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A thread for those of us who still quite like Boden

67 replies

BoogleMcGroogle · 19/09/2019 06:58

I know, I know. It's not high fashion, it's not sexy, the fabrics can be questionable and some of the prints look like eighties Lura Ashley on speed. But I'm a 41 year old working mother and no one else at work, at the school gates or on the parish council looks fashionable or sexy either. And Boden does provide a reliable range of decent quality basics for an okay price ( once you find your obligatory discount code). Also, I live in the sticks and, while I often go to Cambridge and London for work and play, I don't want to spend too much time hauling around the shops. Although I've discovered a Cos and a Jigsaw conveniently close to my station, which could be expensive.

I've just bought a Hengeave coat in Airforce blue to wear for the Autumn. And I picked up this dress which looks gorgeous on the model, so fingers crossed my matronly behind doesn't frump it up too much. Anyway, any other fans please do come along and share your finds. I'm think I'll buy a silk shirt next and possibly a tweed blazer later in the year.

OP posts:
BringBiscuits · 19/09/2019 07:09

No link to dress?

MaybeDoctor · 19/09/2019 07:15

When it’s good, it’s very good!

I buy a few items a year new and quite a lot of it on Ebay too.

CherryPavlova · 19/09/2019 07:18

Their jackets and coats are very good for everyday use and work. Some of their party dresses are quite nice too.

EmmaGrundyForPM · 19/09/2019 07:20

Link to the dress please!

I live near Cambridge and there is now a Boden concession inside John Lewis there. I used to buy a lot of Boden but less so these days.

BoogleMcGroogle · 19/09/2019 07:20

Gah! I thought I'd done a link. New phone. I'll try again!
www.boden.co.uk/en-gb/violet-ottoman-dress-navy/sty-j0466-nav

OP posts:
Binkybix · 19/09/2019 07:41

I live in their Phoebe dresses in work during the summer

Binkybix · 19/09/2019 07:42

Love that dress :)

Redwinestillfine · 19/09/2019 07:45

I get kids stuff in the sale. Decent quality and proper 'kids' clothes, not trying to make them grow up too fast. I like the look of the women's stuff but can't justify spending the money on myself atm

greathat · 19/09/2019 07:50

@Binkybix me too!

bengalcat · 19/09/2019 07:54

I like their dresses but also shop in Mango , Zara and online at Joe Browns as their stuff is quirky .

LittleMissEngineer · 19/09/2019 08:04

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

BoogleMcGroogle · 19/09/2019 08:14

littlemissengineer I do have a tweed blazer from ten years ago. Blue with little green dots which is still nice. The current ones look a bit boxy for me but I'm going to see what I can order half price in the sale.

I have a Phoebe dress with a bee print on from a coupe of years ago. Don't normally go in for quirky prints but I love bees 🐝
My job is quite 'serious' but I do sometimes wear it if I'm seeing little ones and they often love it( I'm a psychologist).

I did enjoy seeing Jo Swinson's run of Boden dresses during the Lib Dem conference. Although even she wasn't brave enough to try a yellow one!

OP posts:
LittleMissEngineer · 19/09/2019 08:27

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Ellapaella · 19/09/2019 08:29

I still like the odd thing form Boden. Certain things they do really well. I've got This coat and I love it, quality is great and the colour is beautiful. Now it just needs to get cold enough for me to wear it!

Binkybix · 19/09/2019 08:33

I discovered them after the bee print one! Really want one!

Sarcelle · 19/09/2019 09:01

I often look at Boden online. I have only bought a pair of espadrilles which were about 70 quid but were half price in the sale. They were too big but I would have sent them back even if they had fit, the quality wasn't worth the sale price, let alone full price.

I live near a John Lewis with Boden concession. I look at the clothes and recognise some of them from the brilliantly photographed online shots, and the quality is just not there. They are way overpriced. They are like DFS, constantly on offer or big discount codes available, because the true price of the clothes is the discount one. I like the clothes online, but the reality doesn't match up.

BoogleMcGroogle · 19/09/2019 10:21

Sarcelle I agree about the quality. It's very variable and I've sent many things back. I don't bother with their t-shirts any more or their knitwear. For knits I like Jigsaw, Cos and Uniqlo for merino. I have heard Boden cashmere is okay though. I have been pleasantly surprised by a couple of items lately. The Richmond pencil skirt came in a gorgeous cotton print and was fully lined. Really good value. I also picked up a nice denim shirt dress. I steer clear of unloved viscose dresses as I know they will be flimsy and cling to all my wobbly parts.

OP posts:
BoogleMcGroogle · 19/09/2019 10:22

ellapaella I've just ordered that coat. So glad you liked it. I needed something smart-casual for the Autumn and I'm bored of grey.

OP posts:
TheTurn0fTheScrew · 19/09/2019 10:30

I really rate Boden for workwear although it is overpriced.
If you have a job where you need to be smart but not overbearingly so it hits the spot, and a huge plus for me is that everything comes with the choice of a longer length. Often dresses and skirts marketed as work suitable are very much not so if you are taller than average.

SteelRiver · 19/09/2019 13:54

I bought these fabulous flats in the sale. I have arthritic feet so am limited to flats, but usually find they're pretty boring. It's also good to find pointed toe flats that don't make my size 7 feet look gigantic!

A thread for those of us who still quite like Boden
BoogleMcGroogle · 19/09/2019 14:49

SteelRiver Nice shoes!
My gorgeous midi dress I was very excited about arrived today. The quality is great and it is fully lined. Sadly the 12R is much too big and makes me look like an extra from The Handmaids's Tale. The Navy colour also makes it look very conservative. However, having hoiked it up a bit, I can see that a little more fitted and a little shorter and it would look really good. So I'm returning it and ordering it in a different colour in 12P, to see if it feels different.

The Hengrave coat I ordered in 12R is also too big. Luckily I also ordered a 12P and absolutely love it. I ordered the dark pink with pink lining and it's a lovely coat for Autumn and Spring. Wouldn't work for deep winter, but that's fine.

OP posts:
Cuddlysnowleopard · 19/09/2019 14:58

I'm wearing a Boden dress for work today. If I stick to classic cuts, and plain colours, they are perfect for my job. And they wash well.

checkedcloth · 19/09/2019 16:39

Completely agree. I also need to be smart (deputy director of nursing) for work and their dresses are perfect.
I have three of last years version of the Voilette dress. It is the perfect work dress

MaybeDoctor · 19/09/2019 16:59

The problem with boden is that you always need to keep an eye on them in case they take a good item and turn it all hotch-potchy or all in a random clashing panel or something.

Winter 2017/18 long sleeve wrap dress - perfect, I’m wearing it today.

Winter 2018/19 long sleeve wrap dress - superficially identical, but furnished with vast flappy sleeves that wouldn’t even fit under a cardigan!

Supersimkin · 19/09/2019 17:02

Miles better quality than Jigsaw.

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