Why are Boden clothes so annoying and do people who wear them want it to be recognised?

[plumandolive]

Don't they say everything about the people who wear it? Their lifestyle? And the fact that they recognise each other?
But some of the none hotchy potchy stuff I admit is nice...
as long as it isn't obviously Boden

ha ha, just read your bits from the catalogue - I had no idea! We got to the shop - tis just down the road.

Initially attracted by lovely pigments they use but became disenchanted because they just seem to be designed to appeal to people who are frightened of 'getting it wrong' stylistically. Tho recognise this can be appealing. Still wear some stuff have got but think my skillful and 'green' combining of friends clothes swaps for our kids and bits plucked from here and there is far more charming (i.e. more boden than boden). Not sure if this is middle class, inverted snobbery or possibly both. Like to combine 'classics' with 'street' look to give impression of having mind on higher/more fun things .

I get Boden stuff for my daughters (usually in the sale or from Ebay) because I like the clothes and think that they are suitable for their age. I like Next under 5's stuff but once they are 5 and above the majority of it becomes quite tarty. Boden children's clothes (though horribly over-priced) are good quality (and they do get handed down) and just good fun - funky without being too adult. I like dressing my children as children and the majority of high street shops don't allow me to do that.

I like Boden because it's great quality, the colours stay as do the seams, and they have clothes which I really like. Another reason I like them is because, unlike other brands (Roxy, Quicksilver, Bench, Hooch etc) they don't feel the need to write their name on their clothes.

I HATE writing on clothes. It's so ridiculous. It ruins clothes and I'm not prepared to be a walking advert for any clothing company.

hmmm......plumandolive......so, Boden is aspirational but Toast, White Stuff and Fat Face are not??? PMSL! I am a non-hotchpotch boden wearing mum (and my DS's are Boden wearing kids) but I do not wear it because I aspire to some fantasy Padstow/Languedoc lifestyle and my wardrobe is made up of more than just one brand of clothing. I agree that the wording in the catalogue is beyond naff (loved your vibrator comment btw ). However, is it not naff to be photographed wandering around windblown scrubland wearing the Ophelia dress (or some such nonsense) with matching Repetto shoes? Tell me, do you spend your days wafting around in some Kathrine Hepburn-esque garb, staring into the distance?

But Thereal and Szyslak - Toast, White Stuff and Fat Face aspire to something different... not public schooly Johnnie-dom and pearly sassy fun...

I'm such a hypocrite aren't I? Double standards.

hatrick- I don't hate all Boden- I just think some of it's signature style labels one as part of a particular tribe. And I also think if people don't think clothes say something about you, you're burying your heads. And Boden does this more than most, because of the way they sell their things.

I only started the thread as a joke... I wear some Boden non hotchpotch things too, from ebay and am delighted if I find some in a car boot or charity shop because it's good quality and nice colours and materials. ...my kids wouldn't be seen dead in it tho'- even at 7 the youngest knows it's recogniseably a type.

is it the modern equivalent of those knitted jumpers with sheep on that mumsy/crafty types used to wear in my youth?

boden always reminds me of racing green. i loved their wacky shirts.

not as much choice as rg thoughh

I have never been much of a fan of the adults stuff - but suddenly got Boden when, having looked around at baby clothes, realised that there are not that many shops that don't trot out the utterly vile blue for boys, pink for girls, beige for all regime. Why is so much stuff so gender specific? At least Boden has some non-sick-making colours and patterns and - gasp! - the odd thing that would be suitable for boys AND girls (yes, I have finally come round to my mother's way of thinking that hand-me-downs are character building)... so, via, eBay and the sales, they will be getting my business...

but the things is that you only recognise boden if you regularly peruse the website or catalogue.
I have several times asked people where they bought something and they have had to tell me where from. I don't know - why should I.
I don't do mail order. I live in the centre of town so why would i?

So if you are recognising Boden everywhere then you are frequently looking at it...
which leads me to deduce that you are in fact just

Be like me. Bin the catalogues and don't look at the site. You will never know.

... anyway boden isn't really aspirational unless you shop in Next.

Hey hat- not taught, just a very very bright child...

I have a raincoat of their's (of very typical Boden design). I went off it the minute it arrived through the post - I don't quite like what Boden represents or what their customers try to convey by wearing them. But its a useful coat so I use it still. I walk down the streets now thinking everyone is looking and judging me, like everyone is a MNetter.

What does a person wearing Boden try to convey? And what evil does it represent?
I find this inverted snobbery rather strange.
Personally I find Asda/Sainbury's/Tesco ranges far more sinister with their low prices and massive buying power that can only do damage to the textile indstry.

Twelvelegs... well put..

Didn't Boden start off trying to be a bit different from the high street and people liked it because of that originality? Isn't the thing now that as it becomes more recognisable it is losing its uniqueness? In a way a victim of its own success? I like clothes that are a bit different for my children, mostly because I can't bear the vile slogans and sickly pink colours that pervade a lot of the high street clothes - does that make me a snob? hmm. For that reason (and that they hate shopping!) I tend to shop online a fair bit for the children. So I have hunted down quite a few independent online shops who sell quality unpretentious clothing for kids like www.kidsshouldbekids.co.uk. Maybe Boden is like Marmite - you either love it or hate it!

I like Boden, not got much of their stuff as yes it is sometimes over priced. But you pay for quality. I have clothes from Primark etc that have fallen apart in the wash, wear for wear price, Boden will be "cheaper"

Used to love NEXT, I now hate it. Its gone so down hill. My friend is a designer there (childs clothes) and even she thinks that its no longer very good.

Well said twelvelegs, although most of my DD's clothes are from ASDA, ooops.

everlong- for the reasons I've said- some of their styles are very loudly recognisable and tend to be abundantly worn by a particular sort of "David Cameron" type family.
But I'm saying it tongue in cheek, because on the whole they're good ish quality, and some of the understated stuff I like myself.
People are reacting strongly to this ...(runs and hides)
tis in jest... and no I'm not envious as someone wondered.
It's just what I've observed with my friends in particular areas, Boden dressed people pass each other a look, approving of being in the same club, and it makes us laugh.
But as of course, would say people who drive beetles, or wear Gold digga.Chill.

Plum, I have to admit your MN name is very 'Boden'.

twelve
those are the colours I like in the catalogue you see, while we're eating our olives on the beach in our sassy fun flippy hotchpotch kaftan HA

tee hee .

I loathe people who dress their children in the 'just thrown together' look, you know dirty faces, lots of layers, fairy wings and wellies.... you know they've strived all morning for that 'non materialistic' look, driving their old Volvo or Mercedes and scouring the 'nicer' second hand shops. Nothing so contrived IMO.