Longtime Boden lurker thinking of taking the plunge - tell me about what you've ordered recently and what you thought of it when it arrived

[Earlybird]

I need to get a few summer items for myself and dd, and am contemplating finally ordering from Boden.

Would love to hear what you've ordered from the current summer catalogue for yourself and the children. Were you happy with it when it arrived (did you keep it)? Does it look as good in real life as it does in photos (minus the lithe model's body )? How is the fit? Is it true the quality is not so good now?

Links to clothes ordered, along with positive/negative comments much appreciated.

And if you're giving up on Boden, have you found another mail order company/catalogue that you like better?

For me:

dress

I got it in an 8 and it was still quite baggy and the blue pattern was a bit 'old fashioned' I thought. Disappointed as Boden dresses from a couple of years ago are fab.

top

Not arrived yet but is same style as my hotchpotch one from last year which is very flattering - got this one in teh purple spots as I've just ordered plum/purple birkies and they will match

wedges

Sent them back - not as nice on as I thought they'd be.

That's it for me - not much in this summer that I like for women.

ORdered loads for the boys - yes, it's still good quality and I can't fault it.

everything I like is usually sold out in my size by now. You have to get in early. Got a great blue polka dot dress in the sale though. Has gone now.

Based on what I read here, it seems people send alot of Boden stuff back. Maybe that is the nature of catalogue shopping, or have things changed with Boden?

I also have the impression that people still rate the children's clothes, but think women's clothes have gone off the boil a bit. Is that an accurate impression?

Usually buy a lot of Boden for DD. Most has been ok but have had the odd thing where the quality has been sub-supermarket. I ordered the gypsy dress for DD but sent it back because the fabric was paper thin and felt horrible. It wasn't worth £5, let alone £20 TBH. Other things are still great though, e.g. denim shorts and all the t-shirts DD chose.

I do send a lot back but that's more because I get things DD particularly likes (and I don't) then persuade her round to my view when they arrive!

Don't tend to buy the women's stuff as I'm very hour-glass shaped with a long body and the cut usually doesn't work for me.

Bought this dress which I like.

crewneck which i was disappointed with. Colours nothing like the picture and very poor quality material. Managed to spill something on them (bought 2) when I unpacked them so couldn't send back. Just worn for dogwalking.

this skirt which I like

and this skirt as yet unworn, but seems fine.

it was all TOO SHORT!
very very disappointing

but I still surf it regulary, it's my UK fashion porn.

ooh ooh ooh. Am just about to do a HUGE Boden order (maybe)- am loving the jersey halterneck dress in particular. What are you thinking about buying? I buy loads of Boden for my DSs and love the quality. Got a couple of dresses last year and really like them.

Totally agree, suzywong, sooo short ... and I am short too! Even the shirts. very strange.

Love the kids stuff but usually only order the women's when its free returns.

What sort of body type do their clothes suit? Based on the few comments here, they don't do well for hour glass figures and they're too short. Is that a fair generalisation, or simply down to specific items not fitting well as well as they should?

I think their clothes always photographs well, but somehow I never quite get around to ordering. Is it a huge faff (sp?) to send the stuff back if it doesn't suit?

Not really a faff but you do have to go the postoffice to do it. When they do promotions they often do free returns but otherwise you have to pay which can add up if there is a lot ...

I have got the top that gobbledigook has (but in brown) and the chino skirt that muffin mclay likes, and have also had some success with shoes (I'm a comfort shoe shopper rather than a style shoe shopper, if that makes sense!). The clothes fit me pretty well (just over 5 foot six and size 10) - I haven't had a problem with shortness, and I tend to be long in the body: I suspect the clothes may not fit people with a meaningful amount of norkage (not terribly well endowed myself, at least by UK standards).

I have ordered quite a few bits for the DCs which have mostly been nice. Dungarees when DS was a baby were v cute, and I tend to buy him trousers and tops in the sale. Less so for DD, but have had a few things.

Last year I ordered a turtle neck jumper for myself. Though it would be good with jeans on colder days. It was one of the most unflattering things I have ever bought! Am size 8-10 (when not pg!) with medium sized boobs. It clung in all the wrong places and made me look v matronly. It's the only thing I've ever ordered for myelf and has put me off now. Was not even v nice quality.

Am trying to stop myself coveting Boden. it's too expensive and not good quality: nothing's the same once its washed.

My new Boden is Esprit. Surprising maybe, but I went there at the weekend and could have easily spent several hundred pounds (I didn't, of course). They do online too.

I've got the green spot dress like Gobbledigook,the long blue Drapey Cardigan,the teal spot top(again like G's)and the green Merino tunic.
Have worn all the above excepyt the teal top.
Have to say I prefer White Stuff this year.
I usually buy children's things in the sale.

I agree with legalalien - I am 5'6 and a size 8 but am curvy/hourglass - have very small waist. I've got a couple of their dresses that fit really nicely becuase they are very fitted under bust and at waist and then are a-line over hips.

I also never find a problem with teh length and I'm not short.

I disagree about quality - all the stuff they boys have had has been fantastic and ds3 is wearing clothes that both his older brothers have worn and they are still in really good condition.

The only thing I've found a problem with washing is my wool polo necks - they are never as nice after they've been washed.

All the cotton stuff I've got - tops, dresses etc are perfect.

I love the girls stuff - not so keen on the boys - the trousers dont seem to fit my DS.
The ladies range is poor quality, and not a great fit in my opinion.
If you go through the MN link, you always get 10% off and free P&P and free returns label - so its not too much bother to send anything back.

I am so tempted to post pics of me in my dresses because I always get really nice comments when I wear them.

I bought a jacket a couple of years ago. Tbh at first I thought "mmm, bit expensive for what it is". But, I'm still wearing it, it still looks good (I think!) and I feel comfortable in it. Yes, I think Boden stuff has got a certain something, but I don't pay that much for kids' stuff! Only for me.

I buy Boden stuff for ds, and some for myself. I have the same dress as Gobbledigook (but in size 12 ) and love it. I find most of the trousers are too long for me, and some of the tops are a bit short (I am 5' 4" but with a long body and short legs). I also find the trousers don't fit well (I am too curvy for them), but skirts are generally ok, as are t shirt type tops and cardigans.

I generally find I wear the things I have from them quite a lot.

I haven't bought ladies' stuff for a while now but always found the skirts to be good quality and fit me well (size 12, short, small waist but curvy hips).

The only thing I've bought from the summer catalogue is a towelling beach dress for dd2 - gorgeous but the sizing is huge.

it seems people send alot of Boden stuff back.

people still rate the children's clothes, but think women's clothes have gone off the boil a bit.

Don't tend to buy the women's stuff as I'm very hour-glass shaped with a long body and the cut usually doesn't work for me.

i coudl not agree more with your words of wisdom