Has Boden got any better- which is what JB promised?

[Makemineadecaff]

I'll admit it- a lot of my wardrobe used to be Boden, for almost 30 years. I'm middle aged, fairly 'staid' and wear mostly smart-casual.

I liked Boden as they did petite sizing, easy of buying, returns etc and I could always find the occasional dress that I'd wear.

However.....desperately looking at summer dresses on the Boden website and they are mostly ghastly. Dreadful patterns in huge prints (don't work when you're 5ft 2"), too much pink and black (who wants black for summer), silly prices and just....well not nice.

I'm not buying anything from any company that associates itself with a hunt.

I used to buy loads from there but have stopped now given the price / quality/ style issues. I wonder what happened to make them lose their way?
I particularly liked the teen boys clothing line which sadly stopped, they were such a good fit for awkward body shapes.

I still wear 2 cotton summer dresses I bought there years ago. Always got the kids stuff from there as well but the cut and fit of their clothes now just never works for me anymore. I did pull out a pair of wide leg chinos i bought more recently and they are ok but still not quite right on the waist.

I much prefer Saint and Sofia and Seasalt. No huge great flowery patterns there.
I buy Cotton Traders trousers and jeans too, they always fit perfectly and are really comfortable.
I like plain dresses which I can then style, I cannot bear huge patterns and yards of material. A simple shift dress with nice accessories is much better and classier.

I found Saint and Sofia to be shite quality and overpriced, their best skill seems to be photography / styling. All Saints however seems better quality to me, I think they're trying to get people muddled up!

Their swimwear is amazing - the costumes are structured and flattering.
I agree about the other stuff - it’s very Timmy Mallet.

Ah I so miss Boden of 20 years ago. I had stuff that went on and on and was such great quality. The sales were amazing too; I remember being absolutely brassic while on mat leave and buying a whole wardrobe including an amazing bikini for about £200.

i don’t go near it nowadays.

Yeah or like that bloke in The Fast Show ‘I’m mad, me’ with the spinning bow tie

😁

They have a massive section of the petite market. Nowhere else does such a large range of petite clothing, whether that’s high street or online.

Thats a large part of why I’ve always bought so much from them. I agree @Makemineadecaff that their big prints aren’t wearable when you’re short (I’m 5 foot 1) and the things I’d like to buy aren’t available in their petite range. I’m ok with paying their prices, but the quality has massively declined, even with the clothes that they produce year in year out. I have a good few of their Amelie dresses, but last year they were very thin and short compared to previous years, so I sent them back. I had my eye on a dress last autumn but it was incredibly billowy in the petite fit so that went back too, which I was gutted about. I haven’t bought anything in Boden for about 18 months which is unheard of for me. There was a time when I’d have spent £1k a year across the seasons, with accessories etc.

Im now mostly buying my petite clothes from White Stuff and M&S. White Stuff have a small amount of petite clothes in my local branch, but lots more online. M&S petite is all online. I check weekly as they add things all the time and sizes sell out.

Last time I checked, Boden petite only went up to a 14 so no good for me, I am short but not petite!! Agree White Stuff is doing really well for shorties at the moment. M&S has been crap, I am now XS instead of just Short and they never have anything in XS.

I agree with the PP who said their swimwear is fantastic. The most flattering swimsuits I’ve owned and very attractive.
Ive bought a few things recently but only as I had a good discount code and a few things in the sale.
2 knee length summer dresses
1 navy mini skirt
A couple of long sleeve tops
A patterned blouse that received loads of compliments when I wore it.

Occasionally I look and I see lots of shapes and fabrics I like - they still do a reasonable amount of natural fibres which is rare.

And then I look at the mad patterns or the very boring plain colours (always black navy red or bright pink, never anything subtle). And I give up again.

I had a look for dress for a family occasion and saw o e nice shirt dress but it was over £100. I liked a few other bits but the colours were really unflattering. Bought a neutral dress in New Look for under £30 instead.
Boden doesn't offer more for the price in my view.

I always struggle to think who these colours suit. I'm a warm autumn in my colours, have brown hair and a similar colouring to most women in the UK I would say.

I find the sizing very inconsistent. I can't be bothered ordering everything from size 8-12 and sending most back.

I also think they have great swimwear. I also like their pyjamas.

Omg their obsession with the hideous patterns! I've given up

I do not buy from Boden these days. Twenty years ago they used to be my go to for women's basics, knit and work wear.

The clothes used to be excellent in quality and cut. Their handbags and shoes were also great quality and I was happy paying their prices then for well made clothes and accessories that lasted.

Now the quality and cut of their clothing has completely gone downhill and both the ghastly patterns, colours and prices are insane.

It's taken me a long time to find clothes that fit. I'm not fat but I'm curvy with a very small waist. I have to size down and have an elasticated waist or I look like I'm wearing a potato sack.
All of the shops I use have clothes that actually fit me well, the trousers especially.
So important when you are not straight up and down. I do have some clothes altered to fit me by a tailor. I am only 5.5 but my leg length is 31 so I also need shops that longer lengths, I hate ankle flappers.

I bought a jacket from new look last week and the sizing was terrible. I sized down to start with but I could wrap this thing right round .y body, so that's going back. Why is sizing so bad?

I bought a linen dress last year in the sale, at £130 in the sale (still way too much) but I used to spend a lot there - and now the usuals staples (plain chinos, blazers, plain cotton jumpers and shirts) have become too expensive or not available. Also sizing is off. I keep mailing them to say that I am a middle aged women with money and I want to spend it but they keep not listening. I now shop at Marks, and Mint Velvet instead.

I wanted to try Boden but not paying their prices, I have got a couple of items from Vinted for less than a tenner😅

The prices are outrageous. I used to buy quite a lot of their dresses especially jersey ones with pockets. However the prices have gone up massively and the quality has gone down. I rarely bother now.

https://www.boden.com/products/slash-neck-tie-swimsuit-navy-paradise-parrot

this makes me giggle. I usually like their swimwear but, but…..this?!

Another one who was a die hard fan until about 7 or 8 years ago. 2-3 years ago I filled in an extensive questionnaire about where I thought they'd gone wrong. About 18 months ago I bought some trousers which I love, and nothing since. I thought they'd turned a corner, back to the good old days. But apparently not. They seem to have gone even madder with designs and prices and poor quality ever since. I glance the website very occsssionally and nothing appeals at all.

About 13 years ago, they briefly did length fittings in their tops. This was marvellous! Only lasted a couple of seasons.