Retro Boden Roundup: A Beginning.

Hey, all!  Happy Monday (or President's Day, depending on where you are)!

Like I said I would do eventually, and definitely promised in the last post, I give you the very first "Retro Boden Roundup!"

It really isn't all that retro, especially since a lot of these pieces are only a few years old, but I liked the way the title sounded, and if you are reading this in 2025, these pieces will definitely be retro then.  (Will it be in a bad way, the way I feel about the clothing I wore in 1991?  Only time will tell...)

Okay, without further discussion, let's start this revival.  :-)

Retro Knit Tunic (Fall 2011), Semi Precious Pendant (Spring 2012), Draycott Coat (current season).  I plan on doing an in-depth review of the Draycott Coat in the next Boden Weekly Review Roundup.  :) (This is a size 6 for those of you just dying to know.  LOL.)

Love this "tunic" a whole lot. It may be one of my all time favorites from Boden, ever.  The shape, the drape, and the lovely wool make this a definite winner.  You can't be shy when wearing it, though, definitely a bright print.  

Retro Knit Tunic (Fall 2011).  I guess great minds and all.  :)  I was inspired to pull mine out after seeing Lou in hers. See entire post here at What Lou Wore 365.

Easy Crossover Tunic (Boden Maternity Spring 2011), Suede Brogues (current season).  Will also do an in-depth review of these lovely shoes in the next review roundup, but I did need to go one size smaller (size 40 instead of 41) as these shoes run wide and a touch long.

This tunic works nicely as a very short dress or longer tunic.  It is maternity, but the way they designed this minimizes the fact that it is meant for pregnancy, since they used a stretchy cotton blend and slight gathers in the empire waistline.

Striped Skirt (Boden Spring 2010).  I love love love this skirt and wish I had bought it back in the day.  How about you all?  If so, live vicariously through Lou! 

Tweed Jacket (Fall ???).  Joanna's lovely neutral outfit is topped with a divine Boden jacket.  :)

Notch Neck Knitted Dress (Fall 2011).  Izzywizz shows off her love of color and her (teeny) baby bump in this darling sweater dress.  Read more about it here.

I had some outfits recently that incorporate retro Boden, but since they have their own blog posts, I will just link to them below.

1. Hotchpotch Tunic Dress.

2. Flattering Knitted Dress and Merino Ruffle Tunic.

I hope you enjoyed this tour down memory lane.  I also look forward to doing this again in the near future.  I think after one year, I will need to give a prize to the person who has worn the most "retro" piece...aka the oldest piece.  Right now the oldest piece in my closet is from Fall 2004 and is this cord skirt I wore last fall.  I know you all can totally beat that, right?

BTW, the next Retro roundup should be in a couple of weeks, if you would like to join in, do send me a photo or link to your blog post at dinagideon AT aim DOT com.

Thanks to Lou, Joanna, and Izzywizz for participating this week!

Since you likely aren't reading this if you despise Boden (lol, if you do, this must have been some treat), I will let you all know that Boden put up some new items in their spring trim today.  There are quite a few repeat items ( Hand Knit Cable Jumper, Raw Edge Hotchpotch Top, and the Gathered Tunic Dress) interspersed throughout, too.  From the "new" trim items, I like the look of the Textured Ponte Dress, the Embellished Spot Cardigan (only grey is on sale, though, I own the white and it is divine), and the Cashmere Hoody (green and grey are on sale).  As a reminder, you can use my blog's sidebar coupon to receive an extra 15% off of the trim items (which are 20% off!) and free shipping.  It works out to 32% off with free ship.  I have included a coupon below, too, just in case you are on a mobile device (or don't want to pan back up!).

OOTDs: Retro Boden.

To kickoff the beginning of this blog's new (monthly, likely, based on my time constraints) feature called the Retro Boden Roundup, I am showing off two of my own recent retro Boden outfits of late.  :)

If you would like to join in the frivolity, please do send me a photo (if you don't have a blog) or a link to your blog where you posted the outfit.  (E-mail is dinagideon AT aim DOT com.)

If you are one of the blogs I regularly feature over here in the Boden Weekly Review Roundup, I have combed through your last month's posts (back to January 1, 2013) and found all the older Boden outfits, so you all don't need to e-mail me, you all are covered.  :)

Day: Saturday, February 2, 2013. (Groundhog Day!)

Where: Sewing Class.

Ease of Wear: (3.5 of 5 stars--5 being the most easy to wear.) Very comfortable, but I am docking a half point because I got really hot in the sweater dress.  It isn't the fault of the "flattering knitted dress," but since I can control what I wear and not the building's temperature, it is all on me and my poor decision making skills.  :)

The Sheepskin Lined Boots also helped me overheat, so while they are great for climates that are really really cold, if you are in a climate that has many warm winter days, only wear them on days when there is a real guarantee of cold. 

Cool Factor: (4 of 5 stars--5 being the coolest.)  I really like how this outfit looks overall.  The individual pieces are not necessarily the most fashion forward, but together, I think it makes for a fairly cool look, at least in my world. 

This dress is from the fall of 2009.  I have worn it many times on this blog, but this is the first time I feel like I have styled it well.  I think wearing it with darker tights and wedge boots helps.

Anecdote from the day:  Cutting patterns is so hard.  I keep thinking while doing it, "it is just pinning and cutting," but because I don't want to make any mistakes, at all, I take so long in making the initial cuts, and then spend many minutes carefully concentrating on the rest of the process.  My stepmom says I am being too careful, that sewing should feel easier, but I am definitely not there yet.

The groundhog did not see his shadow, so it looks like no more winter for us.  I think the boots and sweater dress will be going bye-bye to the storage room soon.  Of course, the groundhog saw his shadow last year, and I barely wore any winter coats because it was so warm, so I am beginning to get suspicious of my favorite festive rodent.

Day: Friday, January 25, 2013.

Where: From what I recall, nowhere special.  I definitely took Rex and CW to the Little Gym for their class, so there's that.

Ease of Wear: (4 of 5 stars--5 being the most easy to wear.) The tunic, leggings, and snood are really comfortable, warm, and easy.  The Matt Bernson booties are also all of those things, but since they have the tiniest cone heel, they help keep the outfit from being 100% easy to wear.

Cool Factor: (3 of 5 stars--5 being the coolest.) Again, styling helps, but because the "merino ruffle tunic" has a very bold and in your face pattern printed on it, the look is either "love or hate."

I have worn this tunic so many times on this blog, but the first time I wore it I think I styled it well. 

Anecdote from the day:  Well, since I barely remember what I did that day, no real anecdotes, but I do know it was cold if I was wearing this particular combo.  I can also tell you that the Little Gym is fabulous, and they love Rex's overabundance of personality and spirit.  I remember really enjoying the boys in my classes (way back when I was a teacher full-time) with a lot of energy, but since I see so many people who prefer kids like CW (you know, docile, demure, sweet, etc.), I guess I have forgotten that there are people who think all kids are great, regardless of demeanor.  Because like adults, kids all have different personalities, and being able to have all three of my kids at a place where all of their personalities are celebrated is truly awesome.  :)

Okay, that's it!  I hope you all have a wonderful Saturday, and if you feel so inclined to join in on the retro Boden reminiscing, do send me an e-mail, please!