Boden Spring Collection: Who's Lost the Plot?

[Chesnutstuffing]

Me or Johnny?

Just received my 2014 catalogue. Despite having had a soft spot for some of Boden's vintage inspired styles and quirky prints/colour combos over the years the new spring collection has come as a bit of a shock. Seems to consist of an awful lot of the frumpier styles from previous years repeated in sickly brights/pastels, plus oddities like this:
www.boden.co.uk/en-GB/Womens-Knitwear/Jumpers/WK945-BLU/Womens-Blue-Frieda-Jumper.html

Is it me? Am I not getting something? Missing ironic references (perhaps to 80s?)?

Sorry: should've been Johnnie not Johnny.

I remember lusting after a jumper similar to that in the 80s. It was from Benetton. Wickedly bad.

Is like golf wear on acid.

There are some nice shoes but that's about it.

Oh, I saw that and loved it! I like 80 s stuff though.

Pretty much every jumper is around the £50+ mark. They should be thinking about doing an essentials or basics line. No one in their right mind would buy that jumper that's just short of of £80. It's very frumpy and the colours are hideous. They've not even got it on a model! I doubt it would suit/flatter anyone.

As once avid Boden buyer, over the past two years I've hardly bought anything. The prices seem to be ever creeping up and the styling has gone wayward. The quality isn't as good as it used to be either.

Quirky is a kind way to describe that jumper. Looks like something Ronnie Corbett would have worn in a pro-celebrity golf tournament in 1985.

Are the buttons on the fronts of the cardigans this time?

I goggled when I saw that jumper! It was a bit of a shock the other day as I scanned the catalogue hike eating breakfast. I quite like this dress, but not enough to pay that much I think! I used to buy quite a lot from Boden, but bought nothing over Winter and only a blouse in the Summer I think. I do think the quality is going down and the attention to detail and cut isn't so good. A real shame.

Queen - I think it might just be me getting older but I would find it hard to wear a lot of the new stuff in a way which didn't look profoundly middle aged (with capital M and A). A hipster in their 20s or 30s might pull this off - but would much of this stuff appeal to that audience? Confused about who this is being designed for - thoughts on target demographic anyone?

I quite like the Soft Leather Bowling Bag but will wait for the sales as I always do.

Ditto Cointreau!

Laughed out loud at most of the new collection. Style seriously lacking and prices equally ridiculous.

Anyone see Boden's FB post. It came up on my newsfeed because a friend commented on it. Boden had requested that people describe Boden in one word. It backfired slightly!!

Agree awful collection they have gone back to being frumpy where as i think they had been getting it right with their clothes the last couple of seasons.

I saw that Moln, it was quite funny! Did they seriously not realise what would happen?!

chesnut - i've found that with the winter stuff. i really wanted some new dresses, but the styles just don't suit someone of my age - you either need to be really young or very very old. The collars, neckline, where the waist falls.....its all so ancient looking, which maybe a 25 year old could pull off, but would they want to? I doubt it.

And the summer things i liked .....well £90 for a summer cotton dress!! I can't even justify that if its 50% in the sale.

I have a bit in my budget for summer dresses this year, but the Boden ones are a combination of vile prints and frumpy styles, plus utterly ridiculous prices. The jersey Maxi dress, which I would price at maybe £39 in Next or a bit less in Matalan is £89!!!! Of course there are always discounts but this sort of pricing makes it very clear they have lost the plot.

I'm afraid the not very much reduced sale has made me a bit anti-Boden already, and I very much doubt I'll be buying from the spring collection. I'd rather pay a bit more and get something better quality and more stylish from Whistles.

I'm not sure I agree about the prices- I think they are expensive but it depends where they are trying to place themselves in the market and the demography. £90 for a dress minus 20% ( no one pays full price!) puts them alongside Phase8, Hobbs, cheaper than most of Jigsaw, and ditto LK Bennett, but clearly they are not in the same league as New Look, Primark and Dotty Ps.

I think there are plenty of middle aged, middle class women who think nothing of paying £75 for a dress. I would if I really liked it.

Having said all of that, apart from a couple of smarter dresses- shift style in cotton and the casual weekend dress- there is nothing I like.

jaffacakes I would happily buy a dress from Phase Eight or Hobbs for the same price as a Boden dress. At least I know the quality would be good. The same can't be said of Boden these days, sadly.

I did see the Facebook post by Boden and it was to sum up Boden in one word. Most people wrote 'Expensive'. www.facebook.com/JohnnieBoden?hc_location=timeline

I actually thought their prices had sort of stabilised, so somehow seemed ok! I did spot a few things I liked though.

The quality is nowhere near Phase Eight or Hobbs. There is some reasonable stuff but the quality of the Primark T shirts I bought last year was better than the Boden Bretton top. The only thing I did quite like was the Peter Pan collared dress, but it was wool, dry clean only, sleeveless and for the spring?

I don't think Phase Eight quality is anything special.

I am not a real fan of Boden nowadays but I do wonder what the 'quality' comments are about?

The couple of items I bought last season- wool Bistro crops for one- are fine. Cashmere was rubbish compared to before and I returned.

I have to admit I have a soft spot for Boden and love their basics, t-shirts, cotton dresses and denim skirts. Mini Bodens always great quality too. Their customer service is second to none.I still love you Johnnie. .

oh you lot and bloody quality - you are obsessed - IME at shirt lasts one hot summer then its GONE

I do adore mini boden, however that jumper reminds me of something Fred the weatherman from This Morning would've worn back in the day whilst jumping about on his massive floating map