Boden

[nomoneynoclothes]

I used to easily spend £200 on Boden a month and knew it would fit me and that I'd like it. I can't even find one thing I like these days, what happened?

I quite like the quality of their chino trousers for work. But a lot of their clothes seem to be dull/ muted colours that suite perhaps a specific 'Colouring' or tone- as in Autumn or spring. There is an awful lot of grey/ green/ brown coloured tops which wash out my complexion. Ditto with the 'fun prints'.

I gave up on the swimwear after one too many bikini bra strap fails. Very exposing. The catalogue sells a kind of upper middle class dream life ( Georgian home, holidays in Tuscany, city break in NYC, impeccable kids etc).but the reality of the clothes doesn’t match the image in terms of quality, provenance etc. Too many “ Skye” jumpers made in the PRC.

If you used to buy from Boden, where do you go now for similar quality at a better price?

I'm on the lookout for a couple of nice winter dresses for a casual work environment and so far only found some at Hush who seem just as over-priced.

Gosh I buy a lot from boden and disagree with so much here compared to anywhere else. Would LOVE to know which places you think are better. The quality from Boden is great. Much better than the high street. The cuts recently have been super up to date and flattering. Of course I don’t like everything but then at which place would you - but their t shirts, trousers and knitwear plus their style - they do things slightly different - is so much better than the high street.

Please do let me know which places you think are better as I would love to check those out too.

The reason they sell out is because their pieces are often featured in fashion mags.

I quite like the quality of their chino trousers for work. But a lot of their clothes seem to be dull/ muted colours that suite perhaps a specific 'Colouring' or tone- as in Autumn or spring.

The reason I like to shop at Boden is because of their bright colours. It’s what they are known for. Maybe some of you haven’t been there for a while…

Blessex- is that you Johnnie?

@Blessex are you new to Boden?

If you have shopped there for a number of years, over 20 in my case the decline in quality would have been impossible to ignore

Agree @IDidntFloatUpTheLaganInABubble the huge flight away from cotton towards synthetic especially for the dresses has been blatant.

@SkippettyDoDah

If you used to buy from Boden, where do you go now for similar quality at a better price?

I'm on the lookout for a couple of nice winter dresses for a casual work environment and so far only found some at Hush who seem just as over-priced.

I still really like a lot of Boden, but I am having a new love affair with & Other Stories. I also like Hush and have most recently discovered that H&M have a sustainable range they call ‘Conscious’ and the quality is great at a fraction of the price of all the others!

@whataboutbob

Blessex- is that you Johnnie?

@IDidntFloatUpTheLaganInABubble nope. I have shopped there on and off for years. But used to be for my kids only. I think the women’s clothing has got more ‘fashion’ more recently.

I even have a 20 year old Boden coat in my wardrobe. Quality no different to today IMO.

Johnny here

@AnnieSnap I like a bit of & Other Stories too. But interested in all these other places people must shop at. I really struggle on the high street :-(

I have been an ardent Boden fan for many years and still buy quite a bit from there. I have definitely noticed a drop in the quality of the finish (hems in particular) and thickness of the cotton t-shirts, but I still love many of their things. I don't think anyone ever pays full price though - they have really educated their customers to wait for a discount - which you get if you leave things in your basket for a few days!

I used to love it but it's too expensive and I'm not sure if it still fits me

@BreakfastOfWaffles on the t shirts it depends which one you go for. The voop t shirts are thinner. But then they are meant to be. That kind of see through look. But the essential t shirts are the best I can find honestly - thickness and shape. So they have loads of t shirts of different thicknesses. You just have to experiment for the thickness you want. I have never had a problem with hems. Are yours coming down? I have never experienced that. I just struggle to find any other place on the high street that does a good mix of basics (a decent black trousers or white t shirt) with statement pieces.

My kids at 6 & 7 are saying “no” to boden stuff now… it’s quite gorgeous for toddlers but it’s not hitting the mark for my boy and girl now they are slightly bigger.

For me - I still look, and hope, but it’s just too bloody mumsy now. I used to love the fitted / ottoman work dresses but just don’t see anything I like - there seems to be gallons of material. And no more tweed mini skirts?

Can't say I've ever understood the hype. Everything on there screams Children's TV presenter, imo.

@KimDeals don’t get me wrong I have a couple of the fitted ottoman work dresses and mini skirts - but they are not so much in fashion now which is why they don’t do them. It’s all more floaty and baggy at the moment - midis and wide jeans.

@SirenSays

[quote Blessex]@AnnieSnap I like a bit of & Other Stories too. But interested in all these other places people must shop at. I really struggle on the high street :-([/quote]
Me too. Have a look at H&M. I ignored them for years, but I’m genuinely impressed recently.

@Blessex yes I have bought two jumpsuits and two children's pj's recently and have had to sew the hems back up on all of them. It's the first time I have had to do that in many years of buying Boden.

@Blessex yeah, but not every office person is walking around in billows of patterned material . I know I’m just looking in the wrong place now for work stuff - I’ve defaulted back to Reiss, again!

@KimDeals . Fair call! I love Reiss too.

@BreakfastOfWaffles yep that’s bad.

@anniesnap going to check out h and m