mini boden clothes, how well do they wash and wear?

[misdee]

got the mini boden catalogue thro today and they have some lovely things in there. But even tho most are 100%cotton, and have to washed at 40degrees, is it possible to put them on at 60degree? and do they withstand multiple washes, (dd's ezcema creams can stain if washed at 40, sometimes need a 60degree wash to get it out). I dont want to spend money on clothes that may be ruined as i cant get the grease marks out after dd's have worn them.

Misdee - I spend rather a lot on Boden clothes for myself and the children, though I do splurge mostly at the sales times. (Tick the box (verbally or via the website iyswim) to receive e-mails about promotions and sales if you want to buy in the sales. If you wait for the sales brochure to arrive in the post then most of the stuff has gone.) I have never washed them on a higher temp than the label suggests (dictates?) and have dried them as per the instructions 99% of the time. I'd contact them with a list of the items you like most and see what they say prior to purchase. Does that help?

I have never bought anything from them directly; firstly, because I am tight and, secondly, because somebody around here keeps our local charity shops stocked with a regular supply! Considering the stuff is (at least) second hand, it is brilliant quality, although not sure about the 60degree wash. You could always call them.

very very good quality although the main quibble I have is sizing, it varies hugely from season to season!
I buy off ebay too, or if I buy new it gets sold on there and you get lots of your money back!

Ooh i love mini Boden and justify it by saying I have three children so it will get lots of wear... as others, do tend to go for the sales...have found they do wear very well ie seams stay straight etc and just don't seem to get so grotty as others (pictures on T-shirts don't crack and fade etc). My DD has a fleece that is size 18-24mo, she wore it from 18mo or so when it was v big and still wears it as a cover-up at nearly 3 years! It's ecru and navy and came from her big bro and will go on to her little bro and still looks really nice! Wow, am I being paid by Johnnie Boden or what?? Not sure about 60 washes as I don't tend to do that. Sizes I find are big except fitted T-shirts for girls which come up a bit smaller. Also 2nd-hand Boden stuff always sells in NCT sales!

when oh when is the boden sale due?

Squirmyworm - I'm trying hard to remember when the sales are due. I think that the Boden one is before the Next one and that's usually around the 20th/25th July. So I reckon that means June/July. Isn't the winter one around Christmas time? I have a few bags of Boden girls clothes to sell. Can someone give me the ebay web address, please? Apologies if I'm temporarily hijacking the thread! tm

My mum buys it for ds, plus best friend gives him stuff for Christmas.

I usually wash my clothes on a 60 degree wash, and have never had any problems. Unless I have something obviously delicate (like something woollen), 60 is my default. Never had a disaster yet!

Do use the "colour catcher" sheets in the wash though, which work well to stop any colour bleeding..

Have never been tempted by boden before but I just HAVE to have a pair of these birkenstock lookalike sandals for dd! Anyone bought some? Are they good quality?>

Judging from the 2nd hand Boden stuff I have bought from the Dulwich Village NCT nearly new sales, it wears really well....even on toddler boys! Also JoJo MB.

Where can you get Colour catcher?

CD, you can get genuine baby birkenstocks from Instep shoe shops. DH wanted to get DD some but they didn't have her size!

I know ML but they don't do a 22, start at 24 I think which is why these are so great!

Ah I see. DD's clodhoppers now a 27 so the 24s looked teeny to me!

CD - Mum bought those shoes for ds but we sent them back as they didn't fit over his (very high - like his Mum's) instep. They did look good quality though. We went for the Techno sandals that use velcro instead - even though the smallest size is a wee bit too big for him just now. We're keeping our fingers crossed for a growth spurt!

Blu - you can get colour catchers in most supermarkets. It's usually next to the spray starch and the stain removers. It's a red box about 6 inches square and one inch deep. It says to use more than one sheet in a load if you think something is going to run. I tend to use just one, but if I'll keep the sheet if it hasn't gone too "coloured" and use it with a fresh one if I think that I have a "vulnarable" wash. I pop one in automatically with all coloured washes, but never bother with white washes (although they do suggest that they're also good for whites)

Thank You, JanZ. Colour-fast Blu

Recommend Boden - great quality, wear well and pass down and to friends even better...
Spend "loads" each season!!
Agree that sizing is mad mad mad

I have not been that impressed with their T shirts - not cut for my chunky DDs (especially the arms) and shrink quite a bit. If I buy them now (becuase I like the design) I buy them a couple of years too big. Also some of elasticated waist bands are very tight for my DDs (they are nicely covered, nowhere near obese !).

Love mini boden but their colours are sometimes a bit off. Bought lovely moss green fleece to match DD eyes - definitely more brown than green and DD refuses to wear (dammit!). Also bought dark pink winter slippers - which when arrived were very much light piggy pink (which I hate).

Found that it wears and washes really well (have done whites at 60).

Got a boden book yesterday and was rather shocked at some of the prices, but then maybe i'm just stingy.

Nutty, I don't think so, maybe I am too though! The prices are more than I spend on my own clothes. They do look lovely though...

their sales are pretty good though nutty.

I loved the girls stuff. Wasn't as keen on the boys stuff though. Am going to keep the book and perhaps order the odd special thing.