To wonder what MNers seem to have against Boden?

[orangutangerine]

As a relative newbie to MN I've noticed numerous negative comments about Boden (don't worry, I don't work for them or anything ). Am I missing something?

Granted, I don't buy the adult stuff, it's a bit dull and not my style.

However, I do buy several staple pieces for my DCs from Boden, and I have to say, they last for ever as the quality is good. I don't like all the styles but can usually find something I do like.

If you don't like Boden, why, and where do you buy DC's clothes from instead?

I tend to do a few disposable playclothes from supermarket, some bits from Next, rest from Boden, M&S, John Lewis or Vertbaudet.

Because I can't cope with all that poncey, smug, wholesome, middle class, twee-ness. It's all a bit DaveCam isn't it.

I get DD's clothes from H&M and Asda.

I've heard of it on here and in extremely smug articles in Sunday supplements.

They've never sent me any vouchers ("£15 off when you spend £20!" generally grabs my attention, if anyone wants my custom), therefore I've never investigated the name.

Generally frequent charity shops, Vertbaudet, La Redoute, Next Clearance, Primark. That kind of thing.

Because, to be honest, it's overpriced and I can get nicer "pieces" in Asda/Tesco/Next/H&M etc.

Boden is for wannabe Middle-Classers.

I recently spent an afternoon with two competitive aspiring middle-classer, both obsessed with Boden and talking about it constantly. Very boring! I can't really see what there is to like about Boden in general TBH. They produce the occasional nice thing but the rest isn't my cup of tea really.

And as for referring to kids clothes as "pieces"

I am not a 40 something or middle class.

I am tattooed and pierced, love animals far more than people and have a wardrobe full of Boden as do my kids......

Their adult stuff is dull in the extreme, and their children's stuff seems to be cut very wide. Having said that, I have bought their Tshirt dresses and think they're lovely. Also used to love their spotty tights. Also think that Johnny Boden is too "up himself" in his advertising-a bit too self-consciously "lifestyle" for me!!

For younger children, I love Jojo (brilliant quality and understated;) otherwise anything really that's not chavvy (ie logos/glitter etc). Love Gap's long skinny range.

Their adult stuff is dull in the extreme, and their children's stuff seems to be cut very wide. Having said that, I have bought their Tshirt dresses and think they're lovely. Also used to love their spotty tights. Also think that Johnny Boden is too "up himself" in his advertising-a bit too self-consciously "lifestyle" for me!!

For younger children, I love Jojo (brilliant quality and understated;) otherwise anything really that's not chavvy (ie logos/glitter etc). Love Gap's long skinny range.

I buy some bits from Boden in sale/ebay/offer time because it does last and some of it is quite classic. Being long of leg I also appreciate the long length option in all skirts, dresses, trousers etc. That is rare. I don't have anything fun or hotchpotch though.

I guess I am a pretty standard member of their demographic in terms of being 'middle class' (whatever that means now), but am not yet 30 so perhaps a little young for their stuff?!

I have bough baby DD a few bits in the sale and on ebay too, washes well and will last for future children!

I am 40 but an old punk and fat therefore the women's stuff is not for me. Showed the men's stuff to DH and he burst out laughing! Still, I do love the boys' clothes even if they are very dear. I bought DS1 an anorak for nearly £40 but he has had 2 winters out of; it has been washed countless times and it still looks like new. DS2 will also get 2 years out of it so works out at £10 per year for a warm, waterproof coat.

The other thing I like about Boden boys' clothing is that it suits DS1 who is very big. He is 5 but wears 7-8 clothes. Boden clothes are jolly and bright even in the bigger sizes whereas Next etc are all grey/black and grim and covered in skulls etc once you go over age 5. So if I buy Boden stuff he can wear primary colour stripes etc and look like the five year old he is. I also LOVE their tartan trousers and DS2 is wearing his blues one today and looking damn cute in them.

BTW I have been buying a lot of boys' stuff in Marks and Spencers recently. Their boys clothes are really hard wearing, very reasonably priced and very jolly. The nicest of anywhere I've looked this year.

Meant to add, we are not rich. I always wait until the best discounts are available and would never dream of paying £30 for a pair of trousers for my children. Plain jeans etc come from tesco! I think Boden comes into its own if you have several children of the same gender. I feel ok about paying a lot of money for nice clothes when I know they will last through several years of wear. If I only had DS1 I would think twice before buying Boden stuff for him; not really worth it then.

OK, enough already about 'pieces'.

I meant it as in 'bits and pieces' rather than like in 'pieces of art'.

I every time someone mentions it.

I like the jeans and have the odd top and coat or 2 or 3.

I am probably one of the posse that GORM is referring to and it's spelt Johnnie.

Oh and my sil is friend's with Johnnie's sister so that makes me practically Boden royalty. Arf

I don't like it because it's obvious at forty paces where your clothes came from. When I was growing up, the trick was to look timeless and classic, not clonelike.

Get ds's clothes from Gap, Zara, next, white company and treats from Ralph Lauren, in the sale. House of Fraser have some great stuff for kids, the label is NameIt, quality great and really cheap in the sale.

Found out recently that my DD was called "Boden girl" by a particular friend of the family. I don't think it was entirely meant kindly TBH. The funny thing is, the bits of Boden which she does have are all from charity shops, handmedowns or my sole raid on a Boden town hall sale. The issue is though- all distinguishable at a thousand paces, and then marking me out as a particular kind of yummymummy (bleurgh) for dressing her in them.

Re. the women's clothes, I look terrible in them. If you go to the Park Royal shop and look around, it's really surprising how crap quality the (adult) clothes are, even if they look lovely in the catalogue. All the tops are cut too skimpy for me, the woollens bobble, the swimsuits bag blah blah. I have given up TBH.