Boden Weekly Review Roundup: Helping Boden Babes Make Sale Decisions. LOL.

I am super excited for this Boden Weekly Review Roundup because just a couple of hours ago I found out that Boden has launched a 25% off everything (with free ship and returns) today, and so this makes this BWRR even more worthwhile because the items we are looking at today are all part of this sale. :)

(That said, remember that "clearance" items are not included in the 25% off, boo on that, but regular "promo" items are included. I included one quickie review of a "promo" item and a link or two to other promo item reviews to help you with your sale shopping. The inclusion of "promo" items really brings down the overall cost on those particular items, almost catch of the day worthy!)

Okay, so if you would like to see an item on me close up, click on the photo; if you would like to see it on a blog friend, click on the link to their blog; and if you would like to see the item at Boden's website for availability, colors, sizing, and measurements, click on the stock photo.

Just a reminder, you will need to click on the 25% off promo link in my sidebar to get the coupon applied, but if you are on a mobile device, I have included that coupon link at the bottom of this post. :)

Onto the reviews!

Regular Boden:

Sixties Dress.  I was so on the fence about this one, but one or two of you said to give it a try, and so I bit the bullet when the ivory came back in a size 8 (long, had wanted the regular, but that's a popback for you).  This dress is REALLY popular.  I mean, yes, it looks really good on the model, but even I was surprised by its popularity.

I was in France when I purchased it, and you all are going to love this, it took TWO whole weeks to arrive at my doorstep because it was coming from their Leicester location in England.  The ships that bring Boden from England are S-L-O-W.  My ASOS order was like that, too.  My Warehouse UK order came within a week, so I think they must use airplanes.  LOL.

I wore this dress today to bring Rex to my grade school for an open house.  You read that right, my boy is going to attend the same school I did!  :)  I guess that is the benefit of being in a Catholic school AND only living four miles from where you grew up.  It was really nice to see all the kids in the uniform.  They haven't even changed it!  I even saw my favorite PE teacher ever, Mrs. Bauer, she literally is the reason I even knew I could be an athlete...

Back to the main part of the post, always seem to find a tangent or two to go off on.  Anyhow, I really wanted a conservative, dressy looking outfit for the open house, and this was perfection.  Especially in the Long, as I suspect the regular would have been too short to be considered conservative.  So I lucked out that the long wasn't too long overall (like in the torso) and was long enough in the place I need it, namely the skirt.

Walking, hands on hips.  I see how the shoulders and bust are a tad loose on me, but that is usual for me unless I size down to a 6.  If I was not pregnant, I would have returned this for a 6, but as it turns out, with the pregnancy and my love for loose frocks some of the time (especially if they are white or ivory, I think it can look a little bit too much to wear those colors too tight), the 8 long is absolutely what I needed, and so I will keep it for now, and definitely for later.

Also, bear this in mind, the neckline is very tight when attempting to get it over the head (there is a side zip, not a back zip).  I had no problem, but if you have broad shoulders or carry your weight in your top half, you may need to size up.

Side view (with baby belly just forming)...btw, totally have lost my waistline, have gained about four inches overall (so 32 inches, I think?).  This dress more than accommodated the baby belly, and my hips, too.  My question will be how this will work when I go back to my regular waistline...will I need to take it in a bit or will the looser look still be okay?  Hmm.  Guess I will know next winter.  :)

I did notice that from the back you can see rippling in the torso which must mean that it is a bit long in the torso, but really hard to notice in real life.

The frock is totally lined in a poly fabric that is very soft and silky.  The wool is very soft, I am actually surprised that it is almost like a suiting fabric without looking like a suiting fabric.  The "pockets" are not pockets but just fun detailing.

I want to mentioned that it does wrinkle, but can be pressed out easily enough.  I take mine to the cleaners if I am being lazy (it's 5 dollars and they do an amazing job) or I will grab the iron and just spend some time on it.  Mine came a bit wrinkled, what you see is the pressed version.

I paired it with a silk scarf from J. Crew...the tights are opaque black tights...and the shoes are kitten heels from Frye.


Sixties Dress. I knew the fit was right on me when I realized it fit nearly like it fit the model (well, except that she is a model and clearly not pregnant). The dress also comes in a pretty pink, a black, and a blue color.

Okay, confession time, this is not available in this print or this exact style this fall, but the double layer jersey dress has an incarnation every season, and I find that the one I own from 2009 has served me so well that I would be doing a disservice not to mention that Boden does this particular type of dress really well.

One thing I really like is that if you pick a size that can fit loosely when you are at your best weight and be more fitted at a higher weight (or whilst in early pregnancy), this dress will not be subject to the whims of our bodies (and/or water retention, grr).

I wore it the other day, and I could have slept in it...so comfy, and cozy.  I anticipate that this will work for me for at least a couple more weeks.  And definitely will work postpartum.


Double Layer Knot Dress. I think this one would be even more flattering for hiding a baby belly early on, or just a little bit of a fat day, here and there. :)


Sumptuous Scarf. Oh, lucky Suburban Mom! She was able to go to Hawaii AND she had the beautiful saturated purple version of this scarf to keep her warm on the the long flight. Go re-live a few of her moments here at this post. :)

Promo Regular Boden:

Printed Scarf. Promo priced $46.40, but with the 25% off it goes down to $34.80, which when compared to the original price of $58 means this puppy is nearly half off. I did a review here.

Promo Boden Limited Edition:

Lavish Tunic. Promo priced $150.40, but with the 25% off, it comes to $112.80, a substantial savings from the $188 original cost. Check out my review here.


Gorgeous Cashmere Cardigan. Promo priced to $182.40 (down from $228), with the extra 25% this beauty comes in at a jaw-dropping $136.80 for a well-made, super-soft, and very thick short cashmere cardigan. I mention short because it is very much meant as a topper for pencil skirts and dresses, which means that it is meant to end at the high hip or waistline. If you have a longer torso this means it may be too short for you, but if this silhouette will work for you, I highly recommend buying at least one of the colors in your tts knitwear size (from Boden, which means I bought a size 6). I have not worn it IRL yet (just got it two days ago from the slow boat from Leicester), but do plan on bringing it to the Thanksgiving festivities down in Mississippi, so do expect an IRL photo next week.

Kit's Mommy is a huge fan, which is why I even bit. Thank you, Kit's Mommy for enabling me. :)

So did I bite today? Well, yes, but in reason. My budget is sort of tight, but I managed a gift for CW and one for my soon to be tired tootsies.


Sheepskin Slippers. I ordered these in a size 40 (which is a size 9) as the ones I own from J. Crew stretch out. BTW, the reason I bought them from Boden this year? One, OMG, they are pink, how awesome, and two, J. Crew's version this year is really expensive (my bad, they aren't that expensive, just overpriced for what they are) AND they are lined in faux shearling (not done in prior years). The decision was easy.


Pretty Party Dress. Well, I don't really think CW will wear this to a party, but it is the perfect Christmas gift/preschool pretty dress.

Alrighty, that's it! You all enjoy your night and your (sale) shopping.

Boden 25% off plus Free Shipping and Returns!
Mobile Users, I have enclosed a link to the sale directly (above). Just put your items in the shopping bag and the discount will be applied (view the bag to see the new prices).

Boden: BIG SALE NEWS. 25% Off Everything!

Big Sale definitely means it is time to Frock and Roll.  We'll be there right with you, Vanessa!

You. All.

:)  I heard this morning from a blog friend, Ann, and last week from another good blog friend (in the UK), Louise, that Boden is offering 25% off everything sale.  And as if in perfect conjunction with my posting schedule (just about to do the Boden Weekly Review Roundup, in fact), my affiliate program just e-mailed me a link to the sale with 25% off.

I think this is a great way to get some deals if something you love is low stock, and/or you are worried that it will sell out as soon as the end of season sale occurs (last year it was early December).  It is also a great way to get some of the Christmas shopping done before the craziness of December comes our way.  ;)

So enjoy the (sale) shopping.  Let us know what you decide on...and if you come across any great deals, do let us know!

Boden 25% off plus Free Shipping and Returns!
Click on the above to go straight to Boden!

Paris: Day Four Outfit of the Day,

It seems beyond appropriate that I do this post today, as Rex's behavior today has only really been matched by the behavior her recently exhibited in the beautiful small French city of Chartres. Ugh. :)

He is getting more "mature" every day, but for all his advancements socially, his fits have also matured to their own fine and ripe age. They will soon be so ripe they will be spoiled. Oh, dear. He will be five in February. Someone out there tell me it gets better when they turn five. Please. LOL.

So yeah, I am not one to focus on negativity (well at least not here on my happy place, aka my respite from my crazy, rugrat filled life), so I am choosing to continue my sartorial journey in France for the rest of the post. Remember, you can also see the other days here, day one, day two, and day three.

Anyone who LOVES the Paris Catalog from Fall 2007 will immediately know what this outfit is referencing.  :)

I also included the image in the polyvore set, so all you polyvore addicts, clip away. 

I had the Bridget shirtdress in plaid from the original season, had bought it in a size 10 to fit my newly postpartum body (post-Rex, yes, five years ago, lol), and when I lost all that weight a couple of years ago, the 10 was getting too big, so I hunted ebay for a replacement in a size 6, and finally one day, I found it.   (And a fellow JCA got my size 10 from the exchange, you know share the love...it really is a great dress.)

I was actually really worried it wouldn't fit, but with Gus hanging out and growing but not really, the dress did up just fine.  Phew.  (Can't wear it today, though.  I have officially lost my waist--woo!)

The boots are the Britten Tall Flat boots, and I am so glad I decided to bring them to France, they were super comfy AND stylish, which I appreciated.

This is just outside the cathedral at Chartres, in the courtyard.  It was pretty sunny that day, so the sunglasses were more than just "fashionable."

I added the Icon trench to keep the wind from whipping me too much.  It was warm-ish that day, but it was good to have the topper that evening, when the temps dipped quickly.

Just like the previous photo, many of you have already seen this image, but now you know more about the outfit under the trench.  Plus the cobblestone plus French folks plus CW equals really cool photo.

Paris: Day Four Outfit of the Day. by dinagideon featuring a tee shirt dress

Above is the polyvore. Eventually I will get around to publishing my packing list (which I did about two months ago), but I will wait until all the ootd posts are done (two more to go!).

Boden ladies...remember I did a post on the Boden Spring Preview in this post yesterday. I bit the bullet today, so I feel poorer, but at least I have a few weeks to save up for the January bill. :)

Also, if you have a Boden review and would like it to be included in tomorrow's Boden Weekly Review Roundup, you can e-mail me at dinagideon AT aim DOT com or comment in the post (although if you recently commented, I have seen it, and will include your review--thanks!).

Alright, have a great night!!!

P.S.  Can I just say how sweet and caring all of you are?  I love (and read) ALL of the comments left here, and omg, I have the nicest, most darling blog friends.  I want to let everyone know that although I have been unable to spend a ton on other friends blogs, or comment back to everyone's comments here, I at least want to express my gratitude!  So many of your comments (especially on the "Gus is here" post) have really made me smile big, and often laugh out loud, literally!

Boden: Spring 2012 Preview Picks!

Wow.  I am finally getting around to doing my picks from Boden's Spring Preview 2012.  :)  I did need to wait for all the images to load (all the photos are there, so when you head over to the preview site, you will see everything, no "we need to pick our shots up from the chemists" line), AND I needed to wait until you all knew my news so you could see why I was choosing only flowy, jersey, stretchy items for my spring wardrobe.  LOL.  I won't always be postpartum, but it will be nice to have a few "it fits now and will fit later" kind of items to look forward to wearing after I give birth to Gus in late March.

I also have uploaded some of my picks from the accessories, shoes, mini Boden, and baby Boden lines.

Enjoy!  And don't forget to let me know what your picks are in the comments, too!

Regular Boden:

Border Print Tunic

You all know that I just LOVE me some Boden tunics, especially last year's Mosaic tiled version (bottom of post, called the terrazzo tunic), and this year's version seems similar, yet different enough.  I tried on last year's tunic over my slightly growing belly, and the material is very stretchy, so I will be ordering this in my tts size and will likely be able to wear it a few weeks after Gus is born.  It also comes in a pretty green/blue, and a pink version.

Fun Jersey Dress

I really like the simplicity of this easy dress, but the bit of "fun" at the hem allows it to stay in my "I love the prints and patterns" comfort zone.  I will size up one from my usual jersey dress size, but this will be fine even after I have lost the weight.  I find that some days I just want a nice, loose dress to throw on. 

Plait Trim Top

This is the top I want, but am most concerned about.  I could potentially send this one back if the top is too long and fits too constricted at my hips after a month or so.  I am willing to chance it, especially if it is a tee-shirt type cotton (which is stretchier than a cotton lawn), but I will not be sad or blue if I have to return it.  I do really love this pattern, and the plait detailing is beautiful.

Riviera Shirt Dress

I suspect that if this dress fits most women well, it will sell out.  What a fun pattern!  This dress is also featured as the home page outfit, and it looks so pretty on the model.  I will chance it in my tts dress size, especially with the skirt's full hips.  I could see this being the perfect dress for hiding postpartum lumps and bumps, and once back to a normal weight, being a lovely dress for church, etc.

Textured Cotton Skirt

Unless I lose all my weight super fast, this skirt will not be worn by me until late next summer, but I think this print is special and I have seen Boden sell out of their skirts in the prettiest prints, so I will bite the bullet and buy it early (to take advantage of the additional 20% off) and just use it as a "goal" skirt.

Twist Jersey Top

I think if you have had babies, you get why this top was chosen by me.  ;)  For those of you in the unaware state, the twist highlights the narrowest part of the torso (under the bust), whilst hiding a small tummy with the slight a-line and ruching in the bottom part of the top.  Plus jersey is so so soft!  Great for cuddling with newborns. 

Boden Accessories and Shoes:
I am holding off on purchasing accessories and shoes, but when the time (and the right catch of the day promo) comes, I will likely bite on the below...

Beachcomber Bag

A few years ago Boden sold a bag (and a skirt) with the union jack on it, and I didn't buy them then, but may think about this bag.  I am on the fence, but if I can sell a Vera Bradley or two on ebay, I might go for this one.

Flowerburst Scarf

Comes in a bazillion colors.  :)  This is my favorite, but all of the colors are lovely and delicious.  Also cotton, so great for covering up from the sun on a hot day.

T-Bar Flower Heels

Don't these remind you of something Anthropologie would sell?  I love them...so different from anything I have ever seen from Boden.  But because it is Boden, they are made from all leather, and I can guarantee those rosettes are applied perfectly.

Twist Sandals

I love sandals.  Adore them.  I especially love these, with the animal print AND the toe separator bit (which means my feet won't slide all over the place--I know, weird, right--but they do!).

Uptown Heels

These are really lovely, and since I wear a lot of navy and prints that pair well with navy in the spring/summer, these would be used, for sure, on a regular basis.

Baby and mini Boden:

5 Pack Bodies

Not a ton for Gus in the preview, but these are practical, cute, and come in such fun colors.  Will get in the 0-3 month size so he can wear them in the right season.  (I am getting him the 5 pack bodies from the fall season, but in the 3-6 month size, which is what he will be my next fall.)

Jersey Applique Dress

Oh, sadness.  This is the last summer I can order clothing for CW from the baby Boden line.  Guess they have to grow up.  :)  At least they have some darling items for her last year in this line...

Vintage Dress

These seagulls are so cute.  And I love that baby Boden has some color combos that are unexpected for little girls, like grey, pink, blue, and white.

Hotchpotch T-Shirt Dress

This is mini Boden, and I think I have a thing for their pear print this year (look out below!).  Last year it was the owls, this year, the pears.  :)

Jersey Lined Anorak

Rex DESPERATELY needs a rain jacket, and this blue version with its comfy, cozy green lining will fit the bill perfectly.

Jersey Lined Anorak

CW needs a raincoat, too, and this one has pears.  LOL.  :)

Rough Applique T-Shirt

Rex chose this one on his own.  Guess why?  Skull, check.  Blue, check.  That is all it takes. 

Vehicle Applique T-Shirt

I chose this one, but Rex approved. :)

Well, that's it!  Don't forget, if you click to the home page (link is in the first paragraph), there is a link there for an additional 20% off and free ship/returns. 

Talk soon, provided I don't fall asleep at 9 pm, which is always a possibility.