Is it just me or are Boden clothes usually a weensy bit disappointing when they arrive compared to how they look in the catalogue ?

[Rookietherednosedreindeer]

Ordered a few things in the sale including a couple of skirts.

One was wool and from the picture I anticipated it to be reasonably thick and at my knees, when it came it was very thin and cheap looking and even at sale price not worth the money so now I am bagging it up to send back. The other skirt is ok, but again a lot thinner than it looked in the photo.

Anyone else experienced this or is it just me ?

I've had one or two real successes from Boden(a summer jacket, some linen trousers) but also some disasters. There's often something wrong with the necklines of the tops, too gapey, don't hang right.

And some of the tops that look nice on those shiny willowy models look decidedly mumsy on me....

Sigh, maybe am just MUMSY

sorry Rookie, am new here, consider me well roasted (mm charred gorillabudgie)

arcticroll, you might be right, all the things I've liked and still wear are from 4 or 5 years ago

S'okay 5goldrings, would not normally mention it but have been waiting in for package most of day ( apart from popping out to return Boden items) so am less chilled than normal.

I have given up buying clothes for me from boden but still by mini boden. I am only 5'8 but the jersey tops are too short in the body and arms. Not very flattering! Also even the low waist trousers seem pretty high waisted. Very odd cut imo and like you say a bit on the thin side. Moan over!

I'm tall too and don't buy their jersey tops because they're skimpy and I end up with a cold midriff. Don't like their trousers' fit, either. I always look fat and I'm not sure I am in real life. Somehow I expect my clothes to make me look better than I really am, if that makes sense.

But their women's coats are very good. I have a mac and black applique coat. Very flattering, classic cuts. As, actually, are both my wrap dresses. Esp. the black one. I have worn it a lot.

I buy a lot of children's clothes in sales and they last pretty well.

I find Boden very patchy too; I have a lovely wrap dress from there which is fine, but the skirts and trousers never fit me and the tops are generally far too short. I do love their fleece cardis, but they didn't do them this year. I don't order very often, but always wait for a code, or order through mumsnet - I'm buggered if I'm going to pay £4 postage and £5 return postage just for the privilege of trying on something that doesn't fit. Really think Boden should wake up to this fact.....

dh is just this minute opening his order from the sale - I'll see what he says...nice long sleeved t shirt for ds, - yes - they both love it ! dh has a jumper -and ds some shorts...uh, the shorts aren't what he expected but they are very nice.

boden trousers never fit me properly - way to big on hips

Strangely enough they fit me just fine MAS

Tops are too bloody short though...

I do hate the copy in the catalogues it is so smug

received sale order yesterday and as usual hit and miss. kids stuff very nice,even nicer than photos.the kids all put on their new pjs straight away even although it was just past 4pm . However my paltry selection not great- splashed out on the claret flat seude boots but not sure whose legs they designed for- painfully narrow around the ankle and lower leg then really wide around the calf.and the wool mini i got to go with the boots is indecently miniscule even for me. so i'm off to the post office as well . i find the clothes last quiet well but the finish on them is a bit shabby when they arrive- loose threads, loose buttons, even iron marks

Kids stuff great, only things I have ever ordered for me, were hideous.

Boden - nice mag and pretty pictures showing glamorous (tall & slim) people in striking Boden prints looking v. stylish. Never seems to work out for me however. Have only been happy with fit & fabric for one item from about four orders.
Fab alternatives:
Jigsaw, Hobbs, FennWrightManson for clothing - especially in the sales after Christmas!!!!
...and if you like some of Boden's shoes, you will love love love the half price shoe sale at Hobbs, and you get to try on. Sadly boots not usually discounted....sigh....
As now have DD, have found JoJoMamanBebe have some lovely things - in natural fibres too!!

So it's not just me.DH gives a hollow laugh whenever we get a parcel from Boden, saying 'So you'll be down at the Post Office tomorrow sending it all back then?" I always swear not to fall for it again and then forget and order another parcel of disappointment - gapey necks, tops too short, tshirts too square and boxy, skirts weirdly high waisted and unflattering, fabrics not remotely like the pictures. Agree that fabric and stitching quality has gone down in the last four years too. Only recent success has been a cord coat in pink. I think mini boden is hugely overpriced and quality variable. Next much better and half the price.

i buoght a lovely lovely dress from there. fit is lovely. quality is lovley.
stuff for dc is always lovely. particularly the girls stuff. looks like real clothes in decetn quality. not tat for wannabe sluts as you find in some highstreet shops.

I love their long suede boots and I've had a black pair and a fawn pair that are in their 3rd year and still look great.

And I like the silk skirts.

Agree that the finishing on clothes is cheap and their tops are too short (even on me and I'm only 5'6" and fairly short-waisted).

Love the childrens clothes though.

I have never felt so miserable than after loking through a Boden catalogue. I refuse to buy from a company that makes me feel to down on myself!

And so many opportunities to look through a Boden catalogue too, what with their intensive and intensely annoying mailing programme....

Overpriced, overrated, bizarre fit, and with that catalogue and its irritating fakey models, trying too hard all round IMO. Which doesn't mean I don't own anything from Boden, I hasten to add, I just despise myself for doing so and feel that the provenance of the garments in question is terribly, terribly obvious, like Laura Ashley clothes were in the 70s and 80s.

Message withdrawn

Sent for washed velvet coat for Christmas pressie from dh, had my heart set on it for months - arrived and was hideous...too tight over shoulders (I'm a size 12) and ridiculously A line so much so that I looked like an amorphous blob. Material looked cheap as chips too.
Sent it back......vowed not to succomb in the sale, but ordered the short velvet jacket - material better, fit bloody awful again. Pintuck shirt - should be re-named pintuck tissue paper...material is almost transparent.yet another trip to post office today.
Get it sorted Johnnie.
Ds's applique t-shirts fab though

Agree with all previous posts- the quality isn't a patch on what it used to be; I'm fed up of paying to send most of the stuff back; it all looks much better in the catalogue. Used to look forward to my Boden parcels, now I wonder why I bother. Think I'll spend my cash elsewhere in future. M&S is better value and less frumpy than Boden these days!

Totally agree with all previous posts.

Quality def gone downhill. I ordered the long velvet skirt this year - looked gorgeous in the catalogue. Arrived and the velvet was sort of lumpy and bumpily sewn and looked 100% crap.

Also, brief look at the Spring collection says "frump central". Really naff clothes. Won't be ordering anything.

I bought the big button wool coat last year - it was about £150 I think, more than I have ever spent on a coat in my life. I noticed the other day that the lining is disintegrating - I've not caught and ripped it on anything - it is just falling apart. I am livid - for that much money I expected it to last years. I feel a big complainy letter coming on...