Are boden clothes worn as a status symbol?

[babyt2020]

I’d never heard of it until Mumsnet and I’m flabbergasted how ugly the clothes are and the prices are INSANE! Look how ugly this cardo is for £149!!

I'm not sure anyone think Boden clothes are a status symbol. Like any store, you're not going to like everything. The quality of Boden clothes is good in the main, range of styles but prices have increased, same as everywhere else really.

Do you like every item in your favourite store when you shop ? Where do you shop ?

Like all makers, some of their stuff is great and some of their stuff isn't. We don't all like or suit the same things.

In my opinion Boden is not a status symbol. It's every day stuff that is usually quite well made (not the quality it was in the late 90s or early 00's). I have a few bits. Their work trousers in particular are super, come in various lengths, and hang well.

In the its early days the DC had a fair bit of mini boden. It was usually natural fibres and generously cut which suited my teutonically built DC. It also washed well and lasted through three or four DC. Their children's socks, whilst expensive, lasted, stayed up and didn't shrink. DD had a dozen pairs that had already served two children. Ditto their pyjamas.

What’s a cardo?

Unless someone walks around with their labels hanging out, how would anyone know where their clothes were from? Excluding branded items, obviously.

Probably Boden's food delivery service.

I meant a cardi obviously 🙄 £150 for a cardigan seems a bit ridiculous

Cardo?! 🤣

I wear Boden as a solid work staple that washes well and doesn’t need ironing, not a status symbol 🤣 I prefer to buy stuff that lasts a while now in decent fabrics.

I haven't bought from Boden for decades but used to buy things in the 90s for my children and myself.

They are much more mainstream now but in those days they did have a particular look, with the emphasis on natural fabrics. The clothes were different from what you could get on the high street - the colours were unusual and subtle, they had a bit of a Bohemian look in those days (I think they're more 'officey' now on the whole) and the quality was excellent.

I'm still someone who doesn't like mainstream clothes (but Boden is now what I'd call mainstream) and seek out funny little shops or, if I could afford it, buy from the likes of Plumo or Poetry.

We're all different! My philosophy with clothes is: I don't much care for fashion but I want to be stylish, which is different. I like good quality - nice fabrics etc and I expect things to last 10 years or more. I buy from charity shops, eBay (got a Max Mara coat (new) for £70) and independent shops and when I do fork out for something from an actual retailer, I will pay good money because I do it rarely and I'll wear it for 15 years. Also - I get things in the sales. A great skirt from Jigsaw recently - over £150 originally, but reduced to just over £30.

Great work trousers

A status symbol? Boden???? No, it's not. It's just a higher end high street equivalent brand, like Jigsaw or Mint Velvet.

Head to foot in Chanel maybe. But Boden absolutely not.

I think Boden clothes are quite distinctive because of the way they use colours. I mean, you can often tell it's boden because of the arrangement of colour on the garment, but not always. I don't think that wearing Boden clothing is a status symbol.

Their kids coats are great so I buy those most years. I have two boys 20 months apart so the younger one gets the older one’s the following year. They’re made to last. The women’s clothing isn’t really my style, I’m only 33 and the style strikes me as 40+ minimum.

Most Boden regulars know not to buy at full price, there's usually a 15% or 20% code to be found.

I don't wear their clothes because they don't suit me, but I love the mini range for DD. She is 9 and still enjoys dressing like a young girl, which you can't really get beyond the age of 6 in most shops.

All fashion is about status.

Doubtful! I mean they are ok but very middle of the road and safe.

Status? Of what? I think there’s a certain type who wear Boden and that style but it’s not a status, it’s just fitting in. I don’t wear them but I think a lot are nice.

YY to the longevity of the children’s stuff, at least in the past — a friend’s closeknit NCT group had handed various baby, toddler and young child clothes around among them, and they were still going for their second children.

Top notch madam !

I’ve never bought anything from Boden for myself - I am 35 and their clothes seem aimed at slightly older.

For kids however - I love them. They have great sales and discounts so I never buy anything full price. A coat I bought for DS in 2014 when he was 1 is now being worn by my 3rd DS and looks brand new. I love how their kids kids clothes are bright and fun, and look like kids clothes. They also wash very well so I buy it off Vinted too.

Stick around, @babyt2020 - you’ll discover some people feel £149 probably isn’t enough for a (full price, new) item of knitwear. Some of them sitting very close to this post …

I don’t wear Boden though.

(Like others, I occasionally bought children’s clothes there decades ago. But the brand isn’t on my radar at all nowadays.)

The clothes are fine - last a long time, so are quite practical and good VFM. But definitely not a status symbol.

It’s fuck ugly 🤮

Unless people are wearing their cardos inside out how would anyone even know it's Boden?

I wear Boden. But they are on the dowdy side. I'd be embarrassed to admit to Boden (although I'm a dull dresser so it fits my taste 😂).