The problem with Boden stuff is...

[DecorHate]

that it is immediately obvious if two people are wearing the same item from there!

I have several coats and the two from Boden I am always seeing on other people. (happened again earlier today). The ones from local high street shops I never see on anyone else, which seems odd as you would think it would be the other way around. Must be lots of Boden-ites where I live!

totally agree - although I recently looked at their newest catalogue and i'd say it has bigger problems (ie it's all middle-aged and awful). I hate the fact that it's all so distinctive and screams boden. it really is off-putting

It's only a problem if you live in an area where lots of people wear boden.

You could move to a more downmarket area

And I'm not even talking about items with distinctive patterns - this was the Urban mac in plain black...

I rarely see Boden worn in my slighty-scuzzy seaside town, but as soon as we go down the coast to a more 'desirable' resort, it is EVERYWHERE. Especially that big spotty anorak on the kids - so much so that I wonder if somewhere is doing a cheaper copy of it.

Well the double Henley top shrinks to a size zero first wash....

This is why I only buy plain things which does lessen the noticeableness (made up word) of stuff.

Is it because your high street coats are horrendous and no one else would be seen dead in them?

Well I suppose dh does refer to one of them as my "Ukrainian tractor-driver coat"!

epithet - I think a few places are doing kids coats that look very Boden-esque. I'm pretty sure M&S did one last winter.

epithet -I know what you mean about the spotty childrens anorak.

You see spots before your eyes in the DC's playground in the morning.

The only Boden thing that I've ever seen and liked for me was a coat a few years ago but I was so relieved when I didn't buy it as I saw so many of them afterwards.

I too tend to go for the very plain stuff. And I think another problem is that many people (including my good self) order from the catalogue at the start of the season without actually going round the shops and seeing what alternatives there are. Took DD shopping yesterday and noticed out of the corner of my eye some quite nice womens' stuff out there (not that she was going to let me look any more closely - no chance!).

Where I live , no one I know has evven Heard of Boden, let alone wears it!

There is a woman where ds went to school and she is a mum I think, she wears Boden top to toe...literally, every single outfit, every single day.

It really scares me actually.

Flight -bought anything from TK Maxx recently?

Thanks ND have now seen!

I was just going to say the same.

It's so glaringly obvious it's 'Boden'. That's not necessarily bad if you really like it, but it starts to look like a uniform..

I hate this aspect of Boden.
not too much round here,but I steer clear of anything too recognisable.

I've got one of the macs from a couple of winters ago in brown with blue spots. I've seen 2 others in my very small, out in the sticks town over the past few months. I've passed the same woman twice and we were both wearing it (neither of us made eye-contact!). I do have a bit of a fondness for spots and unforunatley this has translated into my buying lots of spotty things for DD so we are often all of a-spots-together . DD's only 3.5 so I think she can get away with it - I'm not so sure I can though. Strangely though, when we lived in the city, I don't think I ever saw anyone out and about in anything obviously Boden.

Can't say it bothers me. I like the feeling of 'clubbiness' if I recognise a fellow Boden wearer!

I wouldn't wear a wacky coat from anywhere though. Have learned my lesson the hard way. 5 years ago I was one of the first to own Marks and Sparks dark pink 'criss cross threads' coat and I thought I was the shit until I saw literally twenty women a day wearing the same coat.

One time there were three of us in a row wearing it at the bus stop - what a cringe.

Next and Marks are by far the worst offenders imo for three women in one office or party having the same thing on.

Actually I still see them. Five years later. I offered the coat to my impoverished student sister and she politely refused it.

Yup, lesson learned!

"Thought I was the shit"

I did that about four years ago with a green single breasted coat with tartan inserts from M & S.

I think I wore it once. It was like an epidemic.

Bloody horrible coat. Don't know what I was thinking.

MorrisZapp - Three of you at the bus stop!!! bloody hilarious! Did you all giggle?

I only see other Boden wearers when I'm on holiday.

epithet - I also know a seaside town that is Boden central... I wonder if it is the same one!

Flightattendant, I know a woman like that too - a mother from my DD's school. I'm fascinated by her head-to-toe-Boden-ness, can't stop staring.

Agree with whoever said that the new catalogue is pretty rubbish - can't see anything there that I feel like ordering. Which is good for the old credit card, I suppose. I generally prefer mini-Boden, and have had a bit of a splurge from the new range for my DDs (who, may I add defensively, have both suddenly grown - they NEED new clothes...).

I met a friend I hardly ever see in a town between where we live for a days shopping-cake-catch-up and we turned up in the same Boden coats (blue velvet) and skirts (fun applique), black tights and boots.

We had to spend the whole day wondering around looking like a middle class 'who wore it best'.

once in a Blue Moon you see any Boden around here so i can usually wear my mad Boden coats with confidence .When people ask me where they are from and i say Boden they havnt a clue what im on about