Boden: Autumn/Fall 2014 Preview Picks (Coats, Shoes, and Accessories).

UPDATE (July 21, 2014): Some of the fall 2014 items have rolled out, including many of the below.  I have received a coupon from the people at the affiliate program.  You can find it below this first paragraph or in the sidebar of the blog if you need a coupon.  I will eventually be updating this post with proper links to the items that are available, so you can easily find the items you love below on the regular site.  :-)

15% off with free shipping coupon that is valid once you spend $50 or more!

Hey, all!  Happy Thursday!

Before I get started on the picks post (number three of four--this is the last one for womenswear, though), I wanted to let you all who want a popback on the regular Boden site to take a look around, because in the world of "perfect" timing (yeah, that perfect is sarcastic), the site got a whole bunch of popbacks this morning, *after* the better 20% off portion of the diminishing discount ended.  Now the discount is 15% off, which is okay, but it sure would have been nice to have some of those popbacks when the site was 20% off!  :-P

Okay, as you all know by now, to receive 20% off with free ship and returns here at the preview site, make sure to put the code H6G9 in the shopping bag page.  THIS CODE ENDS TOMORROW AT MIDNIGHT, so bear that in mind.  After that if you order from the preview site, you pay the full amount (not recommended, btw). 

Reminder that the other picks posts can be found here for dresses/tunics/skirts and here for tops/shirts/knitwear. 

Okay onto the coats, shoes, and accessories.

Autumn Trench.  I have one trench from Boden, and my stepmom owns one, too, so we can definitely recommend these above to anyone looking for a great transitional coat.  These two above are unique, especially the one with the allover bird print.

I LOVE how the model looks in the animal print version, btw (very top photo).  Just beautiful. 

British Tweed Blazer.  I know I can't shut up about my J. Crew Bella Jacket in Pink Herringbone, but the color and tweed is so pretty and feminine together.  This jacket is a great option if you always wanted the Bella in pink tweed but missed out.  Although this collar is meant to be laid flat, you can always pop it to get more of the "Bella" look.  Plus take a peek at the cute London print lining.  Love!

Edie Jacket.  This jacket is actually short, 3/4 sleeve, and very reminiscent of the 60s.  This would be very lovely worn atop a little black dress and a pair of heels (may I recommend the Jackie Heels below?).

Eliza Coat.  Pink Coat Sickness. My adoration of pink coats knows no bounds.  Must sell other pink coats to make room for this coat.  LOL.  I will, too, especially if this one ends up fitting me well.

Lebdury Pea Coat.   This color is amazing, and would very much make you the brightest person on any grey day.  And if you are buying Boden, you know doubt think *that's a very good thing.*

 

Rainyday Mac.  In years past, people have sent me reviews of the Rainyday Mac for my BWRRs, and this is the very first season I have actually wanted one for me.  (I love the British print one with all the guards.)  Question for you fans...should I size up to an 8R?  It seems that the measurements would indicate that, plus the online reviews all say the coat runs a touch small.  If you could weigh in, I would be so appreciative.  :-)

Fashion Pointed Pump.  Colorblocked Flats are not my thing, but I know a lot of you love them, so I made sure to include this pink/aubergine colored pair in my picks for you all.

Flat T-Bar Point.  I love the look of a beautiful heel but as a flat.  Eventually I will try and grab these on sale a little further down the line.  It could sell out, but I will take my chances.

Jackie Heels.  These are so chic.  Everything about them is so polished and ladylike.  They come in half-sizes, too!

Low Heeled Loafer.  I am recommending the loafer again.  I don't own a pair like this, and since I wear loafers more than any other type of shoe, I know these will be one of my best "cost per wear" purchases of this next fall.  I really hope that these are a bit more subdued in real life, not because I can't handle the shiny, but because I am hard on my shoes and would prefer that any dings that happen don't immediately mar the appearance of the shoe.

 

Mary Jane.  Yoohoo, J. Crew fans of their Fall 2008 collection...you may just fall over from excitement at the fact that you can buy the Penelope Mary Jane (well a close approximation, anyhow) again.  From another retailer, but as we are all able to say emphatically...Boden's offerings are often more old school J. Crew than the current J. Crew can say.

Smithfield Boot.  So my relatives in Mississippi buy cowboy boots for reals in an actual Western shop there in their town.  I have to say showing these short cowboy boots off may be a real affront to true-blooded country-western types in the USA, but dang (said with a southern accent, of course), these are pretty darn great dupes.  From a British company.  Buffalo Bill Cody may just be rolling over in his grave.  Sorry, sir.

The Lace Up.  Okay, I am so not a fan of these, but I have seen they are getting a real buzz over at all the various social media that Boden has out there, and I would be a real bad Boden blogger if I didn't let you all know that, just in case you are a fan. 

Wellie.  Cute!  I could see Boden making these for the kids, so the fact that they made these for grown women is pretty awesome.  I don't wear wellies, but I probably should in the weather we often get.  (Maybe on sale, though, if they stick around long enough.)

Casual Shopper.  This bag is stunning.  The color, the piping, the subtle hardware.  Good show, Boden.  Your bags get better and better each year!

Draycott Bag.  This reminds me so much of the Edie bag.  I don't really love the Edie bag, but I *know* a lot of you did, so this may be just for you.

Thurloe Bag.  If you want the cute British print but don't want to wear it all over your body, this bag may be the right way for you to show it off.  :-)

Umbrella.  Yay!  This umbrella is so cute.  They have had specialty umbrellas shown off in their catalogs in years past, but they have never had them for sale.  They finally listened to the fans of their unique prints and made them available!

Okay, that's it!  Hope you have a great rest of your day, and thank you, as always, for spending time here at my blog.  I may not always remember to say it, but I am so grateful for all of you.  :-)

J. Crew Reviews: Embroidered Front, Funny Birds, and a Pebbled Leather Tartine.

Embroidered-Front Tee. Size Extra-Small.  This top is currently almost sold out, barring a size extra-small in the navy/burgundy shade.  (I am in the light grey/ivory version.)

I thought this was a very pretty top when it debuted whenever (maybe two months ago?) and put it on my (teeny tiny) J. Crew wishlist.  Since my J. Crew wishlist is so miniscule, I can actually now afford to budget for the two-three items I am interested in per season. 

When this tee went on sale, and there was a decent promo going on, I bit, and was more than happy with the $45 I paid for it.  I don't know that I would have spent the entire $63 full price, but the extra bit of savings made me feel like I hadn't been swindled by the Crew.

I wore it for an entire morning in the back of my van while my hubby drove all of us to New York City.  My stepmom and I, by virtue of being *smaller* than my dad and my hubby, were squished in the back with Rex in his booster in between us.  Surprisingly, the Routan's back row is more comfy than you would expect, but let's not praise it too much, it is still the back bench row of a minivan.  The top survived the trip and barely looked worn when the photo above was taken after we finally alighted from the clutches of the car.

I think the potential for snags in the embroidery is there, so I would caution you to wear the tee when doing less physical activities.  I definitely would not wear this while toting Angus in the Ergo, for instance.

Anyhow, it was super comfortable, very pretty, and I think true to size (I typically wear a size xs in J. Crew's knits/tees).

BTW, that is the Tartine Satchel and I did buy the grey version after having bought the ivory version over the summer (again, I got this purse on a pretty decent discount, something like half off, I think I hit the sale/promo at exactly. the. right. moment.).  Anyhow, I highly recommend the pebbled version, and have worn it non-stop for the past two months.  My review is exactly the same as for the ivory over the summer, but I would say the pebbled version is proving to be very hard-wearing, so I recommend the pebbled version especially for anyone with a very active lifestyle (read: lots and lots of children).

Funny Birds Tee.  Size Extra Small.  I love the mid-century modern styling of these birds on the front of the tee.  I didn't wait for this tee to go on sale, I just bought it with a 25% off the first day it came out (I wanted the free shipping they offered that day).  I see that it is fully stocked, so if you want it, but want a better price (I paid around $35), I think you could probably wait. 

I could have bought the size small for a bit more of a loose fit (like the way the model in the catalog is wearing hers), but I am not exactly disappointed in the fit, I think it works for me the way I wear tees, so I won't be returning to size up.

Anyhow, this tee is very nicely made, with a soft feel, and interesting seam detailing (the shoulder lines are a bit dropped).  I didn't grab a photo of me in this with just the tee on (it was COLD that morning), but I have plans to wear it again and soon, so I should get a photo of it on its own soon enough.

Okay, that's it from me for tonight.

I should be back tomorrow with something, I hope.  I can't count on anything these days since my littlest man seems to be in the habit of midnight freak-outs/crying jags, and I won't lie, I am just a bit tired.  ;-)

Boden Weekly Review Roundup: Baubles and Bags.

I am going to keep the blah-blah way down since there is a ton in this "week's" roundup.  (Yes, at this point I should just give it up and start naming it the Boden Monthly Review Roundup--but I hold out hope that with two kids in school and an actual nap schedule, I might go back to being a good blogger.)

Anyhow, there is a diminishing discount on right now, and I wrote about it this morning over at this post.  Remember, all discounts are on current season items only, clearance items are not part of the sale. 

Regular Boden:

Flowerburst Necklace.  To see other views of it with the outfit, go to my post from yesterday.

I think this necklace is a love/hate piece.  Based on the reviews on-line, there are a lot of women who despise this item.  I am not one of them, and I think it has its charms.

It is a rather large necklace, in a very distinctive style, so it is not an ideal piece of jewelry if you are not a fan of statement jewels.  And if you think this version is a lot of look, imagine what the more colorful pieces look like in real life (this is the gold/pewter colorway).

Anyhow, I wear my statement necklaces all the time, so this was a no-brainer purchase for me, but I get it if it just isn't you.


Flowerburst Necklace.  All colors still available.  Surprised?  ;-)

Evie Bag.  I did write a quickie mini-review way back when, but I wanted to make sure you all saw some closeups of this awesome purse.

The navy color is true to shade on the Boden website, and is constructed from a pebbled leather for its main body, and a suede leather for the flap.  I like the contrast in textures, but if given the option would have preferred all pebbled leather since I have toddlers and suede is fussy.

It wasn't a deal breaker, and so far so good, but I do have to be careful with the suede, so it isn't the best mom on the go bag out there.

The flap closure is different, I quite like the dual magnetic snaps, but if you overfill the bag, the closures will easily pop open.  Guess that is an incentive to carry only what you need, huh?

It comes with long straps that you can hook onto the D-rings there at the side, but I don't care for crossbody bags, so I have detached them and stored them.  I have so many of these long leather pieces that I could probably make belts out of them with my sewing machine.  Maybe when I get better sewing skills I will.  ;-)

Inside of the bag is lined in a fun striped cotton.  There is also a pocket for a cell phone and a zip pocket for extra security for more priceless items, like your id and credit cards (sometimes I don't carry a wallet if I am going out for only a few hours).

Really blurry view of the strap.  Sorry about that.

I love the size for me, so many retailers lately have been focused on either really tiny bags or really BIG bags, so it is lovely to have purse that is at that sweet spot of just big enough.

CC also had written a quickie review at a blog post, in which she says:
I do also have the Evie bag in Navy - and I agree, it's a purse, bigger than a clutch, but not a big "hobo" bag. ( I think it will fit a Kindle, I have to check that out, though*). There are just times when you need something more than a clutch.

*It does hold a kindle.  Never leave the home without mine!


Evie Bag.  The navy, red, and brown colors are selling better than the yellow.  You could probably wait to get the yellow at a better price than at the current diminishing discount price.


Ponte Roma Trousers.  Reviewed by Lou here at this blog post.


Honeycomb Stitch Sweater.  Lou declares her love for these sweaters (jumpers!) here at this review.


Metropolitan Bag.  This is a winner in the black color for Lou.  The online reviewers agree with her, too!

Skinny Ankle Skimmer Jeans.  Liz looks lovely in these on trend jeans.  :-)


Velvet Trim Hoody.  The comfy factor is upped while wearing this yummy zip-up (Liz shows us just how comfy it can be).


Daisy Jacquard Dress.  I wore it recently to a wedding, and to church, and a beautiful TV personality named Holly Willoughby wore it on her show, too.  Maybe the coral will sell, finally?

So who is Holly Willoughby, btw?  


Military Wool Jacket.  I did a fairly in-depth review of this wool winner here at this blog post.  You won't see this piece on me again until November, at least.  It is a warm wool jacket, much too hot for us here in VA until winter starts.


Alice Lace Top.  A piece of clothing from Boden's fall line that I can wear now and not suffocate in, lol.  I wore it and reviewed it here at this blog post.




Elise Top, Merino Jumper, and Must Have Tee.
Avery 12/VAMom wrote some quickie reviews a while back at a blog post, just in case you missed them, here they are:
Elise Top - really liked the fabric and collar but the ivory was too sheer;
Merino jumper in bright pink - wild about it, love it;
Must-have tee - is my most favorite. Might get a duplicate so I won't be heartbroken when the first one eventually breaks under constant use.

CLEARANCE ITEMS:
ShOpeRach wrote some reviews of some Boden summer pieces here at this blog post and at this blog post.  :-)

Reminder:  Avril of School Gate Style is going to be hosting a Boden Winter Shopping Party on October 3, 2013.  Definitely sign up to attend if you will be anywhere near Belfast, N. Ireland, that day.  If I were able, I would go in a heartbeat.  I look forward to seeing her photos and reviews from that party, too (hint, hint, Avril!).

Thanks again to all my blog friends for the reviews!!!

Okay, that's it!  Below is a link to the diminishing discount sale.  Happy (sale) shopping!