Boden models

[GingerbreadBaubles]

First time looking at Boden and I cannot look properly at their clothes when their models are pictured making weird open mouthed faces, they look awful. It's so distracting!

Looks like she is easing out a rather cumbersome air biscuit.

Boden models depress me. They are all of them the exact same body shape which is basically size 6/8. They all have the same hairdo and there's something sinister about the Stepford Wives-ness of them. As soon as Johnny's catalogue comes through the mailbox, it moves immediately on to the recycling bin. I just cannot imagine myself wearing the clothes modelled within.

I did buy the kids clothes though!

At least they don't look like they need a wee like the Cos models.

The models look less manic than they did a few years ago when everyone seemed to be laughing at a hilarious joke. I still rate the clothes though, I have coats, boots and dresses that have lasted for years and I still love them.

Looks like she is easing out a rather cumbersome air biscuit

BWA ha ha lol

Yes I noticed the open mouth thing. Hardly any pictures have a model with a closed mouth.
On another topic, did you buy anything and what did you think of it? I got the Florence skirt with polka dots- quite nice. I'd been on a 2 year Boden sabbatical, i think on the whole quality's gone down.

The very worst ones are the Toast models, who all look recently bereaved.

The toast models last season were awful. Think they have done a bit of work on them this year as they seem more natural on the website. They put me off the clothes. They looked totally frumpy in the clothes. Boden have been the same on the website. I prefer the catalogue pictures. Not sure about this one as ive filed it under bin. I used to love thei retro prints and styles but the colours and patterns are vile this season. I can truly say, I dont like anything atm.

I always feel really sorry for this Pepperberry model. They always scrape her hair back, which makes her look like she had a pin head. If they left it loose, it would balance out her proportions and she's look as beautiful as she undoubtedly is: www.bravissimo.com/pepperberry/products/sale/tops/jersey-tops/lace-shoulder-top/turquoise/pt259trq/?show=32&page=7

It irritates me that they're all in their early 20s and size 8. I'm not a jealous old crone, I understand that people will want to look at young beautiful girls and all that mad abstract high fashion catwalk stuff looks better on 6 ft gazelles. But Boden ffs. Its target market is women in their 30s, 40s and upwards. Can we not get a glimpse of how the clothes might look like on age-appropriate normal women? They had Helena Christensen modelling for them a couple of years ago, ok she's in her late 40s but hardly representative!

A few years ago a few people complained the models looked almost like teenagers, and as if they were about to pop off and watch the latest Harry Potter film people said (like I said, it was a few years ago). They were so young. They changed things the year after, though perhaps it's time for another reminder.

I would not have worn Boden at their ages, that's for sure.

I think they have changed over the last few years. Thinner and younger. Am sure when I started buying the models were 30ish with a more, I don't know, wholesome (?) look about them. Like, they'd be shot outside looking hale and outdoorsy and you could sort of believe they were the parents of the Mini Boden child models. Now they are shot mostly indoors or on city streets sans DCs. Aspiring to a different demographic or something I guess.

I don't really like anything of theirs ATM either.

As I get older, I notice more and more how absurdly young the models are in high fashion magazine adverts. They are quite often obviously teenagers. I think, "That is a child dripping in Chanel. Why is she dressed like that? Who gave her those clothes and jewels? Where is she going in that taxi?" And then I have all sorts of lurid "Pretty Baby" scenarios in my head.

If the average woman is a 14-16 why must I look at a malnourished teenager? How am I meant to gauge if what they're wearing will suit me? Sick of seeing flat stomachs in jeans and trousers! not jealous or bitter much

I see your pic Ginger and I raise you. . .

I am size 10 most places but usually size 6 or 8 at Boden but the clothes on me don't look remotely how they look on the model as I am probably at least 6in shorter. The models must always wear the longer length & different proportions of skirt to bodice make a huge difference to how a dress looks. The only model shot that I find useful is the side view as you can tell if a dress waistband is up round the armpits - which is quite common with Boden. Boden recent models often look as though they've been goosed - not appealing, in my opinion.

I bought a coat this year, which I've worn all winter and love.

But, I don't know any woman my age or even close, who looks like those models and at their age, I wouldn't have bought boden. It's demoralising. All the messages about "value yourself as you are" and "fit not thin" and then these types of images.

Should say I'm Miss Average....5ft 5". Size 14 top and bottom in say, Whitestuff. I could use losing 10lbs but honestly, I lose it and it always creeps on again.

I just wish they weren't so girly/perky. Gawping at whatever it is they're all dressed up to gawp open mouthed at. Not representative of normal, everyday women.

Uncrushed..here's another.

I think we should start a caption competition. These photos are ridiculous!

@Fabulassie, yes you're right about the ads - Pretty Baby, ugh. When I said gazelles I was thinking of those daft catwalk shows that don't have much relationship with reality but if you're talking about a woman in a Chanel ad that regular woman will see in their magazines, then yes it is weird and creepy. Boden is not for 19 year olds and neither are Chanel jackets.

I was grumbling about this to my MIL (stylish lady in her early 60s) and she laughed, saying it got much much worse! Apart from anything else, she pointed, out, older women are likely to have more money and be able to afford this stuff, why are they ignored?

I like the Toast models, they look serious and intellectual, and make flat shoes look desirable and sexy. I buy Toast clothes because I wish I was like that (sad). Boden used to use Boden family friends in their catalogue years ago, much nicer than standard models. The Boden models are such a vacuous looking lot I can never be sure what the clothes would look like on me. v. bland.

I like the Whistles models. Not so much the current girl, who is far too cheerful, but the deadly serious Asian girl who then did Cos after.

She looks positively chipper here but generally she just conveys the impression that no, you're not going to look even remotely as cool as she does in anything you buy from Whistles, but if you're REALLY SURE, then why not. Go for it. #deadpan

I prefer that to the breezy, skinny, smiley and utterly unlikely Boden models. They used to have a bit more flesh on them, at least.

This drives me crazy, show the clothes in a normal way on a variety of shapes that resemble the range of women who might actually buy the darn things. If your range goes to a 22, don't only show it on a 6 for goodness sake - we all know it won't look the same!

One of my favourite lingerie brands, ewa michalak, is good for this - they use a mix of shapes, sizes, ages...it's so refreshing!

I've just read an interview with Carole white (premier) talking about using young girls and how they are that shape (skinny and tall) naturally until about 22 when they start filling out. It's fascinating - when we went to the clothes show the scouted girls were all doing a catwalk thing and they were all very young, tall and reed like.

Uncrushed, Ginger, try the video here.

Have been pondering for several days now what the direction could possibly have been - 'make like a giggly show pony and jump up and down a bit?'. Bizarre. Quite like the dress though.