Boden Weekly Review Roundup: Abigail Goes Way Down (in Price).

Hi, all!  Happy Saturday.

I knew that if I was to do the BWRR that I promised in this sale post from Monday, I would need at least a few hour period to get it all arranged.  Thankfully it appears I can do it this morning.  There are only a few days left of this sale, but so far, I have to say it's been a decent sale, Boden-wise.  It's not quite the glory days of "Catch of the Day," when we could take 40% off an item and then an additional whatever off an item, but it is really close.

Yesterday, the folks at Boden upped the ante and decided to give us an additional 15% off all items in the sale, so even if the item you want is only 10% off, you can still get a decent amount of savings off the item.  (Most items that are 10% off are that way because they are newer or more popular and can and likely will sell out before they could get reduced more.)  The extra 15% off does not apply to clearance, though.

Okay, so there is a lot to cover.  If I forgot your review, please forgive me.  I would have liked to get everyone's review, but I *know* I didn't grab them all.

As a reminder, the #bodenbyme at Instagram has a lot of photos of people wearing both past and current Boden items.  They are not reviews, but at least give a sense of how an item looks on someone before you purchase it for yourself.

Regular Boden:

Abigail Tunic Dress. Size 8 Long.  This item has one of the best savings in the sale right now.  It debuted at a price of $148 and is now at a price of $88.80 (after 40% off).  But with the additional 15% off, it becomes $75.48.  I paid $103 for it (so around 25% off) and I am happy with that price, so had I gotten it for $75, I would probably be ecstatic. 

Both colors are $75 off, btw, so if this pastel version isn't for you, the brown and blue one may work better.

I have other knitted tunic dresses from Boden, and I knew that if I wanted to be able to wear them to school without leggings, I would need to make sure they were a long length and sized in a way that it was fitted without being obscene.  So I went with a size 8 Long, even though the 6 Long would have been a better fit for my bodice area.  Having said that, I really like the way the shape is on me, so sizing up didn't make the bodice appear too comically large.

From the back you can see that it fits my more ample assets around my hip and rear area.  THIS is why there are a few negative reviews.  The Boden folks made this tunic dress in a slim bodice and waist and curved skirt portion silhouette which works amazingly well for us pear shapes, but not really well for anyone else.  They ABSOLUTELY pinned the model's version on her.  She has a very boyish figure, and if the dress was presented as it is in real life on her, there would be wings hanging down from her waist to her knees from the side curve this dress actually has.  Don't be fooled, non-pear shapes.

If you look carefully you will see this is an outfit change-up.  I have worn the dress twice now, and this is how it looked post washing from the first time. So, um, basically the same.  :-)

That's a good thing in my book.  No substantial shrinking and the fabric looks as good as new.  I do not dry these kind of items in a dryer, though.

I wore this to a school meeting, just like I did the first time.  I don't know that I will wear it for school teaching until I can wear tights with it as I feel exposed a bit (it technically is fine for school to teach in, but I prefer it a bit closer to the knees if worn bare-legged).  I do plan to wear it to teach school in, so hopefully when I can get back to teaching ootd posts, you all will be seeing it.

The pattern is awesome at hiding the exaggerated curve my lower half is and for that I am grateful to Boden for...I love the mod print, too, so the dress was probably meant for someone exactly like me.  (Pear-shaped mid-century modern design freak.)

I have no plans to grab the brown and blue version, as I don't think those colors would look nice on me, but I can see why people would like them.  The colors on this one are a light jade/teal and true pink with pure white accents.  The fabric is a knitted cotton mix, so truly a nice transitional piece.  (If I can wear it in summer here, it is a four season wonder.  Most knits can't be worn by me in summertime here.)


Abigail Tunic Dress.  The blue/brown is selling better than my version.  If you are on the fence you could probably wait for a better price (in clearance, if it hasn't sold out, it may be down to 70% off), but if you are like me and can and will enjoy it now, the price is decent.  :-)


Strappy T-Bar.  Lou has just done a review of these, this morning.  Love it when I can get a really recent review into the BWRR!


Cordelia Heel. Lou received these in a nut brown color a few weeks back.  She gave a nice thorough review of these.  (BTW, does anyone think of Cordelia from Buffy and Angel when they see the name Cordelia?)

Be prepared, lovely folks, below is the Avril (School Gate Style) massive try-on she does a couple times a year for all of us Boden fans.  It's awesome, but daunting.  Enjoy!







































Charlotte Cape, Sienna Coat, Velvet Coat, Velvet Jacket, Chelsea Jacket, Duffle, Windemere Down-Filled Coat, The Mac, Fair Isle Sweater, Animal Intarsia Sweater, Mia Sweater, Alexa Sweater, Relaxed Stitch Coatigan, Ravello Top, Tamara Top, Rosalyn Top, Square Tee, Gwyneth Top, Ottoman Top, Dobby Panel Top, Dolly Top, Boyfriend Shirt, The Shirt, Annabel Knitted Skirt, Cambridge Skirt, Julia Patch Pocket Skirt, Nora Ponte Crossover Dress, Boho Tie Neck Dress, Hartland Dress, Retro Hotchpotch Tunic Dress, Lara Sparkle Dress, Jodie Dress, High Waist Super Skinny, Jade Joggers, Alexis High Heel Boot, Scallop Point, Court Shoe, Beatrice Midheel, Bloomsbury Bag, Chancery Clutch, and Berkeley Zip Bag.  Avril, the champ of the Boden home sales, has given us a look at all these items.  You are the best!  :-) 



Velvet Coat.  Gemma, of Jacquard Flower, shows us a pretty fall outfit featuring this coat in a pale pink.

She also wears it here.



Olive Top and Boho Boots. Gemma wears this one in a grey and hot pink along with the Boho boots.


The Shirt. Gemma chose a crown print version of this shirt.  If you look closely, you will see a pink crown every so often in the print.  :-)



Annabel Knitted Skirt and Julia Patch Pocket Skirt. Amy tried both of these on for us at her blog.  The two she received didn't work for her, but she has some excellent tips in her review if you are interested in either.

Okay, that's it for now.  Did you all make it through okay?  :-)  Thanks again to all my blog friends who gave reviews.  They are all super helpful!

The link below gives you access to the sale with the additional 15% off.
Up to 40% off! Plus extra 15% off at Boden! Valid 10/9-10/12. Clearance Items Excluded

Boden: Mid Season Sale Time! Up to 40% Off.

Happy Monday, all!

Boden rolled out a mid-season sale this morning, with many items up to 40% off.  This may be the first time some of the items I really like, and want to buy, are at 40% off.  Of course that also means that some of the items I have loved already and worn are in the 40% off category (including the jade/pink Clementine Dress here, review here), but, eh, at least I have enjoyed it before it dropped in price.

The Icons collection is not included in the mid-season sale nor are the clearance items, but I am sure this surprises none of you.

This sale runs from today until next week, so you have plenty of time to peruse your favorites and make some decisions.  I definitely have a few reviews from my closet AND from other women's closets (all my blog friends have been busy), so there will be a Boden Weekly Review Roundup this week.  I will not make excuses.  It will happen.

Is there any items you love in the sale that made it to 30% or 40% off?  Would love to read your thoughts!

Enjoy (sale) shopping!

Boden: 25% Off Flash Sale and Spring 2016 Preview!

Molly Dress

Hey, all!  I am back!  I love being away, I would never ever complain about having fun on vacation, but it is nice to return to structure and normalcy.  I have plans to get all my vacation shots organized and put together, since I know many of you like to see vacation ootds as they help for planning packing for future trips.  If I am really productive, maybe in the next few days? 

It really has been all Boden over here at the blog lately.  Not that it surprises any of you all, but usually I do throw in more ootd posts in the mix.  (I have a few to show off, they are all stuck at Instagram right now, though.) 

First up--Spring 2016 is up and ready for Preview orders.  I don't have a code for the usual 20% off, but I am fairly confident I will receive one eventually.  If any of you have one and would like to share it, that would be great.  :-)

The preview I have only briefly glanced at, but the dresses and knitwear look a bit dire.  Boden should really go back to showing us the catalog shots.  They really do help set a mood.  The blah blue background may help the colors pop, but there was very little catching my eye.  I may warm up to it, but right now I am a bit underwhelmed.  (Though I do love the above Molly Dress and the Martha Dress, they are definitely "Boden" in feel, and of course, that's what I love, garments that are their "look.")

Second, I was emailed by the affiliate program that there is a flash sale going on at Boden, 25% off everything (that excludes the new Boden Icons collection and clearance), but I didn't see it until this morning.  It is set to expire on Wednesday, so there is still some time left to enjoy the savings.

I don't know if I will enjoy this sale, there are a few items I would like to have (I have bought very little from fall and winter!), but I am not sure my funds are there.  ;-)  I hope some of you are able to grab items you would like.  (I say if they are low stock now, go for it, especially if you will wear it sooner than later.  Fully in stock items you can wait on...)

This text link works to receive 25% off!  Have fun (sale) shopping!
25% off everything! 4 days only (valid 9/27-9/30)

Boden: Boden Icons Debut!

Belgravia Dress. Karen Elson makes this dress look fierce.  It is a bit less fierce looking in real life standing up.

Belgravia Dress on Model. Still very pretty, but has lost a bit of the specialness that the Karen Elson photo brings it.  That is probably all the downlighting and atmosphere.  :-)  And where is the tie neck?  (I actually like it better without, but still...)

Hey, you all!  I am on the cruise right now (this was the second trip I planned for September before receiving a job offer this summer).  I have to be quick, but the Boden Icons collection debuted this morning and I figured some of you would want to talk about the pretty, the not so pretty, and the huh?  There are bits of all three, and as you can see above, the Belgravia dress, while pretty, is also a bit of "huh" what with the loss of a tie neck promised in the Karen Elson shot, and the addition (probably always there, though) of the split front skirt seams.  I love the idea of the Belgravia dress, but now seeing it in real life, I like it less.  It just woudn't suit me as much as what I thought it was would have.  Oh, well.  Not that I could have afforded $378 anyhow.

Speaking of affording the Icons line, I tried the coupon that Boden's affiliate program has issued for us publishers to use, and it didn't work last week, and it's still not working this week.  It is supposedly valid, but it isn't working on even regular clothing, much less the Icons, so I couldn't tell you if the Icons collection is excluded from this coupon or not right now.  Maybe one of you all will have more success?

With that said, I present the gorgeous Karen Elson photos followed by the products not on Karen Elson.  It is a bit of a difference.

(Oh, sorry for the formatting issues.  I am having a tough time getting things to look "proper" and I don't have the energy to make it right.  Right now, anyhow.)

This is also the Belgravia Dress, just in a sheer silk chiffon.

This is not the dress for me.  Too Stevie Nicks.  Too Sheer.  I am certain someone could make this work. Let's just hope Karen Elson isn't the only one, lol.

Hyde Parka.  Stunning.

Hyde Parka.  Less Stunning.

Brighton Duffle Coat.  I thought this was leather.  It looks like leather here, anyhow.

Brighton Duffle Coat.  Not too bad, and a reasonable-ish price.  Not leather though.

Spitalfields Coat in red. This version is way better than the mismatched plaid version from my last blog post (though the version on the model on the product page is properly matched).

Spitalfields Coat.  Very generously sized.  It is a glamorous coat, but looks proportionally off on the model. 

Okay, that's it.  I want to say more and while the wifi is pretty decent on the ship, it's still slower than at home, so I will save myself frustration and end the post here.  :-)

Definitely leave any thoughts you have!  I may not be able to respond back for a while, but I should be able to read them all soon enough!

This coupon is supposed to work.  I hold out hope it will, which is why it is here at the bottom of this post.  Fingers crossed...

Boden: Fall/Winter 2015 is Here! And Boden Icons!

Longer Line Cable Sweater here in two colors...

Hey, you all.  I am back from Florida. 

CW made a beautiful Princess Anna.  I am pleased she was pleased after all the saving up of money (it's expensive to be pricessified), and having to deal with a five hour delay going there (hello, 3 am arrival) and a cancellation on the way back (come on, really?).  I am happy to go back to Disney, but it's going to be a few months, at least.  ;-)

I am off to a cruise for my (big, OMG I am how old) birthday with my aunt at the end of this week, so if the blog goes fully silent, blame lack of internet access.  Which is fine, I know.  I just am used to being super plugged in.  It's probably good for me (at my age, lol) to be unplugged from time to time.

Okay, so that out of the way, onto Boden.

1. There were quite a few new arrivals on Monday.  Couldn't write about them then (travel day) and couldn't write about them yesterday because of...

Angus at his first day of preschool *yeah*,

so I am writing about it today. 

There are quite a few lovely items and it seems I must have missed many of them in my original picks post way back when.  Or they didn't have these in the preview.  I don't know.  These multiple rollouts are to hard for me to follow (at my age, lol).

2. The folks at Boden must be doing well since the current promo being emailed around and on the back of the catalogs are for 11% off with free ship and returns.  I haven't seen one that "low" in years.  Probably 2010?  But...and because I have access to it, and so do you, the affiliate program has a promo for 15% off with free ship and returns (over $49), which is pretty great, so use it if you need it, of course.  I probably will (after I have paid for the princessification of Little Miss CW).

3. So in this last catalog they sent out there was an insert for the "Boden Icons" collection, which is like the Boden Limited Edition of yore (RIP).  It is intriguing, but it was no secret that I was a HUGE fan of the Limited Edition stuff. In fact, I have only ever sold one item from my collection, and that was because there was a fit issue.  I on the regular wear my beautiful silk jersey dresses from that line.  Here is a look at the lookbook, courtesy of the Telegraph.

The Belgravia dress is gorgeous, and I am a fan, but woah, that 250 pound amount is roughly equivalent to $375.  The other pieces are lovely and if I was an independent gazillionaire I would happily purchase most of it and put in my gorgeous MASSIVE closet.

This is a "huh" piece, the Spitalfields Coat, which at 400 pounds maybe should have plaid that lines up properly?  I suspect this is intentional, but my seamstress eyes are really bothered.

Okay, that's all for now!  Do you have any picks from either the rollout from Monday or the Icons line?  I would love to read your thoughts!  I will be unlikely to respond for some time, but do know I read all comments and do appreciate them all.  I eventually do write back, but it often takes me some time.

Have a great night everyone!

Boden: Extra 20% Off Clearance Items! Ends Tonight!

Hi, all! 

I have been a terrible blogger this month.  I know you all know I am back to teaching, but one thing that you didn't know (unless you know me in real life) is that before I found out I was going to be teaching this year, I booked two big trips for this September, since September travel is usually the least expensive of the year.  Well, I was sure I didn't have a job for this year since all the positions had been filled, but in late June, I was asked to be the Tech teacher for the little ones, and fortunately my new boss was very understanding of my predicament of having two trips in a September time frame.  She approved the trips (won't do that to her again, though, lol) and so I have been a flurry of activity, teaching, child rearing, packing and unpacking, and sub planning.  It's all good, I am super happy, just super busy.  I will be sure to update as I can, but it likely to be a very sparse month here at the blog.  :-)

I am sure most of you know this, but to make sure the word is fully out there, Boden decided to do an "extra 20% off" their summer clearance.  They did this a few weeks ago in Britain, and it sure took a long time to get to us in the United States!  But it's here until tonight.

I do see a lot of great deals out there, but there are some items that while better priced than when they were in "regular" price mode, they aren't really that big of a steal.  That happens when an item is super popular, and Boden is pretty sure they will get the higher price for it, so they don't feel the need to super reduce it.  I wanted to make sure to mention it, if you are real bargain hunter.

There a ton of tees and tops that are reduced significantly, from $70 down to nearly $15.  That's a good deal, and definitely a rock bottom kind of price.  If you hunt and look, you will find things.  Now whether you want or need those things is up to you.  We live in Virginia and our summer is the longest season of the year, so I have more summer clothes than winter clothing (though I know I have a large coat collection, which I admit is ridiculous), so this clearance draws me in more than the fall and winter one.  The fall/winter one does come at holiday time, so I do dip for gifts, but not much more than that.

Has anyone spied any great deals they would love to share?  I would love to see what your thoughts are!

Don't forget, if you want more information on any item, it is possible there was a review of an item or two in one of my blog's Boden Weekly Review Roundups.

I hope to be back with more here at the blog soon, but until then, I hope all of you are having a wonderful September.

Limited time with an additional 20% off clearance!