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Boden's latest catalogue

93 replies

PollyPerky · 05/01/2017 13:18

Is it just me or is it dire?

I can't see one thing I like except a jumper for £90 . There were a couple of sleeveless summer dresses on the preview but they aren't in the catalogue (yet) and have gone from the website as they are not out till April.

It's just same old, same old, and worse for us petites, the dresses are now knee length or below. I need a 36 inch length not 39!

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honeylou42 · 05/01/2017 15:23

Rubbish here too not one thing I liked .

polyhymnia · 05/01/2017 15:31

I'm a Boden fan, so will order more of their trousers, which are pretty much my staples, and yet another casual jersey dress and yet another Breton stripe tunic, but alas none of the brand new stuff really does it for me this time.

Djangor · 05/01/2017 15:32

Boden adult stuff hasn't fitted or suited me for years (I'm smallish & very curvy) but they do the occasional shirt that fits. This season they seem to have gone overboard with large prints - hard to imagine someone not looking like a circus tent in one dress. A lot of the shots have models in badly fitting clothes too - straining waistbands, gaping pockets etc. Mini Boden cataglogue really disappointing - usually like a lot of the boys stuff & get a few bits when there is a good discount, but most of this lot seems to be aimed at age 5 or under & along with the girls' stuff its very twee. Babies stuff is mainly grey which I particularly dislike for babies. They seem to have brought back the teenage range - Johnnie B but the girls stuff there looks twee too.

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PollyPerky · 05/01/2017 15:43

I agree. Trousers, maybe a plain top and a breton will do it for me.

I think if I saw half this stuff in F&F, Primark or M&S I'd walk by it- it's only their models and the copy that's selling it.

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claptomania · 05/01/2017 19:05

Agreed! It's all dreadful. Maybe one or two acceptable jumpers. What on earth are all those prints about?

boldlygoingsomewhere · 05/01/2017 19:18

Far too many busy prints for me in this catalogue - did like the look of the cashmere jumpers but not sure they are worth £90...

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PollyPerky · 05/01/2017 20:11

It's the full flouncy skirts too- brings Kirsty Allsop to mind.

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Ilovewillow · 05/01/2017 20:12

I agree not great!

QueenoftheAndals · 05/01/2017 20:18

I like a few of the dresses but a lot of it is a bit primary school teacher. And what's with the weird nautical print of what looks like war medals?

daisydalrymple · 05/01/2017 20:22

I was pleased to see a couple of jumpers that fit what I've been struggling to find, but then I just wanted plain and simple v neck hip length semi fitted. I liked a couple of the jersey dresses for a simple day holiday outfit too.

WipsGlitter · 05/01/2017 21:03

They also seem to have jacked the prices right up too.

SilentlyScreamingAgain · 05/01/2017 21:07

It's the full flouncy skirts too- brings Kirsty Allsop to mind.

Isn't that what Boden is for?

jmszel · 05/01/2017 21:11

I was a bit disappointed when it arrived today, didn't even think much of the mini boden book though my daughter saw a few items she would like. Usually its half the catalogue!

DubiousCredentials · 05/01/2017 21:14

I quite liked the t shirt with tiny swans on but £28!? And the description online be said it was "the finest thinnest lightest cotton ever" or some shit like that so from that I can deduce that it will a) be crap and b) have holes in it after one wash.

I have ordered dd a pair of leggings with cats on though.

PollysPoppy · 05/01/2017 22:26

It's awful and their Mini Boden offerings are also hugely disappointing.

CallarMorvern · 05/01/2017 23:47

I can't afford Boden, only buy Johnnie B knicks for DD. But I love to browse the catalogue, which is currently sat in the porch waiting for me to have a spare half hour...you are all making me think that half hour could be better spent!

Fueledwithfairydustandgin · 06/01/2017 07:17

I never buy much for me from there. I think it's too expensive. I've got a couple of pairs of trousers in my basket to try but one pair is from johnnie b so cheap. I do have £350 of stuff for DS (2.5) in my basket (after thinking I wasn't keen on this season!!)

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PollyPerky · 06/01/2017 08:40

For those who think Boden is too expensive if you take off 20% is it expensive?

I'm curious as to where you shop that's cheaper!

eg a £60 pair of trousers from Boden with 20% off brings them to under £50.

As a middle aged person who can't get away with 'tat' I don't know where else I'd get quality basics.

These are the other brands I look at and they are much more pricey:
Hobbs
Jigsaw
The White Company
LK Bennett
Phase 8
French Connection
Ted Baker

I never see anything in M&S and am way past the offerings of D Perkins, H&M, New Look, etc.

So where DO you buy cheaper?

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QueenoftheAndals · 06/01/2017 09:07

I think some of it is expensive for what it is - jersey, ponte or knit dresses for £100-150, when none of these are particularly luxurious fabrics. On the other hand, the cashmere is fairly well-priced.

Itsautumn · 06/01/2017 09:07

I didn't think much of the catalogue either. I was never that keen on the prints but you I always found their plain dresses and trousers useful for work. I'm also not keen on the quality lately. I bought some plain t shirts and the material is very thin.

PNGirl · 06/01/2017 09:15

I only really wear jeans so a lot of my stuff is from GAP/Levi's but Uniqlo is an absolutely excellently priced place for basics, as is ASOS own brand. I also like to browse in Mango and Zara.
Boden is often thought of as overpriced rather than "expensive" as such.

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PollyPerky · 06/01/2017 09:58

I agree the dresses are overpriced for what they are. I rarely buy and if I do it's a summer one with a good discount. There is also a lot of polyester creeping in so even the T shirts are not always 100% cotton.

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QueenoftheAndals · 06/01/2017 10:07

I have a friend who works for them and can get me her discount but it's only 30%, which is a bit stingy for staff IMO. I've had friends who worked at brands like Hobbs and Jigsaw whose discount was at least 50%!

whataboutbob · 06/01/2017 10:36

Pollyperky that s an excellent question. I am de boden ifying my wardrobe becauseI realised there was nothing from them I loved. It's not particularly well cut, sexy, or made with quality materials and for all their patriotic guff virtually none of it is made in the UK. Places I buy from are: uniqlo, Agnes b in the sales, comptoir des cotonniers in the sales ( good reductions now) and eBay for vintage Scottish knitwear. I.also do the charity shops.
As someone upthread said, they get by in large part because of the aspirational catalogue which flatters us that we are living the upper middle class dream.

CallarMorvern · 06/01/2017 10:43

pollyperky

Sainsburys, TKMaxx, Charity shops, Ebay, occasional Primark and Peacocks.
I almost never pay more than £20 for an item of clothing, but I don't buy cheap disposable rubbish either.
My current wardrobe... jeans/trousers/vests from Sainsburys.
Gant,CC and Kew jumpers from charity and TKMaxx.
Long sleave tops from Peacocks (which were £7? and are wearing very well, unlike their Next counterparts). Thermal roll necks from Aldi.
Blouse and going out sparkly jumper from Primark.
Fit and flare going out dress from Peacocks ( I never wear dresses).
Exercise pants and tops from Asda, exercise hoodie from Primark.
Underwear from Asda.