Burn all my Boden, this is why-

[darcymum]

I really like Boden clothes but just can't buy them any more.

1. Identikit clothes for the middle classes.

1. Boden clothes are very recognisable as Boden (make sure everyone knows you can afford them) I think that's half the point.

1. People show off about Boden (see above)

1. I have never been to a Boden sale but have heard they are a feeding frenzy, and for what, its only some clothes.

1. People see Boden as aspirational, they've made it if wearing Boden, I don't want to be associated with this materialism.

Anyone want to add to my list?

I'm not going to burn all my DCs clothes obviously, I'm just not going to buy them any more.

[lovemyangels]

Never heard of it till I came on here and I think agree with ThorNodson its a bit frumpy, though DS was bought a T Shirt from them which is v good quality but design wise aint all that!

[Earthstar]

Boden is getting to be as ubiquitous as Next, and about as desirable.

When I see it on women now it is rare that they look good in it.

[MarineIguana]

And "sassy" bleurgh

However I agree with bellissima, you can do boden your own way. You can choose the stuff that screams "BOOOOOOOODEN" as you prance off on the school run with your matching DC, or you can pick and choose so that you don't look like a spotted, striped, garish, prissy "sassy" dog's breakfast. I like their jeans and I've got a couple of dresses that I love.

Also the boys coats and t-shirts though expensive are a good buy - they last brilliantly.

It's the same with a lot of places - I like white stuff a lot, but I avoid the identikit white-stuff-lady items.

[LynetteScavo]

Is Boden still aspirational? Maybe 10 years ago, but personally I've moved on.

But then I've heard owning a chocolate Lab is aspirational....

I used to buy boden, but have decided the quality is pants, and have gone back to Gap for the DC. I do love the sale though, I find it hilarious.

[bellissima]

Did you know that Bucks is officially not a home cunty? Sure feels like pleasant valley land to me.

[bellissima]

Or 'come Acropolis'?

[detoxdiva]

"All my home cunties friends wear Boden (including me)"

No, surely that is the quote of the week!!

[pointydog]

I'd only heard of boden from a few reasonably well-to-do friends. I don't buy boden but if you like their stuff, why stop yourself?

You could make statements 2-5 about pretty much every clothes brand

[bellissima]

Hmmm - you must be stuck for quotes of the week! Try the debate (DH is, despite having no vote - so I'm about to go for the iplayer). Or 'bigoted woman'. Or some of the Chat threads, where things seem to be getting really playground nasty today . Actually maybe boden at least 'safe', in every boring sense of the word..

[APassionateWoman]

'I have aired my views on 'fun' and 'hotchpotch' a number of times'

PMSL

bellisima, that is quote of the week material.

'Fun' always makes me cackle! The 'fun' dresses always have absolutely barking prints, like something you'd pull out of a 1970s child's dressing up box.

I also particularly hate the macs. Something horribly Alpha Mummy about them.

I was browsing the kid's clothing section and saw they are charging £45 for a pair of boys surf shorts you could buy for £15 in Next. i mean, almost identical. Johnnie Boden really is the King of 'Saw you coming!'.

[EggyAllenPoe]

Wow - the politics of Boden?

isn't it enough just not to want to wear it very much?
I would be careful about casting aspersions on their production operation in China - generally the bigger name brands make sure their workers are in better circumstances than those who producers that don't have a name to protect.

I don't see it as aspirational, it is quite Marks-and-sparksy really. they do thekind of stuff (at best) I might find useful...not stuff that i would lust over for weeks.

[niminypiminy]

And also J.P. Boden (can't bring myself to call him Johnnie) is best friends with Boris Johnson and I believe David Cameron. (But I'm a hypocrite, I do buy the boys trousers and anoraks.)

[cloelia]

1. having spent ages ogling the catalogue and deciding where to spend my hard earned cash, they are ALWAYS out of the item I want, or there is an 8 week wait. So I give up and go shopping.

[diddl]

People see Boden as aspirational-seriously?

[ThorNogson]

I don't buy Boden because it falls apart it is a bit frumpy and all that 'fun' and 'hotchpotch' stuff makes me heave.

If you want to show off about clothes don't shop there. Let your credit card loose on something lovely from Liberty or something.

[cluelessnchaos]

I think the quality is not what is was and the sizings are a bit funny (or mine are)

[lolabug]

Did you mean to call yourself that?

[LaurieFairyCake]

All my home cunties friends wear Boden (including me)

My friend that lives in Chiswick says its terribly naff.

[lolabug]

I buy mini boden off ebay, the quality is good and it lasts forever.....and I dont pay their ridiculous prices...

[bellissima]

I like some of the 'plain' items, and find the children's stuff (mainly) good quality. I have aired my views on 'fun' and 'hotchpotch' a number of times, and just don't like a lot of the loud and immediately recognisable patterns - but then I don't buy them. You have a choice.

[Fliight]

Sorry but what a strangely militant thread.

It makes a change from politics I suppose...some boden is good, some is rubbish, but I certainly don't buy it as a statement...you buy what is useful, what looks nice on you, and send the rest back using the free returns label.

I'd be mortified if anyone judged what I have to spend by my wearing some Boden item, or thought I was showing off.

[ProfessorLaytonIsMyLoveSlave]

Rory Bremner had a line about how he'd only gone to the Countryside Alliance protest march because he hadn't received this year's Boden catalogue...