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?

New season stuff looks much, umm, calmer. Plain basics! But not sure how many swimming costumes they will sell at £75 😲

I still have a Boden tea dress from about 15 years ago I can no longer fit into but it was gorgeous and unique. Its too pretty to toss so I keep it around hoping I can fit into it again one day! And I recently unearthed another simple Boden dress from the back of a closet that has to be about 10 years old and definitely has some weight to it still that I can wear in the summer.

Ive looked at their stuff over the years and frankly dont want to wade through the masses of clothes and options, 90% of which I know will look bad on me. Puffed sleeves with v-necks? Why? Its like shopping the Next website (I dont do that either).

Agree Seasalt and Fat Face are going the same way, though. Im so tired of ditsy prints and long-sleeved dresses. Seasalt used to have such fun patterns and now they are super boring and some of their fabrics are getting a bit light. Fat Face is stuck on Prairie Wear for the ladies, sometimes crossed with an India-style print. How come they can do simple basics in good fabrics for men that wash well, but ladies are stuck with this viscose crap in terrible designs?

I much prefer boden now less wacky prints and wearable. Nice footwear

Boden (years ago when I was too young and couldn’t afford it) used to seem to me like Me + Em is now (a bit). Boden don’t do great workwear (at least for me) - clingy or stretchy material - and their casual stuff looks cheaper. The kids stuff is pretty good though!!

I used to love Boden and still have lots of great work dresses that I’ve had for ages and wear regularly - and almost always get complimented on.

But lately there’s just nothing. I’ve been looking through the sale regularly as they are sending me so many emails about it but can’t find a single thing I want. Previously my basket would be full.

I did order a coat just before Christmas which is nearly identical to one I already have from a couple of years ago as I love that one & thought it would be good to have another in a different colour. But I’ve sent it back because it doesn’t have the extras that make the original flattering eg drawstring at the waist to get some shape. I’m just hoping I get my refund before they go into administration (it seems to be taking a long time to come through).

I have sent back everything I ordered in th last year apart from a standard, useful basic Breton top. I used to order certain styles of dress in every colour. Now nothing is flattering, nothing suits me, and everything is so disproportionately expensive. The models are too young and the styling unflattering. What has happened?

They are still selling some of the hideous stuff. If it's denim lederhosen with an embroidered forest scene, leather pockets and legs almost but not quite twice too long to fit a three-year-old, my MIL will buy it.

@BarrelOfOtters, I'm fair and dark blonde-reddish haired (like so many in the UK) and I have the exact same problem. They'll throw in a navy blue on almost every item but all I have is navy at this point. Maybe there'll be a white with garish print or too much embroidery. The rest is all colours that suit olive or dark skin.

At one point last year, they got rid of every single white model. I applaud efforts to make non-white customers feel welcome and give them items that suit them but unfortunately, what has been happening is that there's nothing for the majority of customers. I'll never suit yellow or pink and hate that awful light beige that highlights cellulite that they make so many trousers out of.

From what I've heard, they got a radical new head designer or buyer and have let that person convince them that it's not OK to be a traditional customer. They're also trying desperately to be like the brand Sezane. It's a French brand that makes great, unique clothes but that does it much, much better than Boden does. It also charges high prices and I think that's where Boden got the idea to charge a fortune for anything decent. I love embroidery and prints but whereas I could drain my bank account at Sezane, Boden's attempts are just tragic. Boden often has one decent version but then you know everyone else will be wearing it because the others are in horrible colours that don't suit the average pale person.

It's the exact same thing that happened to J Crew in the US. That also used to be a good brand, but then they brought in someone who thought she knew it all and the quality plummeted and prices skyrocketed. Customers deserted in droves.

It used to be my go to for work wear. Nice plain dresses which fitted well and lasted for ages. Not anymore.
My boys also used to like their joggers but everything is so garish that they wouldn't wear them now.

Johnnie Got a CBE sounds like the name of the perfect folk song about 10 years of the Tories 😄

I’ve still got certain styles in many colours. Excellent quality, non-fading, comfortable and flattering, non-iron cotton jersey summer dresses with pockets. I added to the range each year. That sort of stuff is no longer available, bobbly viscose is no substitute.

Even the Instagram page is hard to find. I had to find Johnnie’s page first and link from there.

I feel like Whistles is the same - huge ongoing sale section but everything is flimsy and there’s just too many lines, with sizing really unpredictable. Hemlines are shorter and armholes tighter, so nothing appeals.

It's such a shame, as they'd have customers for life if they hadn't messed things up.
I have a Breton t-shirt which is about eight years old. The cotton is thick, washes brilliantly and it just looks quality. I bought a couple more a couple of years later (so six years old now) and they are much thinner and cheaper looking.
They used to do such good separates, nice a line twill skirts and so on. There's nothing for me now, it's all so highly patterned and garish. Plus why would I pay such high prices for a t-shirt same quality as Primark?

I've always bought a few items from Boden each season but nothing for ages now. What I have bought recently I've sent back as it was poor quality and too short (jumper). Even the new stuff on their website now is expensive and full of polyester - calling it recycled doesn't make it any better. I'm looking for quality natural fabrics and can't see them ... did get a great quality cashmere jumper from autograph M&S though in November!

Can't comment on Boden quality because I don't think I've ever ordered anything from them before. But regarding the sales, everywhere is still having their sales with further reductions, so not unique to Boden. I've got tabs open on my phone where I keep checking back for further reductions.

Oliver Bonas
Jigsaw
Zara
Mango
Office
Hush
Coggles
MyTheresa
Strathberry
Coach
Ba&sh

Literally everywhere is still having their sales...

I used to buy loads from them but their prices have gone through the roof and their clothes just seem too young and less practical now … but maybe it’s me that’s got older

I think the prints and styles are wackier now, and there are far more of them @Nitgel

There's a red box pleat super-mini skirt in the new range. I don't know who that's supposed to appeal to. Not their traditional customer, not someone young and fashionable and it's far too short for the workplace.

Their delivery is also awful. Like many others I used to order loads for me for work and holidays and still have quite a lot of it. My son has long grown out of the kids’ ranges. I recently bought a couple of things for my niece’s birthday but they use Evri and they haven’t been delivered in time so will miss her birthday. I ordered over a week in advance and the tracker seems to be stuck on 5 days ago with no update.
I think they are terrified by the likes of Primark, Shein, PLT, etc on one side, and Sezane and premium brands on the other, but are flailing in the middle.
Go back to your classic heyday Boden!

Agree with this. I've got a lovely navy ponte dress I wear to work. It's well cut and hangs nicely. I look a dress size smaller and always get compliments when I wear it. I'd love another one in a different colour but they don't do it anymore. They used to do the same style each year up until a few years ago. So annoying. They should have stuck to what they were good at.

The recent catalogues and website pics are laughable. Bored looking models aged not more than about 23 wearing the strangest styled clothes. They're ignoring what was their target market. They need to rewind 5 to 10 years and they might just save themselves.

Yes, I have got my money back on the velvet green ankle boots they did last year, loved them and wore them most days but after 3 months the heel was worn through, full refund.

Same with the gold cage sandals last summer

Would happily have kept both if they'd not disintegrated

At least I can but now knowing I can get my money back if needs be

I hope they stay in business. I have a DD who is under 10 but very tall and it’s one of the few places I can get age appropriate clothes from that are long enough for her. Though come to think of it I haven’t been tempted by anything for a while, even with all the offers. I bought much more in the days when delivery was free with a low spend. I’ve always found the customer service to be great.

I used to spend a fortune on Boden. Oh for the lovely pure cotton summer dresses they did, I lived in them. I had beautiful velvet coats, fabulous work stuff. All gone down the pan now it seems.

I never bought anything from the womenswear collections as it was all too expensive and not to my taste. My kids are too old for Boden now but their leggings and hoodies were staples in their wardrobes. The only leggings that were not see through and that had adjustable waists. Then they stopped the older age groups in most sizes which was no good for us. My kids were/are tall so what a 13/14 or 15/16 year old may not wear was perfectly age appropriate 11 year old.

They stopped the Boden girls knickers in any size larger than 11/12. I’ve got teens trying to fit into them still as no other knicker is a comfortable or as indestructible in the tumble dryer!

my husband started buying their t shirts as he’s tall and they fit him and the quality was good. The last few times he’s bought he’s found they’ve shrunk. Boden never shrunk.

I agree with so many of the comments made here. I recently had a Boden gift voucher sent but saw absolutely nothing that appealed to me, apart from a Breton top, but I’ve already got a few of those! What on earth have they done with their styles? Everything is frills, flounces, puffs, ridiculous patterns, and why on earth the obsession with jersey fabric? In the past I’ve bought some beautiful classic pieces; well-cut shorts, cashmere cardies, and pure silk cami tops, all in lovely colours. They have really lost their way, and I don’t know anyone who buys from them anymore, except for the children’s clothes.

Agree with this. I ordered 4 dresses from Fatface before Christmas all in the £85 price range. The fabric was so cheap and nasty and they were also poorly made with uneven stitching. They went straight back