Boden catalogue - a feminist critique

[MarineIguana]

OK I know it's only a mail order catalogue but bloody hell! There I was leafing through the spring one, and the little twee bits where they ask the models questions are just breathtaking. I'm sure they have got much worse. It used to be irritating but non-gender specific stuff about do you like jumping in puddles, cat or dog, etc. Now we have:

Maria, what gets you knickers in a twist?
Subtext: Being a woman you DO get your knickers in a twist obviously, and also we wanted to mention knickers (even though we don't sell them) asap.

Maria, what "pseudo occupation" do you assume at parties?
Subtext: you're a model, you must be thick and you can't be proud of what you do, can you?

Maria, what do you remember about your first kiss?
Subtext: we're still thinking about knickers, now also with pervy thoughts about teenagers added

Maria, what's your view on exfoliating?
Subtext: Maria, we know you're not thinking about the new government or the large hadron collider.

Maria, what things do you hide from your boyfriend?
Subtext: a) obviously you have a boyfriend b) you are an untrustworthy scheming jezebel

Maria, what single thing confuses you most about men?
Subtext: Oh ffs!

Maria, what would you do if you were a man for a week?
(Maria: "Do nothing and be looked after by a women"

Maria, what's the best way to flatter a mother-in-law?
Subtext: Because that is your job obviously.

Maria, what part of your body tends to get airbrushed?
Subtext: You may be stunningly beautiful, but don't forget for a second that you're still not good enough.

Maria, what's your stingiest habit?
Subtext: Whoever wrote this hates women, don't they?

Some of the models give quite good answers though:
Anna Flore, what single thing confuses you most about men?
AF: "Their taste in women"

I thought there was supposed to be a bit of a feminist backlash atm? Why can't we have a browse for a new garish "sassy" spring outfit without being bombarded with subtly nasty, undermining misogynist messages?

Luckily I can boycott Mr B as there's nothing I like this season... well maybe this bag in purple

But seriously - wtf? Am I being po-faced?

Punkyfish stuff is good for the stuck in the eighties look, which is the one I tend to favour.

I think they have a token black model from time to time but I have never seen an Asian one.

Good Christ, yes, the latest catalogue is particularly bad! I also detect a certain sarcasm in some of the models' replies but far from all of them.

Luckily I am in total slattern new mum mode and not buying any new clothes at present! I just wear my cheapo Gap combats that I bought in a size too large for maternity wear and wore under the bump with a belt - they have lovely big pockets and I can fit phone, wallet, keys, etc in them and go out sans bag. Ah, that is one slightly good thing about Boden skirts and trousers - they do actually have pockets, unlike many women's clothes.

The questions didn't used to be that bad! They should at least be asking the men the same questions - 'what gets your knickers in a twist?', all the MIL questions, and 'what single thing confuses you most about women?'. Can't imagine these things being on men's radars but we are constantly told we should be agonising over them!!

Too annoying - in the bin.

Oo good OP!

I live in Bodenland. In my village all the mums wear Boden/Joules, bake cupcakes to bring to playgroup and have a lingering look of smug about them. I fear I may be the only feminist for miles.

The catalogue cracks me up though - I try to imagine the brand talk. 'Write the answers as if you were talking to a 1950s housewife with 50% less self awareness and 70% more anxiety'. Then let's pop something medicinal in their tea so we can photograph them while they frolic about on the beach in a £70 dress with a vapid smile on their face. That's what women want - denial and numbness.

I may possibly be too harsh. But then I am wearing baggy jeans, DMs and no make up. So am falling quite short of the fantasy.

LOL at "that's what women want- denial and numbness"

Actually, in a massive percentage of cases, i think that's very true and very understandable. I want it myself sometimes.

Ha ha. But Jonny says you can only have denial and numbness if you remember to look pretty whilst you do it.

that's me f^ed then.

Just looked up Toast - thought you meant the type you have with Marmite and a cup of tea after a night of sex and drugs and rock 'n' roll, too much alcohol. I am so out of it - too much alcohol, obviously. My GP wears Boden.
Me: That's a nice dress.
(Subtext: I need a sick note.)
GP: 'Thanks, it's Boden'

Me: It's really your colour, too.
GP: (thinks: What's your angle - bet you need a sick note) - 'What can I do for you'?

Me: I need a sick note, I've got a bad back.
GP: 'Do you like jumping in puddles?'

Me: It's ok.
GP: 'You don't need a sick note, then. Get back to work you malingering scrounger'.

Me: Does your wife know you wear her dresses?
(Subtext: you wanker)
GP: (thinks: yes, she does, but not while I'm working, and I promised not to wear the Boden). 'GET OUT'!

Me: You wanker! That colours so last year.

That made me rofl GP! And started mre off on a whole new line of thought - I wonder if cross-dressers do like Boden? Some of them are a bit Grayson Perry!

(some of the frocks I mean)

rofl GardenPath!

I was given a gift card once, a type of credit card that only seemed to work on the internet, not in the shops.
Anyway, excuses over...

I ordered some stuff from Boden, (kids clothes are cute) and a couple of tops. I was shocked at how crappy the material was compared to the price of the things.

mamara
oooh, i am a feminist but bake the most beautiful fairy cakes
(wounded emoticon)

yeah but admit it, they have feminist symbols piped onto them, and little teeny edible models of Andrea Dworkin and Mary Wollstonecraft made in royal icing, don't they Greythorne?

Greythorne - sorry no offence to cupcake bakers intended. I love a cupcake! I think the term I am looking for is 'Stepford'. Some women I know try to adhere to an unfair and unrealistic fantasy of what 'wife' and 'mother' should be. Boden plays its own part in this fantasy. And the realisation that Stepford = man made is pertinent.

Am boggled. I have no idea what Boden is, or didn;t until I read the thread. Is it boring middle class clothes like Gap and the rest?
(wardrobe consists of stuff that's anything up to 15 years old, charity shop finds, street market stuff and a bit of Primark.)

Do they ask the men anything?>