz · 31/10/2014 10:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BillStickersIsInnocent · 31/10/2014 11:02

I keep coming back to Boden for me because it's usually good quality, natural fabrics, cut well and also the service is great. I hate having to pay for returns or delivery. They do good basic work wear and deliver fast.

I buy boden for the children because it lasts and has good resale value. I like bright colours and hate monster/shark/macho logos but unfortunately Boden are going that way now.

Don't own any hunter or Barbour. No joules for me but the kids have some and the quality is good.

vichill · 31/10/2014 11:02

Joules is nice quality and I like the cut of the women's clothes but I would never pay more than half price. The outlet part on the website can be very cheap.

Barbour a bit football hooligan's missus in the area I live in.

Cath Kidston have lost their way. Really frumpy now and have clearly run out of ideas.That stop thief and clocks print was just grotesque.

VoyagerII · 31/10/2014 11:08

They are just a bunch of brands aimed at affluent middle-class people and bandwaggoning on the countrified/twee/cupcake/wholesome trend.

They each have their own USP and features though, and if you pick and choose they might have something to offer.

Cath Kidston - ultra twee, not for me. Joules - mostly just a bit too Jenny Aldridge, to be worn with wellies and an apron, and yet I do love their fluffy socks and girls' leggings. Hunter/Barbour - have never gone there as I think of them as way too posh and expensive.

Boden I do love, though they are massively hit and miss and the Boden "culture" and catalogues are deeply irritating. They have great basics, especially for kids, that really last. They sometimes do a cardigan or dress that I just love. And I do like the fact you can get interesting colours, because I love colour. For me it's always worth a look, although I find the majority of their prints and styles frumpy. They also have great sales, codes and offers (I got a lovely print summer top for £7 the other day) and great customer service.

dottytablecloth · 31/10/2014 11:32

Boden quality is generally very good, as is Joules in my experience.

I don't think there is anything amazing about any brand though, if you like it, you like it.

There's no need to worry if you don't like a particular brand, just stick to a brand you like!

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

carrielou2007 · 31/10/2014 12:01

Love the fit of Boden and Joules I find the very flattering for a slim size 10 but with lumps and bumps from 3dc. We have a Joules outlet nearby so I find good quality clothes for very reasonable price. Same with Barbour, waterproof coats essential school run wear (I have about 4 Barbours!!) 3 bought from again local outlet. I like some of the CK bags, practical oilcloth when it's raining but not keen on clothes. The mushroom skirt I find vile yet people were going wild over it just proves we are all different and like different things.

LIZS · 31/10/2014 12:08

Have Hunters from 15+ years ago and they are very comfy and practical, also Barbour although have worn each less since they became "trendy". Boden I find variable in style and quality and only ever buy reduced, Cath Kidston like the look (reminds me of original Laura Ashley) but the last bag I bought has a problem with stitching undoing and I need to return it. All work in moderation but can look naff if overdone. Similarly Joules et al.

polyhymnia · 31/10/2014 12:13

Can't really lump them all together IMO.
Boden I'm generally positive about. You have to choose carefully and I send a lot back but what I keep are wearable, good quality basics and some nice dresses. I also like the online reviews, the customer service and the almost constant availability of 15 or 20% off and free post and returns.

Joules I've never bothered with as look like a less good Boden-alike - though that may be unfair.

An urban person so have never tried Barbour or Hunter.

CK I find terribly twee and would never buy, so can't really explain the appeal. Their shops always remind me of the sort you find in theme parks.

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.