is boden ladies just a bit crap?

[YorkshireTeaGold]

Some stuff looks lovely in the catalog but sooo frumpy on. Is it just me? I avoid all the "fun tunic" type stuff but even the plain stuff is really unflattering. I'm hour glass shaped and it doesn't fit at all so I look like I'm prego. Also seems really big, I'm defo not a size 10 but some 12s are massive.

Whenever I'm on mat leave I get sucked in and order stuff as haven't been shopping for ages but am always disappointed.

Girls stuff looks lovely on Dds though.

Do you find good stuff there?

[Greengardenpixie]

Ive never really had a good fit from them. I find their skirts sit way too high up for me and annoy my waist. I find them also neat in the bust. Its a hit or a miss. The models look gorgeous with the clothes on. Suppose they are skinny and young and can make some of the more classic styles look retro. It can work if you have the right boyish figure i suppose..which i dont!

[Greengardenpixie]

..good stuff.well er...i have a lovely fairisle style jumper thats nice. The quality is very good. Their trousers can make you look very frumpy depending upon the style and your own shape. I have nice sandals too.

[Greengardenpixie]

..oh and im a sucker for their retro prints. Gets me everytime!

[dreamingofsun]

a few years ago i bought quite a lot of things, but the shape of their dresses seems to have changed - higher waisted and gathered around the tummy - which makes me look pregnant or frumpy.

plus there are more man made fibres now. its a shame as i have stuff from a few years ago that is lovely, well made and slighly different. apart from jeans - and you need a small waist/big hips for these (i have opposite)

not sure where to shop now. But then i probably (definately) don't need to

[PunchHouse]

Most of it is frumpy. Not well cut, not good even on the skinny.

[HiawathaDidntBotherTooMuch]

Well I like lots of it. They stock the widest range of petite clothes by far. I find that they often do the same style top/dress/trousers in difefrent colours or patterns, so if you find something that fits you and looks good, you can buy it in the alternative pattern or colour (though this is a bit hit and miss). I would always wait until there is a 20% off code with free delivery and returns though as I think their stuff is expensive for what it is.

Their returns policy is amazing (a year to return anything, no questions asked).

This summer I have bought three casual dresses, a sun dress, two pairs of trousers, long sleeve wrap style top,cap sleeve top, short sleeve wrap style top and a smart dress (which I haven't worn yet as nowhere to wear it to).

I find that their stuff is really easy to wear and it always washes well. I'm really happy with all of it. I am petite, short and consistently a size 10 in Boden. What's not to liike?

I've bought a few t-shirts for DS too.

[OneLittleToddleTerror]

I actually like the tunics I ordered from them. They are quite tight fitting so I'm not sure what you ordered that makes you look pregnant? I love wearing them with leggings or skinny jeans. All the floaty stuff with skinny jeans just look too bulky on me.

It might be also like hiawatha says. I'm petite and skinny. And I love them having petite sizes in almost all the styles.

[alemci]

I've been buying boden for years. today I'm wearing a skirt I have had for at least 6 years'. I like the t shirts and skirts. used to buy swimwear and the boots are fab. love boden

[ZaraW]

I love the fit of their Chelsea trousers and they are great quality. Some things in Boden are frumpy but they also have some great items.

[Lagoonablue]

Hate how the waist on the dresses sits so high.

[Milmingebag]

I think the quality has deteriorated and the sizing is all over the place. About five years ago the maxi dresses I bought were made with the thickest jersey and have worn well. The ones I have are empire line but without any pleating. Ever since then the material has got cheaper and the designs voluminous so unless you have no chest and a tiny rib cage - they are going to form a maternity line on you.

The coats seem too tight across the arms/shoulders/bust but incredibly voluminous below the waist.

I have come to the conclusion that they cut their clothes for extreme pear shapes.

Their shoes are extremely narrow and short in the toe too.

[Milmingebag]

Also their cardigans, whether they be crew neck or deep v, are incredibly frumpy/boxy. Same with their jumpers too.

[phoolani]

I'm petite and thin and I find everything just bags out in the wrong places. Only thing I like are the cropped trousers.

[bewleysisters]

Yes, yes on too high waists on dresses and too narrow shoes. Bistro trousers, modern pencil skirts and cotton jumpers are all great though.

[polyhymnia]

Lots wrong and I send back the majority of what I order , but lots that have been great basics in my wardrobe too.

Another fan of the Chelsea trousers and if some of the tunics and dresses, but all the result of lots of careful choosing .

[clary]

yes yes to the disastrously (for me) narrow shoes.

But DD says my feet are ridiculously wide so yeah.

I do like Boden but I have to say I ordered £300-worth of stuff this season in an effort to find one top I liked. I ended up keeping the only thing that wasn't massively big and unflattering.

I like Boden but have less and less in my wardrobe. Several summer skirts and a couple of wrap tops. Four cardis but two of them are 4-5 years old. A winter mac. One dress.

I went right through the sale and didn't want to buy anything. The two things I got this season - a cardi (!) and the fitted top were both more expensive in the sale than on my 20% off and free postage offer

[GretchenWiener]

OP its not compulsory

[GretchenWiener]

i only ever buy tops. The sizing on the bottoms is for pears - not for those of use with thin thighs or short waists
Pencil skirts not TIGHT enough - more like A line.
Shoes perfectly slim for me!

[MrsEboJones76]

I am petite and slim and their petite size 6 is the best fit on me out of all the places I shop.
I avoid the garish colours and wild patterns but I do like some of the more quirky shirt prints and retro prints in muted colours.
I care less for their shoes as they never seem a good fit on me.

[PacificDogwood]

Boden do not service those of us generous of nork .
Which is a shame because most of their quality is good and the colours are sometimes too bright

[PinkSquash]

I have two Boden tops, one is a size 12, one a 16. Both measure the same across the bust and waist. Ridiculous sizing. I have the same problem with boys clothes, they are always on the small side on length of trousers and t-shirts.

[Dancergirl]

I hate all the loud prints but some of their plain knitwear is fab, so are their shoes and boots.

[TulipOHare]

Have had loads of great knitwear from them and buy all my basic jersey tops there.

Bemused by suggestions they cut for pear shapes - have heard this before, but am a classic pear and have had a grand total of ONE successful trouser purchase from them

Not a fan of the prints, generally, though I do like to amuse myself every time a new collection comes out by looking for the most hideous one. There is always one that I cannot imagine anyone liking or wearing.

Have had a few pairs of boots that were acceptable, and several brilliant bags.

Love the childrenswear.

[CroydonFacelift]

I like some of their dresses. They do a longer length in everything, which is so liberating for a tall person like me - dont have to worry that work dresses will look like mini skirts on me or be restricted to the two crappy choices in the 'tall' range like in most shops.

Its hit and miss, though. I got three lovely dresses from the summer range, and last winter I spent a fortune on work stuff as they had some (imo) lovely work dresses.

I couldn't find much in this year's autumn preview though and the winter preview is ghastly. The colours are all wrong for me.

I find their footwear and coats/jackets very ageing/frumpy.

Love their kids clothes but only ever buy from Ebay!

[CroydonFacelift]

I'm a tall hourglass, by the way