Boden

[moresproutspleasemum]

What do we all think of Boden these days? I heard they're trying to move away from the frumpy mum image and market to a target audience. I still buy from them but regular disappointed at the lack of natural fines on offer and general randomness of some of their designs.

I hardly buy anything now. Used to buy endlessly. I've defected to seasalt.

I haven’t bought from them for years. I’m not sure if it’s me that’s changed or them.

Some of their dresses look lovely but they’re styled with high stiletto heels on models with skinny legs and on the average person they are not so flattering.

Also slightly above my price range even in the sales.

The only non-school, no-sport shoes DS(10) will wear are Mini Boden. He has 2 sizes to go until we need to find new shoes....

I buy a few bits for the DC, and jeans fir me. They do a style that I really like. I don’t ever pay more than 80% cost for anything though.

I used to buy from them 15 years ago
..and whereas most dresses I bought were £45 ish the same ones are now £80 and I can't justify the price for a now unlined version of a classic cord dress.

Yes I’ve noticed much less is lined now too. Lined things fit so much better. I do think we have to demand better quality and buy less - I also like seasalt but both companies seem to have a model of clothes lasting 1-2 years of moderate use before they need to go in the bin.

I intend to investigate the thought clothing more.

I'm not sure about the 'quality' comments. I've never noticed this at all.
In terms of price, what are you comparing with?

I'm a woman of a certain age but am not ageist when it comes to clothes- but I'm not saying I dress too young either.

My basic 'capsule' wardrobe is a few pairs of smart trousers, some tops, jumpers and cardis, wool dresses, jeans and maybe a couple of smarter dresses for dinners.

And that's it. I work from home so don't need an office wardrobe and when I do meet clients, smart casual works.

Boden used to fit the bill.

Where else do you shop?

I've got a few tops when Mint Velvet but they are Boden prices. I don't like their wafty dresses.

Jigsaw- £££
The White Company - £££
Whistles- £££
Hobbs- same as Boden (in fact I wonder if they are made in the same factory?)

White Stuff- too garish and droopy styles.
Seasalt- not my style really.

I might grab a top or two from Oasis, Warehouse, keep an eye on French Connection.

Agree explodingkitten I don't want to feel like a sex doll for men's pleasure either.

Not saying I love Boden (I have one nice cashmere jumper from them though), but when I get dressed 99 times out of 100 I am not aiming to make men desire me as a top priority.

I prefer to shop at eg Wyse cashmere, a local boutique that stocks labels such as Current/Elliott, Goat, Marcella, Rixo and on the high street The White Company, Trilogy, Gap, Uniqlo.

jingling have a look at Midlifechic.com sounds like you have a similar lifestyle/working pattern

I still buy from there. I probably am the target market as in a mum who wants easy to wear and launder clothing that lasts and has some shape to it.

I usually buy dresses and I find many of the styles flattering.

The only thing that stops me buying more is the price. They have rocketed and I just don’t have the budget anymore.

Dc used to live in the clothing but at 21 and 16 the boys no longer wear Boden and the 21yr old no longer lives at home.

I buy the occasional thing for dh but he prefers crew and crew has an actual shop. Boden changed the sizing of the jeans and he refuses to buy a bigger size when he’s still the same size in other shops!

Dd is almost 13 and I buy a few bits. She likes the older girls range underwear but she is at that age that prefers her sweatshirts to read jack wills or Hollister.

Thanks VanCleef!

I think if anyone buys full price they are a bit bonkers :)

There is rarely anything I love enough to pay full price. Wait till the sales and get at least 30% off and more.

I'm not sure where you get cheaper stuff unless you go to M&S, Next and maybe Oasis (which is too young for me- dresses all too short.)

I used to really like them because of the great quality kids clothes, but I’m so disappointed following our last order. On two of the dresses the skirt has come away from the waistband/top half of the dress. The seams also came apart on the tights. They’ve discontinued the heavy duty boys’ trousers.
We only ever order in the sale, but I’m going to have to find somewhere else to find durable clothes not covered in minions/barbie/hello kitty/slogans.

Take a look at H&M @3Out
The “LOGG” and “Eco Conscious Basics” ranges are good.
DD wears a lot of “boys” stuff - coloured jersey, stripes, stars. Some cartoons too, but lots of stuff not.

In my early 30s, when my kids were small, I suspect I was the target market and bought lots from Boden.

Unfortunately, I think as prices have gone up, quality has gone down. And I do struggle buying from a Tory!

Now I’m in my early 40s, my kids are teens and I have a better idea of my own style. I’m much more likely to shop in Uniqlo, Topshop, Whistles and Jigsaw. I did buy an animal print coat from Boden this winter (with a hefty discount offer and a gift voucher they tried to woo me with) and it’s nice but I’ve already had to stitch 2 of the fastenings back on (Coat was priced at £200 prior to discounts).

Thanks @BikeRunSki I’ll have a look :)

I still buy quite a lot from them, just stay away from the garish patterns & over fussy details. I never, ever pay full price.

I get annoyed when I see a lovely wool jumper or something only to see the back profile has got a chiffon bloody pleat down it, who wants that kind of thing?!

Grossly overpriced - £130 for a dress of that quality is ridiculous

I tend to buy staples from there for work. I work in a school and need to dress modestly.
I would never wear any of the stuff I’ve bought from there outside of work!!!

Definite reduction in the quality these days and I sense that they are chasing the younger "Insta" market at the moment. MidlifeChic wrote very interestingly about Boden a few months ago and it really resonated with my experiences. and I was removed from the mailing list for getting lippy about not getting a birthday voucher!

What did midlifechic say about it?

I once read Jonny’s rag to riches story of being left a million by his uncle so he took the brave decision to leave the city and start up his own company. Very brave....

He also had a rant about paying for state school through taxes and then paying school fees for his kids. Wanted the parents of privately educated kids to have an opt out from paying towards state schools .

I vowed from that point on to never buy from Boden (I was also so skint that I couldn’t afford clothes anyways). Now I’m comfortable and my mum bought me some lovely work trousers from them and so I may have caved slightly .

Still think the pre-sale prices are crazy though and that Jonny isn’t the most critical thinker....

Just for balance, in their defence, where else DO you go for a 100% cotton top on the high street these days, that may just cover your size 14 figure nicely? That's the only reason I do pay their prices because there simply is no decent competition.

Yes I agree, I can buy their things and they make me feel ok, other brands aren’t as reliable for me.