What’s going on with Boden?

[Farawayfromhere]

HUUUUGE sale that has gone on for weeks and weeks. Very little new stock. Reminds me of recent events at Joules… Does anyone know what’s happening?

Me too. I used to love Boden . I have 2 of their velvet coats and a couple of skirts that I have worn for 16 years. The green velvet coat still gets compliments and looks good as new.The quality has gone down since then.

And weird mum/boyfriend jeans that are cut off above the ankle. You're supposed to wear them with the really chunky ankle boots that are all the rage. I just look like a butch rectangle.

I used to buy some things from them, but now go for Seasalt and Pact. Bowden stuff now seems to go in for strange colors and odd looking designs with bizarre looking frills all over them. Of course, it could be partly because that’s what the fashions dictate right now. But I always bought Boden in the past because they sold good quality classic clothes, not faddy shite that will end up in the bin before long.

@Coatandhat, yes, I could not believe it when I saw jumpers for well over £200 for autumn and winter. Anything that isn't at least £140 is made of cheap fabrics and isn't anything special. The prints are so distinctive but there's usually only one colour that's wearable and everyone who's pale and dark blonde (which is most people in my world) will be wearing it because it's either that or some hideous pink or yellow.

They need to get rid of the gimmicks and stop trying to please the US crowd. Boden became popular in the US because people liked the style. Why change it to a rip-off of Banana Republic or old-style J Crew.

@Metabigot oh thanks didn't know that. Wish I could do that for children's clothes but they were a present a few months and that would be awkward. Also I meant to write 'wash badly' not 'wash bad'!

Yes, this crop top with cut outs is not one that appeals to the typical Boden customer. But at £74! originally I'm not sure that it's the younger market prive bracket. They are chasing trends rather than the previous model of not being fashion/trend driven.
www.boden.co.uk/en-gb/halterneck-cut-out-crop-top/sty-t1116

Same with the linen halternecks. Most of the women who can afford Boden and will iron linen want something they can wear a bra with. We are generally of an age where going braless is not really an option. Their v necks are also really low and again make bras difficult to wear.

And this poor lass is wearing a top which is so unflattering in fit and colours.

www.boden.co.uk/en-gb/twist-front-jersey-top/sty-t1071

I had a couple of brilliant knit dresses from them about 10 years ago which were fab for work. Nothing like that now, same with the ponte stuff mentioned above.

I used to love it in the 00s and even after 2010

There used to be tops in different colours or knitwear and lovely skirts

Their Boots were fantastic and their coats

I don't buy anything now

And let's not forget Per Una had already started the party with some super skunk before boden rocked up with the class As.

😂

I’ve got some Boden work clothes - dresses, jackets, jumpers, that I’ve had for years. No mad prints, good quality cotton, heavy viscose or wool/cashmere that has lasted well. I sent the last lot of dresses back - the fabric was very thin, went shiny when stretched, and the painted on spots cracked where you wore the fabric - across the bum where you sat down. The cashmere is of poor quality now, badly finished (no velvet or grosgrain finish behind the buttons on the cardigans) and the sizing is mean. Lands End and M & S Autograph cashmere is much better quality.

@HobnobsChoice, those inappropriate cuts are about the American market. Boden became popular with younger US women when Kate and William got married.

I'm not old but I also won't wear items that require a special bra or are see-through or sleeveless or are cropped. They might sell well in the US but I don't get why they don't understand they're losing the UK market. It's the colours too, which are now not aimed at the typical customer.

Another one for Mike Ashley.

Only thing I buy there are boys trousers

Yes!! Those ponte dresses were ace. I had 4 of them. Really wanted to buy more for returning to work after mat leave (and so no longer fitting in my old ones 😳) and so disappointed they aren't available anymore

Yes to all the above. Work wear / dresses used to be great from there.
I recently had a £20 voucher from them - very unusual as hadn’t bought anything for ages - it was to tempt me back I think. I bought a sweatshirt after looking for ages and not seeing anything I liked. I have washed it and there is no stretch at all in the fabric after washing - it’s just rigid material with no ‘give’. So it’s going back.

I bet they will go bust soon.

I bought some really nice things from them recently. I’ll get my (Boden) coat . . . . . . 😳

I ordered a few bits when they had 20% off before Christmas. The quality was absolutely shocking. The tops in particular were paper thin and creased the moment you touched them. Sent it all back

Personally, I would rather pay more and have better quality. If I want Primark quality then I can go to Primark and pay Primark prices.

I was looking there today and thinking the same thing. Equally I was in town and the shops all had the same feel, clothes and other shops. Lots of the dregs of post Christmas sales and very little new stock. I wonder if so many shops are running so close to failure that they didn’t want to order new stock before they knew if the Christmas takings would be enough to keep them going.
DH wanted to buy some trousers. There was nothing for him.
I did place an order at Boden though…….
I’ll keep an ear to the ground, Johnny Boden lives near my parents, they’ll keep a look out for a For Sale sign.

Always look out for rebranding (tick), Klarna or payment plans (tick), less on location photo shoots and more generic studio pics (tick) and a big emphasis on offers (tick).
I’m probably completely wrong, but it just looks like they have bought in a load of stock from elsewhere and stuck the Boden brand on it and have kept some basics like the Breton tee shirt and silk shirts (that have also been renamed to ‘new’ silk shirt).

I hardly buy anything now. Years ago I remember the excitement of the Boden preview site and ordering in advance for the new autumn/winter and spring/summer collections. Do they still do that I wonder.

Just lower quality yet prices are rising. I shop elsewhere now.

Agree with everything everyone has said, and yet Johnnie has just been awarded a CBE. I used to aspire to fill my wardrobe with Boden. Now the catalogue goes straight in the bin.

Bought a couple of black tops from them in size 12 recently. One top fitted perfectly and the other is so tight that I would need a size 16 for it to fit. Never worn a 16 in my life! Also just bought a satin skirt in a 12 and had to send it back as far too small. Not sure what is going on with their sizing!

I have some of their cashmere jumpers from years ago and the quality is exceptional. I bought a couple more recently and the quality is awful; they look fit for a jumble sale now. To be fair I should have complained but I kept them for a few months before wearing them so I felt too much time had passed. They have also stopped doing classic crew neck cashmere jumpers that always seemed so popular and have replaced them with puff sleeve designs and garish colour schemes. Perhaps I’m behind the times but these items are always in the sale so perhaps not. The prices have also gone through the roof. However, while charging more for the same quality is perhaps acceptable in our current financial climate, charging more for poorer quality is indicative of a company on its way out.

I’m so glad I am not the only one feeling very hmm about the last few ranges at Boden!
I rely heavily on them for my work wardrobe, and being a larger girl have shopped online from Australia for more than a decade from Boden. I could rely on consistent sizing and could send returns back locally not internationally.
this (northern) winter there were none of the beautiful wool and tweed skirts- you remember the ones, they were lovely quality fabric and fully lined so you could sit in them without itching. The only skirts this season were jersey mini skirts and maxi monstrosities.

The summer range had so many peculiar cut outs in odd places in the sundresses that the only woman they would flatter would be a stick thin teenager, and I don’t think gorgeous young girls are looking in Boden catalogues for festival wear (nor could they afford it!)