I really like Boden, but it depends. I buy mostly solids and don't like flowing cuts, or boxy cuts, so that eliminates whole Boden categories. They regularly have some of my best colors.
Likes: pencil skirts, bistro trousers, cashmere, wrap tops and dresses, blazers, ingrid coat, rain coats, heels and tights, dresses with narrower silhouettes. The bags are nice too, for the price.

On the contrary,I get nothing but complements on my Boden clothes (tops, wrap dresses, raincoat, etc). Every single time I wear them. I don't dress matronly and I'm in my early 40s.

Anonymous wrote:I have a jersey wrap dress from there that I really like. Some of their stuff is weirdly too matronly and too youngish at the same time.

Agree. I went through my clothes yesterday to change seasons and much of what I got rid of was Boden stuff. Seemed cute but then I never/rarely wore it. I've had the best luck with dresses from there.

I get mini Boden for DCs. It's my guilty pleasure.

Anonymous[b wrote:]Cute online but cut very matronly in real life.[/b] Well made, but I don't wear them because of the cut.

I agree with this 100%. If you're young and British and stick thin (like the catalog models) the clothing looks adorable.
On 30ish American women it can quickly look very dowdy. It's cut large and kind of square and all the fun and funky prints just end up looking matronly.
Trust me, don't do it. They have brilliant marketing but it just doesn't look good on 95% of grown women.

I like their stretchy tops. For lots of other items, like Boden dresses, I find the cut is boxy and unflattering. Also, I dont need more than a few items in their loud, simplified geometric prints, and I feel like I'd buy a lot more if they had more sophisticated prints.

JCrew is much more flattering on me, although the quality isn't often great.

I think it depends on your body type. I have a lot of success with them but I have a large chest and barely any waist. I find British clothes in general more accommodating of a large bust.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks for the feedback. Yeah, I'm seeing the matronly/youngish thing. Any suggestions for other places to shop for funky/casual? (I am 40 and work from home, for what it's worth.)

I would like to know too. Fitted clothes OK.

OP here. Thanks for the feedback. Yeah, I'm seeing the matronly/youngish thing. Any suggestions for other places to shop for funky/casual? (I am 40 and work from home, for what it's worth.)

I have a jersey wrap dress from there that I really like. Some of their stuff is weirdly too matronly and too youngish at the same time.

Anonymous wrote:Cute online but cut very matronly in real life. Well made, but I don't wear them because of the cut.

First PP here.. yes, this is what I found. If you are OK with loose-fitting, flowing, generously-cut clothes, you will be fine. But if you prefer more fitted clothes, it wasn't such a great option.

Cute online but cut very matronly in real life. Well made, but I don't wear them because of the cut.

I don't have any sweaters, but several skirts and dresses--all well made. I do have two tunic tops that faded sooner than I would have liked for the price.

Personally, I found the sizing to be difficult to figure out, especially since it was all mail order. Maybe one you've figured out your size, it would work.

I'm not much of a shopper. My style tends is casual/funky. I just found BodenUSA.com and can't decide what I think of their clothes. Anybody have experience with Boden clothes, particularly the sweaters? Are they well made? Do they hold up? Thanks!