Sunday, October 25, 2009

Uh, Oh, J. Crew is in TROUBLE. (A.K.A. Boden's Spring 2010 Collection is AWESOME!)

I am back. Sort of. I don't have much time tonight to actually do any real business on my blog, but I did want to announce something. And that is that J. Crew is probably going to make very little money from me this spring if the way things are looking actually come true in reality. After a very spirited discussion at J. Crew Aficionada about the preview of the Spring Collection 2010, I was unsure if anything being offered by J. Crew will suit me and my personality. I tend to gravitate to the bright, bubbly, printed fabrics, and it seems that J. Crew's spring collection may not have a lot of what I normally love. And, being fair, maybe that is okay...I can try new things and styles, right? I am flexible and I do LOVE clothing.

But then Johnnie Boden struck again...and being the Boden Aficionada that I am, I couldn't resist taking a sneak peek at his spring collection 2010. And yep, it is confirmed...I AM IN LOVE with Boden's spring collection 2010.

You know what is crazy? I got a fairly non-descript e-mail from Boden announcing the collection, along with a 20% off offer (and free shipping and returns). I ALMOST DELETED THE DARN E-MAIL. If anyone at Boden is reading this, you may want your e-mails to be a tad less subtle.


Swoon. Look at this GORGEOUS linen Printed Tunic. The play of mod florals with such fantastic hues of olive and pink? If I didn't know better, I would think this was a resort piece from Tory Burch or Lilly Pulitzer. Nope, just an 88 dollar piece by Boden. Yes, I will be getting this. Can you imagine a world where I wouldn't? I just wish they had a mini-Boden piece like this so I could get CW her own version!


I also made a polyvore, because I had to let my peeps in the "Boden is Bodacious" polyvore group know about all the FINE items on offer.

Hope that some of you who are beyond disappointed with the lackluster spring J. Crew is offering (sorry, Mickey, I tried to love) are gonna join me in the parade of AWESOME across the pond. Thank you, Mr. Boden. You have delivered us what spring should be: Sunshine and Happiness!

32 comments:

AppGal said...

Welcome back! I am not excited by the J.Crew spring preview either. How did you see the spring line for Boden? When I pull up the website it's still showing fall/winter stuff only.

dinagideon said...

AppGal: You have to go through the e-mail or you can click through to the preview site through my polyvore. :) HTH.

BTW, we are in your neck of the woods soon...can you facebook me and we can see if we can get together???

Erin said...

I usually get regular Boden emails but didn't get this one. Boo! Any chance you could forward it to me? erin.cox@sbcglobal.net

Love Boden!
Erin

dinagideon said...

Erin: It is on its way!!! Glad to help...

HeidiG said...

Can I get the email, too? I did not get this one. They seem to send me mini-boden stuff lately.

Love that tunic - spicy olive and pale pink? Oh yeah, screams dina!!

I think I need to go take a look at spring!

I completely agree with you on JC's spring. I will reserve judgment until I actually see it, but I'm just not loving much. My 2 fave colors for winter are the light berry (need to get something in it) and the jalapeno. Def need to get something in those. So I was hopeful about the future in spring. Ah well...

sparrowsandsparkles said...

I love all the color... that is all SO YOU! I didn't get the email... hmmm... I just ordered some miniboden too!

dinagideon said...

HeidiG.: I will e-mail you, stat!

Sweet Tea: If you e-mail me at dinagideon AT aim DOT com, I will send it your way, too!

dinagideon said...

Ooh. Oops. I just read this in the fine print of the e-mail:

This offer is not for resale or publication and applies to your first order from the Spring 2010 preview only.

Oh, well. I am sure Johnnie Boden wants the business and can forgive me this ONE time. ;) Publication of awesomeness must be exempt!

Kathy said...

Thanks for the preview, the clothes look so springy! I love all the flower prints.

Erin said...

I think those emails all say that. As far as I can see, the code isn't one-time only use and it won't cause any problems to share it. I often search the web for Boden codes.

And, I just placed my order using it and it worked fine. Got that tunic (and a bunch of other stuff -- did you all see that rose cardi?)

Anonymous said...

Oh Dina, the items are lovely. Maybe you should start a Boden Aficionada blog. I wish Boden would work for me though, it just does not.

I love the colors though for their collection.

Beth said...

Yay! I love Boden too. I am going to check out the new spring stuff as soon as I can!

Beth

crewlade drinka said...

hi dina
love that tunic. wonder why I didn't get this email!? I recently began ordering from them and love them. I heard that they do 20% off previews. wow, its really early for a spring one, don't you think? could you pretty please send me this email? I will email you, too. tia!
(fyi, i am loyal but mostly silent follower of your blog!)

Summerilla said...

Welcome back from your vaca! I hope you all had a fabulous time.

I'm loving these Boden pieces. I swear I'm going to order something but the sizing worries me. Should I go with the smallest size?

Patina said...

i am looking forward to saving money. i am also disappointed at what i have seen in the upcoming collections from jcrew, like the "clothing optional" holiday collection!!!! can you believe it???? i'm not impressed at all, so that's why I went ahead and ordered the bejeweled cardigan from Ann Taylor before it sold out. It's perfect for the holidays, and you don't have to be naked to wear it lol.

Unknown said...

I haven't fallen in love w/Boden, but I *do* like some of the pieces & the catalogs. I also very much appreciate your posts because you look so great in the clothes. This is some good info :-)

C said...

Spring? Sorry, but I have to make it through the rest of fall, winter, holidays and more winter....I can't deal with Spring yet.

Tippy said...

Dina the title of this post made me LOL at my computer! You are too cute. Thanks for sharing all these great things from Boden, I love the fact that they are actually using COLOR. Something I haven't seen from JCrew in a long time!

GingerSnap said...

I love me some bright prints too - hello Lilly! These choices from Boden are really cute!

Ann said...

Hi Dina--I got the Boden spring preview email, too. It was buried in my backlog--I almost missed it too! So glad I opened it yesterday. I ordered the same tunic you love, the bow cardigan, and the crinkle jersey shirt (I love those shirts...so comfy by themselves and cute layered under cardigans). Now we just have to wait until January to see our loot...

dinagideon said...

Hi, all!!!

I am going to send the e-mail to those of you who asked for it...have fun looking around...

In regards to those of you who can't wear Boden because they run too big, it appears they have some size UK 6s out there, which is a US size 0 to 2!!! So maybe, just maybe you all will get a chance this time around...

It also appears there are some size 22s, which means the size 18s here in the U.S.A. should be able to order!!!

I totally agree that the color of Boden this spring is heartening...I always fear that the clothing companies I love will go too fashionista on me and those of us who want pretty, fun, bright clothing will be left behind in favor of NYC club-wear. So thank goodness it appears Johnnie Boden doesn't give a rat's patooty about high fashion but instead wants to have a niche market to himself...family wear for those who want to wear more than sweats. J. Crew used to really shine in this arena, but is definitely not interested (or so it seems) in marketing to us anymore. That said, I will still buy from J. Crew, just probably nowhere near where I used to, like in the Fall of 2007.

C--Yeah, it is EARLY for spring. But I am such a FAN of spring and summer fashions, yesterday's preview made my day...I felt excited in a way I haven't in a long while. But, yes, I totally do not anticipate wearing any of it anytime soon...in fact, today it was brisk enough for me to wear one of my fall Boden cardigans.

Ann--Oooh, yes...I look forward to January, even if it means only being able to try it on in the house!!! :)

Pamela said...

This spring preview really excited me, too. I was ho hum about what I saw on JCA for JCrew's spring.

Pakcola said...

woo hoo thanks!

I usually get the preview emails but didn't get this one.

Now this is what J Crew should be more like for spring. So much to choose from and the colors! The J Crew spring preview, looks so ehhhh to me.

I already made my polyvore wish list

[url=http://www.polyvore.com/boden_spring_wishlist/set?.mid=embed&id=13080661][img]http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/img-set/BQcDAAAAAwoDanBnAAAABC5vdXQKFjNrR0F4bW5DM2hHZE1LZ1hwQXh1ZkEAAAACaWQKAWUAAAAEc2l6ZQ.jpg[/img][/url]

BTW Do you think there will be an extra 20% off for preorders?

tm said...

I'm definitely looking at other retailers, though I am trying to curb my spending in general, and sew more. Boden is looking really good, and their shipping/promos make taking the plunge worthwhile.

J.CrewJD said...

I love the look of most of the clothes at Boden. They have amazing prints! However, I have only ever ordered one thing, and I hated it and sent it back. It was the Pretty Knitted Blazer in the yellow/brown color. It just looked so frumpy! But I will definitely try again, esp with free shipping and percentages off all the time!

JKW said...

Thanks so much for sharing the pics from Boden's spring collection. You're right -- J. Crew should be nervous. Those lovely Boden prints look to be some of the best I've seen! Spring at J. Crew didn't do much for me. The stuff looked bland and they are still going for a Vogue editorial look that does NOT translate into reality for most of us. Bring back Vanessa and some classic, fun, and wearable pieces, J. Crew! (I miss Vanessa and her sweet little wrinkles around her eyes. I always wanted everything she wore in the catalogs. Sigh.) You look beautiful in Boden, by the way. The cheerful colors and prints really flatter you.

MARY said...

I have to say that I got the Boden Catalog yesterday, and I immediately thought of you (I'm a long-time lurker of your blog - really enjoy it, btw)! So many of the pieces just speak "Dina"! I am a closet Boden-lover, too...and I agree - with this new catalog, it may start taking a more prominent place in my wardrobe!

Anonymous said...

I love to see Boden getting all this love! Great company. Dina, or any other Boden shoppers, maybe you know: Do they restock items that are marked with the dreaded gray x/out of stock? I want the Smart Uptown Trousers, but they're out in my color/size. Dina--I hope you will model your Boden goodies for us!

amy kelinda said...

Such cheerful prints! These pieces definitely herald the arrival of spring!

Anonymous said...

Hi,
Is there is code to enter to get the 20% off??? There is a skirt I would love to preorder. Thanks. I love Boden:)
Julie

dinagideon said...

Oh, oops!!! I forgot to check my own latest posts these past two days (at least I was subbing yesterday so I kind of have an excuse)...must remember to comment more often... :)

Love love love all the Boden love, btw...let's keep it coming...

Pakcola: If you would like the e-mail, you can e-mail me at dinagideon AT aim DOT com and I will definitely get it to you...

EC: Ooh, that stinks about that cardigan. I sometimes worry about some of Boden's shapes for exactly what happened to you...ugh. I also find that I try to stay away from the cardigans with the HUGE BIG buttons...I think, oh, now there is a look that could be really off in a few years...Are you going to try again with any of the spring items???

I will say that Johnnie Boden and his team do change things when there are complaints, he even admits to it when writing copy for his new items..."I have heard many of you would prefer this type of cardigan in a longer length and we heard your desires and have changed them..., etc." Definitely write a review if you haven't already!!! :)

JKW: BRING BACK VANESSA!!! Maybe we should petition J. Crew to do so...

Mary: How nice of you...you bet I look forward to trying out these awesome prints. Try as I might, I just can't seem to make solids and classics my thing...I am much more Pucci, Vera Bradley, and Boden. Bring on a FAB print, please... :)

Anon at 11:22 pm: Ooh, the dreaded grey box. I have seen things come back in stock, but you kind of have to check everyday. And if after a few weeks it doesn't come back, they grey box is there to stay. Sadly. I have found that the smaller long sizes sell out first, then the larger sizes. If you are a regular UK size 12 through 16, you usually can find your items for longer!!! :) Which item is the dreaded grey box for you???

Julie: If you also e-mail me at dinagideon AT aim DOT com, I will send the e-mail your way!!!

Anonymous said...

Hi Dina, Thanks for your answer. I was looking at those pants in 12L in navy. I have some Boden cords from 2 yrs ago in 10L and they fit, but the specs on these Uptown pants make me think that could be too snug. I will check off and on. I really want navy, and they're not a as easy to find. Thanks for blogging about Boden! J Crew seems to be going after the Olsen twins wanabees! Anon 11:22