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!!

Yes it’s a very middle class mumsy brand

@ThatCyanCat Some Boden styles are utterly recognizable if you have browsed the collection. They did patterns called Hotch Potch and you could spot it a mile off. Frequently clashing colours and appliqué. Not difficult to spot when it’s a loud design.

Im 5 ft 8ins and the waists are always too high. These are clothes made for flat chested women. The jersey cotton they use of often very thin. So is the silk. Other brands are better and never ever pay film price for Boden. Even new collections frequently have 25% off. The sale items are worth a browse. It’s not really aspirational though. Like a curate’s egg - good in parts.

Yes, I'm sure if you've browsed it thoroughly then a few things might stick in your mind. I don't think most people would recognise a huge number of Boden items if they saw them out and about (and I imagine even fewer would care) so if you are wearing it for undefined "status", it will go right over the heads of most people.

@ThatCyanCat Yes agreed but it’s yummy mummy territory, and they know Boden. And these days probably swerve it!

This, in three lengths, and usually available in 98% cotton that didn't stretch or sag.

Not easy to find elsewhere. Being a tall person who worked in an anti-stat environment, they were a god send. Not really a status symbol though, just everyday clothes.

YABU for the “cardo”.

In fact I only buy work trousers on there. Just got the ponte straight leg and the Belgravia.

Bla bla discount ( blue light card hooray)

I buy occasional cashmere jumpers and cardigans from them, as well as trousers and jeans. One of my Boden cashmere cardigans is around eight years old and hasn't pilled at all. It goes into the washing machine.

I've just bought a navy long-sleeved jersey cotton top, which is very good quality and reasonably priced.

They're useful for non-patterned basics.

There was a point in the mid 00’s you couldn’t move for junk mail sent personally from Johnny Boden begging you to buy the latest collection.

everyone knew which clothes were from Boden.

I had to move house before it stopped 🤣

Yes, exactly. I don't think I've bought anything from Boden in years, but I absolutely have a few useful workhorse garments from them that have lasted well. And which aren't in any way distinctive at all. Plain, block-colour long sleeved tops, trousers.

But yes to the horribly jolly personalised emails from Johnny Boden that made you want to emigrate to another solar system because managing to get them not to send you any more was an incredibly palaver.

It is, in the sense that all fashion is a statement. Even if the statement is "I'm not making any kind of statement"!

I think Boden is, in some circles, not so much a status symbol but a tribal marker. Wearers identify each other as "like us". The brand has created a mid-market niche quite successfully, I think.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen any Boden clothes with visible logos so not really a status symbol as most people won’t know where it’s from. I’ve bought some of their children’s clothes before because some of the styles are nicer than a lot of other brands.

No, v dated

We used to buy mini Boden for the dc and now for the dgc. They tend to be bright and playful and good quality.
I’m not a fan of most of the women’s clothes although do have a couple of bits.

It’s just a shop.

The only way you will be able to tell whether my long-sleeved navy top is from Boden is if you actually lunge at me and plunge your hand down inside the neck to get to the label.

This article is mildly hilarious, though -- His business is built on that - he has become the Martha Stewart of the Fulham Mothers set, and the journalist sits in a meeting where potential garments for the next season are mdoelled and discussed:

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2007/mar/18/fashion.shopping

I think it was a bit more of a thing 10 years ago, now it’s just another online shop.

About 10 years ago when floral was all over the place and the primary playground looked like some dystopian Chelsea Flower Show on legs, it used to be all the rage.

I wouldn't have thought so. Their clothes are quite twee, boring and safe, and its a high street brand, so not sure where the status would come from?

I like Boden because it's bright and colourful. I agree it's overpriced but they do have good sales. The kids clothes are lovely. My 10 year old and 6 year old love bright colours, animals and patterns. I buy a lot Boden preloved on Vinted and sell it on again.

I love their children’s clothes. Especially the boys as they’re bright colours. So many high street or supermarket clothes are so dark and grungy, Boden has bright colours

The devil wears boden 🤣

Maybe, but what about mere clothes?

Definitely not . Just nice , decent quality things. I got a little Christmas catalogue from Boden recently and have ordered some lovely bits for me and the dc . Nothing I’d call a status symbol though!

This. I like twee, boring and safe so Boden is a favourite. I know what I’m getting!

I don’t think so.

it’s just a brand like many others. Like others, I used to buy the occasional item for my dd when she was in primary school. Nothing to do with status but because they had shorts and trousers that fitted her well, and were proper kids clothes.