What the hell is Johnnie playing at? Why has Boden dropped size 22 from some of the range?

[Northernlurker]

Thought I'd have a browse this evening and was shocked. Everything I like is now up to 20 only. What the hell? Boden has done a 22 for years. Where does the selective sizing come in?

"I think it would fair to charge more money for clothes that use more material and that consumers would tolerate this (and less money for smaller sizes) to cover the cost of the extra material. Discontinuing larger sizes just seems lazy and offensive to me - it is saying that larger customers don't matter."

Actually some retailers do charge more for larger sizes and consumers haven't tolerated it, do a quick search on Google and you'll see examples of people being pissed off about it.

As a plus size girl I'd happily pay more if it meant more choice.

They've been cutting down on the amount of size 22s available for a while - it was in a retail bulletin that I read for some reason, and I thought it seemed a sly way of going about things. I suppose now they are hoping that people are used to size 22 being sold out so they won't kick up such a fuss about it not being available at all.

Meck , Johnnie B hasn't gone. It's still on the website.

I know, I expanded on that to say it's been merged with mini, which it has. It's also changed and where it used to be from 9 years - 16 it's now from 5 years
Like I said, I can't imagine any older teenager finding much of the range appealing and wearing the same dress as a 5 year old

I agree with the PP who said Boden's sizes aren't that generous. I'm an 18 top in M&S and Monsoon but an 18 Boden Breton is tight on me. A 20 is a reasonable fit but a bit clingy in places and a 22 is nicely loose.

I also had to return one of the Ravelo tops in a 22 because it was tight.

I also had to return one of the Ravelo tops in a 22 because it was tight.

This is strangely reassuring, as I have a ravello top which was surprisingly snug.

Which ranges have they dropped? There seem to be quite a lot of styles in 20 and 22s.

I was looking at the mac, all the Breton tops, both the tunics they have, the wrap top (which I have four of from previous seasons), animal print top.
Basically I clicked in three things I could buy, ten that I couldn't.

It seems bizarre choices as well, as some of the stuff they ARE still doing wouldn't work that well on bigger bodies, but the best stuff has all gone.

There isn't much in yet. Though that was me just looking for a skirt, only nine styles available. There'll be more in soon I suppose.

I find it highly annoying re johnnieB.
The clothes are far more expensive. They are fashion-led, not children ranges, mainly in blah colours. I shop at Boden precisely to avoid my DD being led down the 'skinny jeans, cropped top, with no socks and ballet pumps' look

Agree totally about Johnnieb, and the extra cost seems unjustified.

' Johnnie B hasn't gone. It's still on the website'.

I wonder how it's doing though? It's pretty expensive, quite a narrow choice and my DD (14) won't be seen dead in it. I've pretty much given up on Boden though I recently bought two pairs of jeans supposedly the same colour but completely different in reality. Kept one pair, wore occasionally for 3 months and they've already worn through. Sizing inconsistent across the range. Shame about narrowing the size range.

I can't imagine it will last much longer in current state. The dresses are particularly bad, and to think your 5 and 16 year old could wear matching sludge dresses

I haven't looked at Johnnie B for a while and didn't know they'd blended it more with mini boden. Too many other places doing teen clothes better and for less (though MachiKoro I take your point about cropped tops etc, you have to pick carefully through the brands to avoid a certain teen look). I'm wondering, what with the loss of sizes and slightly lacklustre catalogues whether Boden has had its day now we've all recovered from our deckchair patterned tunic wearing and 'flippy skirts/fun wedges' - it needed to rebrand from the loud overtly 'Boden' look and drop the smug little statements from the models on each page of the catalogue but perhaps in doing so has it's lost its way and might start to shrink from view altogether.

The ratios will vary by company, so top shop will be different to Bon marche to white company
If demand changes then they may listen- they've bright back mini in 3-4
I know nothing of Boden and haven't worked there ever (for the record) but looks as though they're simplifying their ranges and also selling a lot to Usa now, so streamlining I guess

YouOK- my DD is nowhere near teenaged, hence me not wanting her to look like a 14yo instagrammer

newballs- your explanation was wonderful, btw

Just to add as I already have on another thread that I too am very annoyed by the restriction of 22s and also by the bizarre choice of items to be limited specially the Breton tunics. Also noticed some nice simple jersey dresses not available above 20 yet one with a huge bow on the bust very unlike to suit large women is!
I've had similar replies from Biden. Will read this thread in more detail to try to understand their retail thinking on return from hols. But certainly intend to keep up the pressure and glad to see so many others letting them know there is a demand

What happened to the tartan baggies. Don't tell me they are stopping them. They are my sons staple!!!

Am I mixing them up with the tartan roll ups?

It annoys me that they charge more for a longer length top. Cheek!

The tartan baggies are now slim legged Bod. DS has had them since size 6-12months, he's now 12 and still loves them. He doesn't like the slim leg ones as much as he can only just get his (giant) foot through the bottom but skinny tartan baggies are better than no tartan baggies!

I don't get the Johnnie B combining with mini, for example when little, DS used to wear t-shirts with dinosaurs, diggers & all that stuff, wouldn't dream of it now.

Interested someone upthread said there's much more choice out there for older kids - where? I really struggle for clothes for my pre teen boy.