Boden dresses - am I completely wrong then?

[NigellasGuest]

Perhaps I'm just a frump but I've seen a few dresses in the new collection which to me look pretty good. I've only looked at them online I must admit. But I've read on here recently people saying Boden dresses are pretty awful.

Here are some examples:

with huge chunky pearl bracelet and fishnets
with opaques and boots
ok it's a wrap dress

BTW I'm talking about all of the above in NAVY.
Can you tell me are these really so bad? or am I just totally misguided?

Love this

I like the 1st N-A-P one.

Chumstastic!

(This is one of the nipple exposers that went right back, except mine was black - the sleeves were nice, I'll grant you that.)

I love the Marni one.

Well yes MrsSchadenfreude I definitely do not want anything patterned. Navy suits me.

Remus the last one is ok but being organza is not really the sort of thing. I'm envisaging something thicker, for daytime wear in colder months. I might look at Whistles or Reiss...

Whistles have a gorgeous navy one in the sale, but it's a bit dressy for daytime.

The skater one is ok, but the other two are awful.

And I am a Bodenite...

Reiss Too bright?

www.reiss.com/womens/dresses/fit-and-flare-dresses/smyth/navy

even has the longer sleeves I crave!

Remus I bought your Cos dress last year and sent it back. I soo wanted to love it. It is a lovely dress and would bring you lots of places. I am quite pear-ish and while you would expect it to be perfect on met, it stood out too much on the skirt, accentuated my hips rather than flattered. Better on less of a pear.

x-post

Was my Whistles link the one you mean as too dressy, Remus?
The one you suggest is too bright is nice!

Thing is, people will say they're frumpy I'm sure.

Lurking - I think it would look great on somebody v small chested and pretty much straight up and down. It would look dreadful on little, norky me, but I really like it.

I love the third NAP one, and I think it shows the devil is in the detail. Boden will do that overall shape but they would never in a million years give it a sexy back like that.

Like the Reiss Smyth one, it's not me but it's very elegant. I think that's what Boden is trying to do with this one. Again, detail, the Boden one has a bunchy waist and a less interesting fabric and generally looks less sleek (though is less than half the price!)

Do you all find THIS frumpy? just wondering

I would prefer longer sleeves and it's probably too much for day anyway plus out of my budget, but I'm attempting to get my head around what actually makes something frumpy. has a feeling it's 100% subjective

is it a case of frumpy = bad cut, cheap fabric etc. etc. In which case the above would not be frumpy? (for most people)?

oh MadBusLady you've answered my question!

I think it probably is subjective, yes There are tons of lace shift dresses around like that, I like it very much as an overall style and think it can look fantastic, but I would be looking for length, slinkiness, how fitted it was at the waist and what exactly was going on at the neckline to determine the degree of frump. I like the rough-edge finish at the top of that particular one but would worry it's a touch too long, and would prefer a straight hem and not another rough lace edge, I think lace edging everywhere can border on granny territory. Picky, moi?

Saying all that, I would like to try this Boden one. It looks dire on the model but might not once I'd got my boobs in it!

I am confused about frumpy too. Although all those Boden dresses are what I would term as frumpy.

I like the first 2 think they would look great if you are fairly slim and flat chested. The marni one is gorgeous too

I like the D&G one.

I am flat chested and in the process of slimming!

love this

actually I like this. I feel a trip to Reiss coming on though the Smyth is my fave.

Noddy what's that?

its a dress Think its lovely with navy tights and flats

as in, what shop?