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.

@Stopwoofing the sad truth is I don’t really own any, apart from some precious vintage dresses that only come out in the summer, or more upmarket stuff mostly Agnes b which again is too precious for work. I’ve had a couple of nice ish Boden dresses which are at the right price point ( in the sales) but they haven’t aged well. I mean only really lasted one or two summers. Maybe I should check out banana republic!

Ooh Agnes b - lovely Tania dress on there although Brora do something similar in merino. I would be scared to order French fashion these days due to definitely non French proportion bottom half!

Interesting thread. I used to love Boden and bought loads from there. But a lot of the prints are horrible and frumpy. But I would say their knitwear is still good, I've bought 3 jumpers this year. Yes they do bobble a bit but no more than other brands. I never buy at full price, I wait for a 15/20% discount code or buy in the sale.

Funny isn’t it - I just threw yet another jumper I bought one gear ago as shrunken and bobbled - I’d be inclined to think it was me, not a great washer, but my old Boden jumpers are unscathed.

Maybe the mix of fabrics have changed and I’m less good with some types of jumper.

I buy from a brand that is similar (Leona edmibston if anyone cares) but wouldn’t buy Boden. The whole quirky but actually frumpy look only works if it is cut perfectly.

It's not really my thing any more but I will always have a soft spot for Boden and their sassy prints. Those catalogues woke me up from my post baby style slumber. I used to look at them in the bath and I liked it that they didn't seem to take themselves too seriously. And yes the quality really was very good then - my Boden cashmere must be 8-10 years old but still going strong. Disappointing if it's gone downhill but they're hardly the only culprits. Can anyone name a store where the quality has improved or even stayed the same?

The bobbling, increased polyester and decreased quality isn't unique to Boden. It's everywhere, unfortunately. I still find more in Boden than elsewhere. They could do with seriously toning down the prints though.

i agree with quality comments in general - even brora can be hit or miss if you go for their thin gauzy stuff. I would like to have a thread on companies that still make good, lasting jumpers. Jaegar I've a few older nice ones from.

I have a love hate relationship with them. Some catalogues I like half the stock other ones I'd struggle to find one item.

Agree about the quality though. I've got 2 t shirts and 3 dresses that I've had for nearly 10 years and they are still crisp and new looking. Much newer t shirts are already polishing shoes.

I agree that quality has gone down everywhere, but I am not sure you can get away with it while at the same time doubling the price. Their knitwear washes to rags very quickly.

There clothes also just don't fit me at all any more. I haven't really changed sizes or shape. Dresses seem to just have too much material everywhere, especially with the damn pockets which seem to ruin every dress for me now, adding width across my hips.

The cut is off for me too. With necks either too high cut or low cut and waists that sit on my ribcage(although I could say this about most shops at the moment, ditto the pockets on dresses) .

Pretty much given up.

My kids had been Biden onesies for Christmas from a relative and while they’re nice they’re not the quality I’d expect. They look pretty thin. If I’d paid for them I’d have been disappointed.

*Boden!

We have a new John Lewis in Cheltenham. They have the Hush clothing next to the Boden things. I have never seen either brand being sold instore before as I live out in the sticks. I was very surprised how limp an dthin the Hush jumpers and sweatshirts were, and how boxy and unflattering the cut. The Boden clothes are more varied and the quality of the knitwear and dresses is much higher. I haven't bought much from Boden recently but the few items I have had from hush have been OK but not as nice as I'd hoped.

I don't buy anywhere near as much Boden as I used to. The cardigans barely last the season and all the dresses have the exact same high neckline. The only people I can imagine that they would look good on are people with the exact same body shape as the models. The high necklines either make you look dowdy or like I need the worlds most transformative bra.

I got a well designed and well cut dress in the Brora sale last summer. It’s a synthetic fibre but made from wood pulp so not polyester and hangs well.
My favourite knitwear, apart from one Brora Cardi is vintage Scottish knitwear I hunt for on eBay. All the contemporary stuff is disappointing.

Yes, I’ve got a few Brora dresses I love - they’ve kept well but that could be because they are rarely worn as I love them so much!

Sale on now although not seen any unmissable bargains but I’m waiting...

Toast has lovely fabrics but their styles generally aren’t my cup of tea

I buy now and again, used to buy loads, I always wait for an offer though. Had a fabulous merino wool drop waisted dress, I look every season to see if they have revived it.

Brora have a good sale on at the moment, their stuff is always good quality but too expensive for me at normal prices

I e not found anything I want from Boden for several years. Twenty years ago I used to love their pull on cotton print trousers. Now I can pick up similar from Primark. I have bought some nice bits from Sosander over the past few months, and their customer service is very good.

I got a lovely miriam tunic in the sale - got a lot of compliments. Had to return something recently too (got wrong size) and refund came through very quickly. Also bought my two year old daughter some trousers which she ripped and when I asked if they could send me a bit of the fabric to patch them they just sent me a new pair. All my experiences have been positive.

I buy the odd item but I’m a Jigsaw lady really.

I have to admit the customer service at Boden is good. Can’t fault that.

I am in the US and Boden came over here sometime in the past decade. I bought a few of their pieces, I believe mostly dresses which were sent to me from the UK when I was living in Germany a few years ago. I sent it all back except one wrap dress which I never wore as it just didn't thrill me enough - too boring. That was my one and only time I bought from them, I was in my 40s at the time and am now 50.

In Germany it was comparatively easy to find good quality, fashionable clothes and many high quality retailers marketed directly toward women over the age of 30.

Now I am back on the West Coast of the US and have never been tempted by the occasional Boden catalog. I find it massively infruriating that any company would snub middle aged women. Not only because as a generation we have much more money to spend than millennials but we are also willing to pay for good design and high quality. Also we are often shopping for others. I buy for DH and 3 teenagers who often like what I pick out for them. All three are in adult sizes, so they are rejecting potentially five adult customers.

I wasn't well enough to go shopping this Christmas and bought everything online. Including gold jewelry. Customer service is excellent here and I found I did a lot of shopping at Macy's who carry great brands for everyone. Another department store is Nordstrom which is always fashion forward while also carrying lots of classics. I also bought DH two beautiful cashmere sweaters in the sale from Land's End. I don't buy there for myself but their quality is excellent.

I like J. Crew (I bought a couple of high quality coats from them) and some of Nordstrom's own lines as they treat women of all ages like Queens, they understand who actually does the shopping in the USA at least. You don't alienate the major decision makers! I am disgusted at Boden's attitude toward their core customer. Clearly there is still a great desire and need for high quality clothing for women and they could own that market with enough quality and good design. Boden always marketed themselves as an aspirational MC brand. They seem to have abandoned their own market.

My American teens would never buy from Boden. They like PacSun, Forever 21, H & M, Urban Outfitters, Lululemon, Nike, Pink, American Eagle, Garage, Free People ($$$) and Nordstrom's teen department that carry's many boutique but affordable teen brands.

I didn't know about that blog, thank you, I will check it out.

IdaBWells - totally agree with every word you've written. I hope someone nudges Jonny to read this thread in the hopes he sees what a foolish strategy Boden are persuing these days!
MidlifeChic is a great blog - really noticed her absence over Christmas, hope she's back tomorrow.

I still LOVE boden. Amazing customer service, great value (they have a great ethical manufacturing policy), the quality is pretty close to perfect and i genuinely feel that they are looking out for their customers. People just try and rip down anything that is successful, especially in the UK. They are now HUGE in the USA and congratulations - well deserved.