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Style and beauty

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Original poster

How can anyone afford to shop in Boden?!

86 replies

Elfina · 19/08/2014 18:47

DH and I are both on pretty good wages, but I'm shocked at how expensive it is! Even in the sale it's pricey.

So who shops there? Maybe I'm just being tight?!

OP posts:

PenisesAreNotPink · 19/08/2014 18:50

I think it's quite good value in the sale.

Theres a vast gulf now between reasonable quality shops like Jigsaw/joules/Boden/kew etc and cheapy shops like Primark and new look

If you shop in Primark everywhere looks expensive

Bowlersarm · 19/08/2014 18:52

I shop there. The DSes wouldn't be seen in it now, but I still get a few things for myself every season. It seems to last forever.

LightastheBreeze · 19/08/2014 19:01

I can often get a top under £20 in the sale and have had lots of trousers/jeans under £30 in the sale. All have lasted well.

I have also had some of the handbags, usually with 50-70% off.

This makes it very comparable with places like Next, Debenams, Marks, etc and better quality.

I generally buy stuff each sale time and because they trot out similar styles each year it doesn't date. Also never really in fashion either

atticusclaw · 19/08/2014 19:04

I buy stuff in the sale. It's much better quality than lots of the high street shops.

Hassled · 19/08/2014 19:07

The stuff does last well but nevertheless, it's overpriced for what it is. What I buy, I buy in the sales.

Gillybobs · 19/08/2014 19:08

Always a discount code on the go and the sales can be good, it's the only stuff I buy that lasts and lasts. Not into the crazy patterns mind you

321zerobaby · 19/08/2014 19:09

Depends how many clothes you have. I buy one or 2 Boden dresses a year, normally wait for a 30% deal, and will where them for several years. If you are a fashion shopper who buys something new every week or so, then it would work out expensive.

morethanpotatoprints · 19/08/2014 19:13

I wouldn't be seen dead in it tbh, over priced and boring, its all the same.
I have heard its good quality though, but I'd rather have something a bit less drab.

Gillybobs · 19/08/2014 19:14

I've never heard it described as drab before, quite the opposite!

ZaraW · 19/08/2014 19:20

Boden does some really great basics. I love the Bistro crops they fit so well and the quality is fantastic. I would rather buy less but get higher quality items.

polyhymnia · 19/08/2014 19:20

No it's certainly not drab! On the contrary, they have way too many garish patterns.

It is possible to avoid these with effort, though and I think price wise they're pretty good value. I always buy with a discount -15% at worst but often 20% or better. At those prices, there is very little difference between Boden and M and S, where I used to buy back in the day but no longer do.

And the great majority of their stuff is good quality and washes and wears well.

polyhymnia · 19/08/2014 19:22

PS Also agree I wouldn't want to compromise on quality and would prefer to have less clothes than do that.

Original poster

Elfina · 19/08/2014 19:25

I guess I'm thinking more about the kids clothes never buy myself anything anymore. How can people afford £30 per cardigan?!

OP posts:

dexter73 · 19/08/2014 19:27

It is good quality and can be worn by younger children, then sold on ebay for a good price afterwards. The £30 cardigan probably has a very small cost per wear by the end, and was probably bought with a discount code anyway.

Fairylea · 19/08/2014 19:29

I only shop in the sale. It is very good quality though and things I have purchased years ago seem to wash and wear and wash and wear forever.

LittleBearPad · 19/08/2014 19:29

The Boden clothes that DD has have lasted for ages. The Next/Mothercare/Gap clothes look far more worn sooner.

Notso · 19/08/2014 19:35

I've never bought any for myself but have for the kids. They send me a couple of £10 vouchers and discount codes are always around.
Have posted about it before but DS1's Boden coat lasted three years was around £15 with discounts and sold on Ebay for £30.

choirmumoftwo · 19/08/2014 19:38

Just got a lovely Boden top in a charity shop for under a fiver. It's the only Boden thing I own!

Bowlersarm · 19/08/2014 19:46

Children's Boden lasts for ever. I had loads of it which i passed down from ds1 to ds2 to ds3, and even after three children some of it could still go on to friends. The quality is usually excellent.

aubreye · 19/08/2014 19:52

Love Mini boden for my girls and DS2. DS1 is a bit old for it in his opinion.

SinglePringle · 19/08/2014 19:55

I'm not a fan of Boden at all. Either drab or garish. And just not my style.

But I hear the quality is great and I think £30 for a cardigan is very reasonable. I don't wear cardis but for say, a jumper that was going to be worn and washed on a regular basis? Very very reasonable.

mamijacacalys · 19/08/2014 20:01

What Dexter and Notso said.
DDs Boden gear is bought with 20% offers or in the sales, washes well, lasts ages and is sold on for good money on ebay when outgrown.
Cost per item works out at less than supermarket / Primark for far nicer quality gear.
Their viscose mix wrap dresses and wool trousers are staples in my work wardrobe and last years. The drapeyeness/fabric quality/fit of the dresses in particular is far superior to M&S and Next alternatives. Only Phase 8 on the High St comes close on quality but they tend to have less discounting so work out more expensive than Boden. Boden dresses that I have not worn much have sold well on ebay.
HTH

RaisingSteam · 19/08/2014 20:03

I think sale prices are OK for the quality, very carefully chosen (less hallucinogenic) things are OK for work. Kids PJs are a staple in this house, wash and last excellently. I guess it is drab but I have to find four outfits a week for my dull job and it's OK for me.

alemci · 19/08/2014 20:05

I like it, good for basics, good selection of colours and styles. great sales

bonhomme · 19/08/2014 20:12

I buy my son's clothes in a generous size and they will last at least one year, maybe two. I've just bought the lovely fleecy lined hoody - he will probably wear that nearly every day in Autumn and Winter (and has even had it on several times this month too). But I don't buy many things for him from Boden - just the odd thing.

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