Boden

[Cappuccino33]

I would love to hear your opinions on Boden. I’m in my early thirties and have recently bought some clothes from Boden for the first time, trousers, summer dress and T-shirt. I’m petite and find their petite sizing excellent, maybe even the best range I’ve found sizing wise. I find the quality great for the price point and I’m in love with my jersey dress in particular, it’s incredibly comfortable. I don’t consider myself to be fashionable but I try my best to look stylish (mainly because I work in a trendy industry and don’t want to look like I’m clueless) so I tend to buy from shops which I know are popular. Perhaps it’s my age, but I had never heard of the brand Boden until recently. I usually shop at Zara, massimo dutti, maje, Mango for example and my concern is with the many reviews I’ve found online, calling Boden frumpy, mumsy, boring, middle England etc. is this the general consensus of Boden?

They do some things well. The quality used to be much better.

Their sizing is absolutely huge. Some of the styles are over the top and the prices are on the higher end of the scale.

The petite stuff is good and I like how they give measurements (particularly length) for each item of clothing. They stopped doing it a while back but fortunately have brought it back - I just wouldn't waste my time without knowing the measurements, as otherwise some dresses are actually taller than me. Their dresses are good for me for work.

I've been off Boden for a few years because their quality dropped, there was too much polyester and their styles were IMO very odd.

This year their range seems better. I've bought three thin cotton T-shirts, a heavier T-shirt and a linen shell top. The sizing is good and the sleeves are long enough (I'm 5'8" and have long arms). So I'm happy with them this year.

I don't wear all Boden as an outfit, and I don't have a pram. never mind the same pram as anyone else. 😁

I used to shop there a lot but in the last few years they have got really expensive- £140 for a plainish summer dress? I don’t think so. Their stuff isn’t that nice! Also like others I think the quality isn’t as good as it was. It’s very ordinary now.
I also think the brand itself is a bit dated - a bit 2010! Might be my perception but that’s how I see them - mums with Breton tops, side partings, skinny jeans, Uggs and a Cath Kidston oilskin satchel. Kids in those anoraks with big spots on them etc. they still send me Mini Boden catalogues even though I haven’t bought kids’ stuff in years (they are late teens) Surely their marketing department can work that out? What a waste of money!

Used to buy quite a bit but less these days. Can't quite put my finger on it but possibly it's just that there's always somewhere better to spend my money. The price just doesn't sit well with the product for me and (and I expect to be slated for this) I never take pride in telling people that I bought such and such from Boden. For me it still conjures up the cruel comment of many years ago that it's for people who don't like (have?) sex.

@Cappuccino33 You could always recognise Boden 30 years ago. Yummy Mummy uniform from a company owned by an Old Etonian City Boy. What’s not to like? Hotchpotch appliqué and big spots in bright colours. Always a contrast trim and even the Guardian said the Boden tribe could be spotted at 100m and heard at 200m. To be honest, few women with money buy Boden now. Except for a few understated staples in decent fabrics.

At your age, Mango has better offerings. DD1 lives their wide trousers for work. They look very expensive but they are not. Or Arket and &OtherStories. Massimo Dutti is Zara but more sophisticated. Ganni, Stand Studio, Stine Goya, Malene Birger, Samsoe Samsoe are Scandi brands and worth a look. Also look out for smaller brands when you are out and about. Selected Femme are quite young and ME&Em in the sales! Ditto Self Portrait for a special occasion.

@TizerorFizz this is very helpful, I'm starting to see the picture and what informed the reviews of Boden I found online.

Thank you for the brand suggestions too, I will check them out!

Some brands are quite expensive so buy special pieces in the sales. Buy staples from High Street.

I like the petite jackets , for me the cut & fit is good.

They do great longer length swimsuits