ok, what is it with Boden....

[pickyvic]

why is everyone a boden fan? what am i missing....?
im a size 14, pear shaped but a 14 for both tops and bottoms...
im having a look at boden website and the stuff is lovely but quite pricey and im not sure alot of it would suit my shape/size

would anyone like to shed light on why i see so many threads raving about boden? im quite happy to be converted!

i am norkless so its ok for me.

The clothes are nice for kids because:

For girls - they are girlie rrather than tary young womany - my dd is 8 and H&M (for example) is a minefield of crop tops and skinny jeans. She like sT-shirts with ice-creams on.

For boys - something in a bright colour without a hideous slogan or cartoon character. All boys clothes elsewhere (eg Next, M&S) seem to be sludge coloured, whereas Boden will sell you a bright blue T-shirt with a shark on.

As for me - well, I find that some things are nooooo good (trousers don't fit me well and tops often too short) but I like to nab the odd patterned skirt etc because I like the quirky florals. I agree they are pricey but in the sale or on a good offer, not that much worse than high street. I bought the winter mac for £78 and I got something similar-ish but much less nice (no hood, no lining, shorter, less cosy, just not substatial) from M&S for about £65 I think.

tarty not tary, sorry.

Getting late hence typos

I agree with lucykate - it's much easier to pick things on the internet that can be tried on and sent back postage free, than to trawl the shops in your precious free time rather than spending it with the DC's

Also most shops seem to be full of boring colours or are full of clothes for teenagers. Often badly made as well so although cheaper, don't last very long

I like Boden for me (and DCs too). But then I also wear lots of Top Shop, H&M and Toast. Not sure I can be accused of being "aspirational"!!

Not their Hotchpotch monstrosities. And sometimes you can see from the catalogue/photos online that they have the shape/pattern of something so completely wrong (tis quite easy to "sale item" spot at times!)

However, the things I have bought from there have been excellent quality and lasted very well - especially the boys' clothes.

I love the fact that the patterns/colours are unusual and that even their casual clothes are bright and colourful. People poke fun at the "colourful linings" etc on Boden coats (oh that's sooo Boden etc) but that approach by other designers is deemed cool......erm......Paul Smith anyone??

If you choose with care, and do not wear head to to toe Boden on a daily basis (which is where some of the cliche of it comes from, imo), then I think the clothes can look great.

I mainly buy the dc clothes from Boden, but I have bought a few cardigans for myself this season.

Boden's like any other company- some good bits, some bad.

What I like is that most of the time their P&P is free, there is always a discount, ( yes the base price is high) and they do a quick turn around getting items out to you and refunded.

I also like shopping from my armchair.

My DCs are now grown ups, so never buy children's.

I think you younger MNs don't realise how hard it is ofr us older MNs to find clothes that suit us! I refuse to wear calf length gathered skirts, or flowery , or polyester anything. I look and dress a lot younger than most women of my age and am a size 10, but there is alimit.

I tend to do smart casual for work and home, so Boden often fits the bill.

The likes of H&M, Hennes, Top Shop etc are fine for my 20yr old DD but when you are older, you need quality otherwise you just look like mutton as lamb.

I think Boden is really aimed at the 40+ age group or maybe some stuff for yummy mummies in mid 30s.

i agree with purplepeony a lot of it is for older women who want to look good which is why it is very galling to see the models in this seasons catalogue are about 18 not that they are ever in their 30s or 40s etc

surely most companies do mail order these days - so not sure why that makes them so popular

I have just bought my first thing from Boden it is a wrap-over dress

I am a 16 - I bought a 14 (as instructed) - it makes me look a size 10

fuck your MC aspirations - the dress is amazing and well worth the £71 it cost (free delivery / free return)

I like White Stuff but it doesn't fit my tits ever - even if I get the largest size

Plantswoman- yes, a lot of companies do- but Boden does offer a 3 month returns policy and an unconditional guarantee if they don't wear well, so that you have ages to keep then change your mind- and they do refund on credit cards within about 48 hrs of returns- some companies hang on to your cash for a month so you pay for the stuff on your next statement even when you have returned it.
Their stuff is never going to be high fashion, but it's a bit more interesting at times for basics than M&S. I buy most of my clothes from Boden, Kew and Jigsaw- odd thing from White Stuff, White Company and Monsoon.

Most of dd's autumn stuff is from Boden. The red spotty coat in particular is gorgeous.

If there was another shop that had the same excellent quality, great customer service and were cheaper, then I'd happily buy from there.

Unfortunately though, alternative shops stock flimsy crop-top horrors. And I do not like Next, Primark, Tammy..

I used to shop alot at Gap too but they are mostly rubbish this season, IMO.

The reason I buy Boden for my dc is that most things last forever and wash really well.
Case in point, just bougth a lovely top for my dd from primark. She loved it and was happy that she picked it out and I liked it too! She wore it for half an hour before it lost two buttons!

I would rather spend three times as much for something she will wear 20 times than spend much less for her to wear it once!

I used to buy Gap, but I agree it can be a bit...off sometimes.

Also have to agree about the Boden wrap jersey dresses....they are remarkably slimming!

I have recently started buying my own clothes from Boden and I think the clothes are really good quality. I haven't yet paid full price for anything though. I have found their customer service is excellent - they have always replied promptly to the queries I've emailed them.

I like Boden [shamefaced emoticon] but can only afford to buy stuff in the sale or from ebay - I could spend a fortune quite happily. I'm 40, and so much stuff in the shops is either aimed at my mother's age group or is 80's inspired tat I wore the first time round aimed at 17 year olds.

Its like most shops from Primarks to Harvey Nichols - some nice bits some not so nice bits.

This season i've ordered the navy boyfriend cardigan which is fab and the slim cut jeans which are cool.

I do like their discounts/reviews/returns policy too.

I don't get the anti-boden thing - surely no-one wears it head to toe. If you don't like it then don't buy it

I got the boyfriend cardigan in three colours ...navy, purple and green.
It is just so perfect for throwing on, yet it looks really nice.

Ooh am dithering over getting purple or green as well - its just so nice.

franklymydear, I have the same problem. I'm wearing a White Stuff skirt today but their tops don't fit me either.