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Style and beauty

Looking for style advice? Chat all about it here. For the latest discounts on fashion and beauty, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

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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:

JohnnyDeppsfuturewife · 19/08/2014 20:17

I have two daughters so don't mind spending a bit more on quality clothes that will pass down. I like the fact the clothes aren't trendy or trying to look like mini adults. There's quite a wide range so I wouldn't buy anything that was drab.

Adult clothes are high quality too and I know boden have a reputation for being frumpy and drab but I think if you choose something that suits your shape and colourings that isn't an issue. I have one boden top in particular that fits so well I always get compliments when I wear it. When they next have a sale on I'm tempted to buy another 5!

FairPhyllis · 19/08/2014 20:22

I can't imagine anyone buys at full price: most people seem to wait for sales or discount codes. It's a funny pricing structure that relies on giving out discount codes to entice people into buying but hey ho.

Original poster

Elfina · 19/08/2014 21:54

Gosh, maybe I am being tight. I really thought £30 for a cardigan for a 2 year old was a lot! I hear what you're saying about quality - an I totally agree. I usually buy things on eBay as I won't buy from high street shops like primark.

Maybe I should buy her some new things. Poor girl :(

OP posts:

SinglePringle · 19/08/2014 21:59

Missed where you said it was for a 2yr old?

Agree it's a lot for a toddlers top.

museumum · 19/08/2014 22:02

I bought a dress for a wedding for £50. Pretty standard price IMO.
The coats seem ridiculously expensive though.

SlinkyB · 19/08/2014 22:06

Always buy in sales, avoid garish prints, and ds' s coat is lasting well and will be passed down to ds2.

£30 for a 2yr cardigan is extortionate tho. Wait for sales.

Original poster

Elfina · 19/08/2014 22:14

Sorry, I think that's me not being clear. I had been looking for DD's winter clothes mainly, and she's 21 months. I was shocked at how much things are - I just can't envisage me spending nearly £100 on three cardigans, and I was wondering is this just what people do? I had a quick squizz at the adult stuff and whilst it's not cheap, you can see egg you'd get wear out of it if you chose carefully, plus you're not going to be growing a few feet in the next couple years!

OP posts:

SlinkyB · 19/08/2014 22:18

Oh, forgot to say, don't bother spending that much on their socks. Decided to treat myself last year, and although they were beautifully presented in a box with tissue paper, they didn't last five minutes. Will stick to M&S or New Look.

summerberries · 19/08/2014 22:32

30 quid is a huge amount of money for a children's cardigan. I v much doubt that most people have the money to buy their whole children's wardrobe from Boden.
I buy a few items from Boden (with a good discount of one of their vouchers), always a slightly too large size so that they get two years wear from it and then mix and match with other things from cheaper places. The everyday cardigan is cheaper, looks nicer than the others and would go with more things than the hotpotch ones...

Pinkfrocks · 19/08/2014 22:44

with discounts it's about the same price as The White Company ( actually they are more £££), Jigsaw (ditto) White Stuff, Hobbs, Phase 8.....

cheaper than Ted Baker, Mint Velvet, and all designer brands.

I don't buy much and am very very picky.

herecomesthsun · 19/08/2014 23:43

i won't pay £30 for a child's cardie but £12 in the sales seems ok

ThePerfectNegroni · 20/08/2014 06:55

I'd rather have one kids boden tshirt than 2 M&S/ next tops that wash appallingly. The fabric is thicker and they wear so well. I do buy less for me as prices are going up. I never pay full price for anything.

victoryinthekitchen · 20/08/2014 09:18

we have pj's and fleeces handed down which are still as good as new, tend to mix with super market t-shirts to balance the colours out. Great value in the sale :)

Purpleroxy · 20/08/2014 09:25

If you buy their mini boden basics using codes then the stuff lasts forever and ends up being good value. Not if you buy a £70 dress for a child obviously, you just have to be careful what you buy. Bit like going to Waitrose - veg etc all price matched but you have to look at the prices of other stuff more carefully. If I'm in Tescos I can pick up a trolley full of stuff. If I'm in Waitrose, I will pick up 1/3 of a trolley of stuff and check the price of each item as you can easily overspend.

Purpleroxy · 20/08/2014 09:26

Yes agree with poster above. 1 mini boden top will be better value than 2 M&S tops definitely.

Pinkfrocks · 20/08/2014 09:27

why has this turned into a 'child's style and beauty' thread

gamescompendium · 20/08/2014 09:29

I've got 2 daughters and my brother has a little girl. Boden clothes go through all three and still look as good as new and are then sold on ebay. I never pay full price (does anyone? There's always a thread on here with the latest discount codes).

Most of my work wardrobe is Boden, boring smart trousers are boring smart trousers wherever you buy them and Boden has a great quality vs cost ratio. I've got tweed skirts I bought there 12 years ago that still are dragged out in the depths of winter for work, they must be almost vintage now surely?

BranchingOut · 20/08/2014 09:43

I buy a lot from there - looks down at Boden dress and Boden bag (although that was from ebay).

It generally lasts well, even though I tend to buy a few well-coordinated items and wear them quite a bit.

Children's clothes likewise wear well.

Blu · 20/08/2014 09:44

I loved the Mini Boden items I bought for DS, so well made and durable, and a change from the Uni-colour-stupid-slogan boys clothes lined up in Next, Sainsbury's etc. I remember a cobalt linen shirt he wore for 3 summers , I felt really sad when I passed it on, still in great nick.

I realise it is a higher price, no way could DS have been routinely kitted out from the catalogue, but for some things higher cost = better value.

BranchingOut · 20/08/2014 09:45

Discount codes, previews and sales are the way to go.

Greenstone · 20/08/2014 10:15

I've found it a bit of a false economy to buy cheap kids' clothes once they are toddlers. Primark stuff fades and falls to pieces and just looks awful after a few washes, although you can still find some occasional gems. I bought quite a few bits from Mini Boden for my 2 year old earlier this year when they had 30% off, and I've been very pleased at how stuff has lasted. All of the colours work together so it's worked out as a sort of toddler capsule wardrobe It is a bit pricey, but if you watch and wait you can do well.

I've not bought anything for myself though. Not really my style, though I might give the famous Breton a whirl once I'm not pregnant.

twoweeks · 20/08/2014 11:09

I buy four or five dresses a season. They are good quality and wash well, so worth it for me.

AnathemaIsANiceNameForAGirl · 20/08/2014 12:18

I have tons of Boden, as do my DCs, and we're on a very modest income. But we have few outgoings (no car, no takeaways, no booze or fags, no debts) and most of what I buy is in sales or on Ebay. Occasionally will buy with a 15% code.

They do have frequent sales, and I follow them quite closely so I usually know about them quickly and buy before things sell out. In the February sale this year I got 3 x cashmere jumpers for under £30 each and a moleskin duffle coat for £29 (it's not stylish but it is AMAZING to wear, I can't wait for it to get cold so I can wear it ) plus a couple of wool jumpers for under £20 each.

On Ebay it is easy to get immaculate cashmere for £15-£25ish. In autumn, winter and spring I normally wear cashmere every day, and most of it is Boden.

Basic tops are pretty inexpensive anyway from Boden, and I buy those with a 15% code, plains and stripes only.

Their dresses, trousers and skirts don't generally work for me / my shape so I don't have many of those.

CharlieSierra · 20/08/2014 12:29

why has this turned into a 'child's style and beauty' thread

actually i was thinking more why has it turned into everyone apologising for be able to afford to shop in Boden, or making excuses about discounts and quality - circumstances vary, one person's 'good wage' represents hard up to someone else - the answer to the OP is because they can afford it, there is no mystery.

clary · 20/08/2014 12:36

Recently I have only spent there if I have a voucher (a good gift for me ).

Oh, also got a few things for the DC in the last sale - a hoody for DS1 (15yo) was £17 which is not much more than Primark at £12 and a lot better quality. Jeans for DS2 were £12 which is the same as Gap outlet.

My winter coat is a rainyday mac which is waterproof and warm enough for the playground; it cost £37 IIRC in the last-discount-will-we-shift-this-pattern sale (I like the pattern ). That's good value surely?

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