Do you think Boden is frumpy?

[perceptionreality]

I always thought so....then this year I've caught myself liking one or two of their shoes

Is this a sign I am getting old????

I don't think it's frumpy. It's easy to wear/ school run type clothing that looks great on most people. I agree that it's 'safe' and not particularly adventurous.

It's much better than The White Company.

I started with three dresses in the sale. One was very chic and two were really frumpy. Mind you, when I got pregnant I was delighted to discover that the dresses worked reall well with a small bump. So well that I bought two more in a sale.

I do think the things would look better on me if I was taller.

Sometimes frumpy works for me . . .

I think it is extremely frumpy and have never seen anyone under 60 wearing it who looks good. It quite suits my mum, it is her favourite place to shop. She's 63.

Some things are, some aren't. I've got a lovely maxi dress which gets me loads of complements when I wear it, and a rather nice plain mac too. I have however ebayed a super-frumpy A-line skirt which aged me twenty years in seconds.

I avoid the skirts completely. And vast majority of trousers. And garish 'fun' patterns.
But as I said upthread some things - the plain ones usually as others have said - look good styled right. And wear well. And some of the shoes are OK.

Agree with the above really - you have to pick and choose carefully. Avoid the patterned stuff but some of their plain tops/knitwear/shoes are fab.

Where else do people shop out of interest? I'm looking for some new ideas.

I still shop in places like Oasis and Topshop (for a few things). I can still get away with it because I look much younger than I am. I also like French Connection and Ted Baker (v expensive though - don't get much from there) But I'm fed up with rubbish quality shoes which is why I was looking at the Boden ones. They do look well made I have to admit.

All the knit wear I've had from boden has shrank. Hate the prints they are hideously middle class.

Yes. And overpriced.

I have never understood the Boden thing. Do people buy it because of the name? To be seen as the sort of person who Wears Boden?

Not that I'd be able to tell if someone was wearing Boden or Primark. But lots of folks seem to be able to.

and I've probably offended half of mumsnet. Sorry half of mumsnet. A nice bit of firing gob up before engaging brain.

Some of their stuff is lovely and some is a little frumpy. A few well chosen pieces is fine, but like any shop head to toe in it is wrong!

I know what you mean OP - I am sometimes tempted by selected items from Boden but now force myself to ignore the impulse! Whenever I have succumbed I have regretted it -looks frumpy and dull. A cooling off period is required imho or just put the catalogue straight in the recycling. They do the odd thing that is more stylish but in my saner moments I know I should avoid!

Agree it probably looks fab on 20-somethings, 50-somethings and 60-somethings. (Slim, gorgeous) 20-somethings can get away with it, and it probably looks quite cutting edsge on women in their 50s and 60s.

But as I guess their target market is 30s and 40s I think they're aiming badly. Personally I find it a little insulting that they think women of my age are interested in wearing such clothes!

But their shoes are OK perception - I admit to owning a couple of pairs of their wedges, which I don;t mind wearing to work. One pair I'm always complimented on (although they're bloody uncomfortable!)

OK, not cutting-edge on 50 and 60 somethings - just nice and up to date.

Frumpy. Only to be worn by the "I've decided to never dress vaguely attractively ever again thus I will live in this cotton tunic forever"-brigade. Of which there are quite a few around, so clearly they have a market.

It's like anywhere isn't it? With the possible exception of Topshop, you can find frumpy stuff in any UK brand. The key is being selective.

I am 27 and a small 10, so theoretically not that easy to frumpify. However, I have put on some Boden items (I'm looking at you jewelled cardigan and straight leg jeans) and become anyone's mother-in-law.

That being said, some of the hardest working items in my wardrobe are Boden - grey chiffon trim boyfriend cardi, leopard gladiators etc. Haven't bought anything so far this year, but next season looks promising.

And monsoon I totally get what you are trying to say. Last summer, after I had DC2 I was a lumpy 14, and outits which has worked before eg. a Whistles knee length pleated jersey skirt with a grey marl tee, looked dowdy instead of cute. When I am bigger, I have to be much more careful.

Hm. I don't think I'm frumpy and have just bought 2 of their 50s shirtwaisters. Bodice unbuttoned show some cleavage, wide vintage belt, opaques, high heels - what's the problem?

I would sooner die than wear an A line skirt with a felt flower appliqued on the front, mind

Some of it is frumpy, some of it isn't.

You have to pick what suits you. I'm only 5'2" size 8 and I don't look frumpy. In fact I get loads of compliments, but then I never buy the things which scream "Boden". All my things are bought in the sale, plain classic pieces. I have some cardigans and skirts from about 5 years ago, which still look lovely.

I also have about four pairs of sandles and pumps which have been hard wearing and great value. I bought a pair of pumps from John Lewis last year which looked shabby after four months. Boden pumps are last a lot longer.

They are the same as most brands -unless you are shopping in a " teen shop" or for an over-60s brand.

There is good and bad.

I doubt if there is much to appeal to the under 40s, but there demographic is the middle class mummy aged late 30s- 60, IMO.

Some items are grim- too many large patterns- but the occasional piece of knitwear, casual trousers, and very rarely a dress that doesn't look like a maternity tent, fills a gap in my wardrobe.

If you are more of an All Saints or H&M girl then no, not for you. But if you like safe and middle of the road clothes , hate Next or M&S, then they might work!

I would sooner die than wear an A line skirt with a felt flower appliqued on the front, mind

That's exactly what makes it unappealing: the clothes are detailed to within an inch of their lives - detail for detail's sake.

Sequins here, ruffles there, patent and embellishments everywhere - can't leave anything alone.

or even "their" demographic.

I have the pony ballerinas, they're not frumpy but KEEP AWAY FROM THE FUN PRINTS !

I used to buy quite a bit from Boden a few years ago but I have to say the quality is very variable and I am now in my late forties have blue hair and like to see myself as stylish but have found myself not buying as much from boden because they are veering on pricey and the prints are garish. I did buy their black 50s style dress as the other prints were so garish the reviews suggested there was a Kirsty Alsopp look about the dress which as much as i like her would have put me off so I disregarded the review. The dress in my view is more vivien westwood in style but it only works in black. So in my opinion you have to be more discerning and prehaps the prints have to be passed by. Its in danger of looking like a boden dress and going the same way as Per Una where you could always tell the skirt came from Per Una.

Most things don,t look frumpy if you aren't. Boden only looks ok if skinny it doesn,t suit boobs. Frumpy is the way you carry yourself and hair etc

God I never get things from Boden in an attempt to look like I shop there - the total opposite! If it's "Bodeny"-looking I avoid.