Let’s talk about Boden. I’ve never purchased from the brand but I do receive their catalog. I think their kid’s clothes are very cute. I love the colors and applique. The women’s wear has also caught my eye. Several times I have logged onto the site after looking through the catalog to get a closer look at some pieces. Each time though, something about the style just seems a little off and not me. I think they use too many primary colors. The prints seems too large and not unique. The extra large buttons and bold piping bug me. I feel like they are so close to being an awesome brand but they are a little too traditional and not forward thinking enough.
I’m also very concerned about the sizing; since the smallest size they offer is a 2.
Here are a couple of pieces I am almost completely in love with.
Maybe I’m wrong about Boden? Maybe the clothing looks better and more stylish in real life. I do appreciate that they offer free shipping and frequent 20% off codes!
What do you think about Boden? I’d love to hear your thoughts on the quality, fit, and brand as a whole.
Since I GO CAH-RAY-ZEE for Boden, I guess I should put in my two cents (but if you all want more–head on over to my superfluities blog and just search Boden–something like thirty posts should come up).
I find that Boden is for the bold at heart. These colors, textures, and patterns are very much bright and loud. Usually when I wear Boden, I have people stopping me on the street to say how much they love the colors or shape or style. I feel like a neon sign sometimes, and that may be a bit much for some folks. (I don’t care–I definitely like to stand out–not in a clown way, but more of a unique way!)
Also, and this is for you personally, Shannon, I wear some of the smaller sizes in Boden, often a 4 or 6 top (or in UK sizes a 8 or 10). This line runs larger and longer.
That said, Johnnie B. is their new junior’s line, and has nice products (albeit not a lot on offer) for the smaller-sized ladies out there. In this line, I am a medium on top and a large on bottom.
Take the plunge with the essential shirt…this is true-to-size (I bought it in a US 6), so I bet the size 2 would fit you nicely.
Plus it has a lot of pattern and color choices!
It’s funny you wrote this because I just finished during the EXACT same thing for about a week and finally pulled the trigger on a few items. I found a 20% off code and free shipping both ways (it is actually advertised on their actual site) so I took a chance. I liked a lot of the same items as you but ended up with the polka dot sweater in blue, the raw edge top- backordered, and another tee- also backordered. We will see! I wish there were more in real life reviews of Boden- I really like their bold colors- I am getting tired of J-crew’s muted pink’s and the like…
I like the cut of Boden’s items — a little longer, a little straighter in the tops, etc. Most of the patterns catch me but I agree that there are some garish color combos going on. I hope don’t offend anyone but I think the brand a little too old for me right now. I feel like it’s very suburban mom in her 30s who is hip but over her 20-something clothes. And I’m not quite there yet. When I am though I expect this to be one of my favorite brands.
I’m new to your blog, and once I saw the post on Boden I knew I had to comment. I’m normally in head-to-toe JCrew, but Boden first caught my eye while browsing the catalogs that the families I nannied had. The kids always wore it, and the moms sometimes did too, and I always thought it was cute. I always liked the adult clothes, and as a teacher thought they’ll be perfect teacher clothes when I’m 30+. For some reason I randomly started getting Boden catalogs again, and am always marking items that I think would be great for work, but have never ordered because I struggle with the same things you do (oversized buttons, primary colors, etc.). If you ever do, please let us know how it works out!
Hi Shannon! I agree with dinagideon’s description of sizing at Boden. I usually buy several Boden pieces per season, and I’ve never been disappointed with the color, cut, and quality. Some of the color combinations are a little bizarre for my taste, so I try to be careful when I’m ordering. You would look lovely in an Essential Shirt, as Dina pointed out. I have about 5 of them, and they are fabulous shirts! I have had only positive experiences with Boden’s customer service. Love the frequent free shipping deals! Oh, I ordered the Breton top in green last week! It’s going to be a long wait, however. It think they said it would be 6 weeks!
First time commenting here and I have to give a review for Boden. As a couple commenters pointed out it is somewhat “suburban mom in her 30s,” but hey, that’s what I am and that’s exactly why I like it – hemlines that go to my knees, clothes that you can move in, easy to wear, easy to wash. I like the bright colors and florals and the quality has always impressed me. I have also found the sizing runs tts, although I have not ordered since they started using US sizes. I am assuming it is the same. In particular, I like their sweaters, knit tops and swimsuits. I have a swimsuit from a number of years back and it is still my favorite, very flattering.
I’ll also throw in my two cents about Mini Boden. I have three daughters and they love these clothes – fun prints and styles, easy to play in and easy to wash. We also like their nightgowns and their lovely cotton underwear is all my picky daughter will wear.
hi shannon,i have never ordered from boden. i like some of their things, but could never pull the trigger,because the colors are a little too much and the cuts are a little too conservative.
In my opinion, Boden runs big. The quality is really great, but the sizing is just too large for me.
I keep the Boden catalog by my bed with Anthro and Crew. But like you, when it comes to getting serious about what I’m buying for the season, I too, feel the clothes are a little off. The big buttons are a complaint with me, as is a certain tendency to trick up a piece that seems to work fine on its own–why all the giant applique, patchwork etc. added to clothes that are already colorful and fun. There’s a nice fitted linen jacket for spring in taupe and a dark blue, for example, that seemed like it would be perfect for work and with jeans. Then I looked closer and saw the line of polka dot fabric running down the front opening. And I knew that little detail would limit the versatility of the jacket. This spring’s clothing seems to be pushing more and more in what stylist Kendall Farr calls “kidult” clothing. Cute on the little ones but not so great even on petite big girls.
Ahhh, in the last 2 years I have started noticing Boden and I always am surprised by how freaking cute their prints and colors are. I am over here squeeing at that last Breton striped shirt right now. And yet I have never ordered…maybe it’s the slightly conservative air that keeps me from pulling the trigger. I do enjoy that they have codes often and stuff seems reasonably well priced and made though. That Breton tee may just push me over the edge actually….
I like Boden. I only have a cardigan, it fits well and tts. The only thing that keeps me from ordering more is the lack of petite sizes. I am tired of purchasing stuff that “almost fits”.
I am definately over 30 (OK, way over) but I would hardly describe myself as suburban or conservative in my clothing choices. I lean toward a more tailored look – I often find Anthropologies items are too fussy for my taste. Cannot stand all the J.Crew ruffles. Guess that is why Eileen Fisher in particular is appealing to me of late – clean lines and beautiful fabrics.
Thanks for your thoughts on Boden ladies! I agree it has a suburban mom vibe but a cute burbs mom! I don’t think anyone in my town has heard of Boden but I do think it would go over really well and get a lot of complements. I can see it being a hit especially with teachers. The head to toe look isn’t me but I bet I could mix in a select few pieces without looking conservative. Someday I won’t have spent all my cash at Anthro and I can give Boden a try lol.
Anjali- If you order, please let me know what you think of the Breton!
Hi, Shannon. Just in case you have not read enough reader response about Boden, I have one more comment about sizing. You may have noticed that the website lists the exact measurements of all their clothes and accessories in all the available sizes. Also, you and I have very similar measurements and I can say that the bottoms fit me in UK size 8. From what I hear, the tops run a bit bigger than the bottoms. Finally, I would love to see you model some things from Boden–and don’t forget that they offer free shipping and free returns to all new customers (if there’s no special advertised, you have to call CS, though).
Let me just tell you, this was about four years ago, but I ordered three things from them in XS. All three were made for a person my width, but definitely not my height. The arms were not long enough on either of the sweaters or the button-down top. I sometimes have this problem being slender but 5′7″, but for the price of these items, you would hope that they were maybe more considerate of a height that isn’t even all that unique.
Oh, my bad, I ordered UK Size 6 or 8, not XS.