How can anyone afford to shop in Boden?!

[Elfina]

DH and I are both on pretty good wages, but I'm shocked at how expensive it is! Even in the sale it's pricey.

So who shops there? Maybe I'm just being tight?!

[PenisesAreNotPink]

I think it's quite good value in the sale.

Theres a vast gulf now between reasonable quality shops like Jigsaw/joules/Boden/kew etc and cheapy shops like Primark and new look

If you shop in Primark everywhere looks expensive

[Bowlersarm]

I shop there. The DSes wouldn't be seen in it now, but I still get a few things for myself every season. It seems to last forever.

[LightastheBreeze]

I can often get a top under £20 in the sale and have had lots of trousers/jeans under £30 in the sale. All have lasted well.

I have also had some of the handbags, usually with 50-70% off.

This makes it very comparable with places like Next, Debenams, Marks, etc and better quality.

I generally buy stuff each sale time and because they trot out similar styles each year it doesn't date. Also never really in fashion either

[atticusclaw]

I buy stuff in the sale. It's much better quality than lots of the high street shops.

[Hassled]

The stuff does last well but nevertheless, it's overpriced for what it is. What I buy, I buy in the sales.

[Gillybobs]

Always a discount code on the go and the sales can be good, it's the only stuff I buy that lasts and lasts. Not into the crazy patterns mind you

[321zerobaby]

Depends how many clothes you have. I buy one or 2 Boden dresses a year, normally wait for a 30% deal, and will where them for several years. If you are a fashion shopper who buys something new every week or so, then it would work out expensive.

[morethanpotatoprints]

I wouldn't be seen dead in it tbh, over priced and boring, its all the same.
I have heard its good quality though, but I'd rather have something a bit less drab.

[Gillybobs]

I've never heard it described as drab before, quite the opposite!

[ZaraW]

Boden does some really great basics. I love the Bistro crops they fit so well and the quality is fantastic. I would rather buy less but get higher quality items.

[polyhymnia]

No it's certainly not drab! On the contrary, they have way too many garish patterns.

It is possible to avoid these with effort, though and I think price wise they're pretty good value. I always buy with a discount -15% at worst but often 20% or better. At those prices, there is very little difference between Boden and M and S, where I used to buy back in the day but no longer do.

And the great majority of their stuff is good quality and washes and wears well.

[polyhymnia]

PS Also agree I wouldn't want to compromise on quality and would prefer to have less clothes than do that.

[Elfina]

I guess I'm thinking more about the kids clothes never buy myself anything anymore. How can people afford £30 per cardigan?!

[dexter73]

It is good quality and can be worn by younger children, then sold on ebay for a good price afterwards. The £30 cardigan probably has a very small cost per wear by the end, and was probably bought with a discount code anyway.

[Fairylea]

I only shop in the sale. It is very good quality though and things I have purchased years ago seem to wash and wear and wash and wear forever.

[LittleBearPad]

The Boden clothes that DD has have lasted for ages. The Next/Mothercare/Gap clothes look far more worn sooner.

[Notso]

I've never bought any for myself but have for the kids. They send me a couple of £10 vouchers and discount codes are always around.
Have posted about it before but DS1's Boden coat lasted three years was around £15 with discounts and sold on Ebay for £30.

[choirmumoftwo]

Just got a lovely Boden top in a charity shop for under a fiver. It's the only Boden thing I own!

[Bowlersarm]

Children's Boden lasts for ever. I had loads of it which i passed down from ds1 to ds2 to ds3, and even after three children some of it could still go on to friends. The quality is usually excellent.

[aubreye]

Love Mini boden for my girls and DS2. DS1 is a bit old for it in his opinion.

[SinglePringle]

I'm not a fan of Boden at all. Either drab or garish. And just not my style.

But I hear the quality is great and I think £30 for a cardigan is very reasonable. I don't wear cardis but for say, a jumper that was going to be worn and washed on a regular basis? Very very reasonable.

[mamijacacalys]

What Dexter and Notso said.
DDs Boden gear is bought with 20% offers or in the sales, washes well, lasts ages and is sold on for good money on ebay when outgrown.
Cost per item works out at less than supermarket / Primark for far nicer quality gear.
Their viscose mix wrap dresses and wool trousers are staples in my work wardrobe and last years. The drapeyeness/fabric quality/fit of the dresses in particular is far superior to M&S and Next alternatives. Only Phase 8 on the High St comes close on quality but they tend to have less discounting so work out more expensive than Boden. Boden dresses that I have not worn much have sold well on ebay.
HTH

[RaisingSteam]

I think sale prices are OK for the quality, very carefully chosen (less hallucinogenic) things are OK for work. Kids PJs are a staple in this house, wash and last excellently. I guess it is drab but I have to find four outfits a week for my dull job and it's OK for me.

[alemci]

I like it, good for basics, good selection of colours and styles. great sales

[bonhomme]

I buy my son's clothes in a generous size and they will last at least one year, maybe two. I've just bought the lovely fleecy lined hoody - he will probably wear that nearly every day in Autumn and Winter (and has even had it on several times this month too). But I don't buy many things for him from Boden - just the odd thing.