Boden Weekly Review Roundup: Dresses, Tunics, and Tops!

Hi, everyone! Thanks for the well wishes yesterday. I was under the weather, and pretty much stayed in bed all day yesterday. I had the combo of a migraine and some sort of virus, which combined made me tired, irritable, and in pain. Ugh. :P Today I am still tired, but fine. Now that I get migraines less than before, I find that when I *do* get them, I am less tolerant to them. (Which seems weird!)

As promised, here is the Boden Weekly Review Roundup. :)

Remember, if you would like to see something at the Boden site, click through the Boden stock photo. If you would like to see something on me or CW a bit larger, click on the photo, and a bigger photo will appear. If you would like to see something on one of the other fab Boden bloggers, click on the link I have provided back to their blog.

Right now, I have the 15% off maternity coupon in my sidebar. I think Boden knows the sale is right around the corner for us, and isn't spending too much time and energy in being inventive with their promos. Whatever, lol.

I do have a quick request concerning the upcoming sale (late June, early July, maybe?)...would you mind e-mailing me a review if you have something you wanted to review but haven't had the opportunity? I have a very large and exhaustive word file started with all the reviews that have been done up to this point (links to other blogs or my weekly review roundup) plus links back to Boden, and I will happily add to it as need be, but if I could have the whole document done before the sale actually drops, that would be uber-fab. :) I would love to make the Boden summer sale as easy to navigate as Ms. Gigiofca makes it for us when J. Crew updates their sale sections!

This week's reviews:

It's a dual mommy/me review!  :)  I will get to CW's review at the end (in the Mini-Boden review section), but I do want you all to see how nicely the print on her dress matches the Mommy version.  It *isn't* the exact same print, but it is pretty close.  Rex actually had a blast trying to figure out what was different.  (Her dress has no deep red, green, or orange blooms.)

CW willingly put her hands on her hips to pose with me.

And she was willing to stand to the side for a side view.  :)

And a back view, natch. 

Quick review of the Notch Neck Shift (which I have reviewed here in the green/blue terrazzo print)...the dress is form fitting, but because of the nubby cotton fabric does stretch out a bit through the day.  On me, the size US 8 Regular/UK 12 Regular is a bit big through the bust, but I need to fit my hips, so I kind of just have to suck it up already.  :)  Plus, it isn't so big through the bust that it even really bothers me (I mentioned sizing advice re: bustline with the terrazzo print version review, so definitely check that out if your upper body is where you carry your weight).

The print is a bit bright, especially in this pink blossom colorway, but the two terrazzo prints are a bit more subdued and can probably be made office appropriate, even if your office is fairly conservative.

We were actually headed to church and dinner at IHOP (my kids LUUUURRRRRVVVVE IHOP), so the way we wore it was fine.  I did get a bit cold at church and wished I had a cardi with me, so bear that in mind if you run "cold."

I made this shot "arty" with Picasa's Picnik.  The dress (and many of Boden's prints, really) lend itself to photo editing in a 60s/70s style (like I did with the shot in yesterday's post).  I look at pics of my mom and dad from the 60s and 70s and they all have this kind of look, a bit aged, a bit yellow, but you can still tell how bright, beautiful, and groovy the prints of the clothing were. 

Only the most professional of photos from that period still look good today.  I see very little aging from my photos from the mid-90s, though, and from what my photo shop tells me, that is because the processing of photos, plus the cameras themselves, were better overall in the late 80s and early 90s (before that, only the professional photographers had any real good reason to buy higher-end equipment...by the 80s and 90s, that equipment was A LOT less expensive, making the equipment more accessible to all).  So all of you people who were born in the 80s and 90s, count yourself as lucky that all of your baby photos aren't completely yellow and faded.  ;)


Notch Neck Shift Dress.  Want to see it in real life in the green colorway on a real person?  Check out on Suburban Mom under "Other Bloggers"--her review is the first one!

Other Bloggers:

Notch Neck Shift Dress. Suburban Mom agrees with me on the awesomeness of this dress! She models the green floral version for us in her review. :)


Printed Jersey Top. Suburban Mom had a great day at the pool, and chose to wear this top in white as part of her cover-up!


Twist Jersey Top. Suburban Mom rocks the red version of this top. Beautiful!


Stripy Tunic. Louise models this for us, and now she has me thinking I should put this on my wish list! She looks adorable in it!

Mini-Boden:

What drew me like a butterfly to this pretty print dress and its amazing florals was that it was a dead ringer for the notch neck shift that I own.  Upon seeing it further, I also (from a very practical standpoint) realized that CW could easily wear this for two or THREE years.  Right now it is a sort of large dress that is super-flowy.  The neck, because of its tighter ruffly neckline, fits fine, even if it is on the bigger side.  By next summer, this dress will be exactly the right size everywhere, and the summer AFTER that (when CW will be 4!), this will fit more like a tunic, that she can wear with cute little capri pants or bermuda shorts.  Love that!

CW is in the size 3-4 version, and could have easily fit in the 2-3 version.  If you are considering this for your daughter, remember true size if you want it a bit big so that she can wear it many years, or one size down if you want it to fit perfectly right away.  :)


Pretty Print Dress. CW is wearing the Blossom Dahlia colorway but it also comes in a spotted version (blue/purple) and a larger, more mod floral (red/blue).  I do want to mention this is NOT a cotton jersey fabric, more like a cotton poplin, so if you need a more stretchy jersey material for your daughter, this would not be the choice!

Have a wonderful day, everyone!  Talk with you all soon!

Boden Weekly Review Roundup: Includes a New Summer Arrival, the Printed Tunic!

Ooh, sorry for how belated this post is! :P I love going back to teaching (especially when it is a fashion class for uber-excited tweens), but wow...I am T-I-R-E-D. LOL. These first pics of me in the cute as a button printed tunic are of me after my nap earlier this afternoon. I am so tired I am taking a nap, like a toddler.

Okay onto the business of the roundup...remember if you want to see it close-up on me, click on the photos of me wearing them.  If you want to see them on my blog friends, click on the link to their website.  If you want to see measurements, other colors, and sizes, click on the photo of the item as photographed by Boden.  There is a 15% off maternity coupon in the sidebar of this blog that is still working.  There is no minimum for that coupon, so if you have a low tolerance for higher minimums on coupons, this coupon is probably your best bet.  I hope it still works for a while...

Printed Tunic on me in the jade champagne spot pattern.  I fell for this way back when this was in preview, and now that it has arrived, I am even more smitten.

It is clearly safe to say I am obsessed with Boden tunics.  It seems that they always fit me exactly as I need them to, which I can't say about some of their other items like the the dresses and the pants (okay, trousers all you British visitors, lol).

This is a size US 6 or UK 10.  I usually wear a size US 6 in their tunics, so this is tts.

The tunic is made from a stretchy blended cotton.  It does hug through the bottom half, but in a way I know is flattering and not unfortunate.

It has a small tie belt, which I like, but I can 100% see belting it with a wide belt, especially if I am trying to get an 80s vibe (the spot patterns look very 80s in my opinion, and the florals sort of scream 70s).

From the back.  I think the blousier top and nipped in waist helps make my hips look a wee bit smaller, which for this "Miss Pear" is much appreciated.  SWAK, Johnnie B.

Okay, this is short without the leggings, but I kind of like it this way better!  Definitely for the dog days of August.

I may try the tunic with skinny jeans on Friday for the Spring Into Style class.  I can see the girls going gaga for this look.

This is a close-up of the print, the spots are actually a navy, not black, but even so, the tunic looks more than fine with black leggings.


Printed Tunic. Also available in the above floral in two colorways and the spot pattern in a grey version (yum!).


Textured Jersey Tee. On Louise in the Blush Stencil and the Wave Stencil Pattern.


Essential Short Sleeve Scoop Neck. In green on both Suburban Mom and Louise.


Favourite Crew Neck Cardigan. On Suburban Mom in the Sapling Melange (a green) color.


Printed Cotton Skirt. As seen on Suburban Mom in the multi-color floral print.


Swishy Cotton Skirt. As seen on Suburban Mom in the blue floral print. 

Notch Neck Shift on me in the Ruby Peony colorway.  Yes, those are some crazy old school pointed toe green leather flats from J. Crew circa 2005!  ;)  Still have them and still love them.

I know, I know, I already own this in the sailor terrazzo colorway, but honestly, they only share a shape in common, and since I LUUUUUUUUURRRRRRRRVVVVE the shape, I knew I had to get one that was a bit different. 

And I totally wore this dress, one whole day after I received it.  I had an Arbonne party I was the consultant for and I really wanted a perfect, professional, yet cheery dress for the occasion.  This dress fit the bill exactly.  :)

Hand on hip.  Those shoes look really REALLY pointy.  They look less scary "wicked witch of the west/great grand wizard of oz" in real life.  Ha.  ;)


Notch Neck Shift. I don't really don't know why the ruby peony is not selling fast, but it is really very lovely in real life!

Okay, you all...if I missed one of your reviews, please drop me a line or put it in the comments!!!  Thank you for giving the roundup a visit!

Boden Weekly Review Roundup: Notch Neck Shift and Other Lovelies!

Hi, all!

Got quite a lot here in the roundup today. :) Thank you to all of you who either e-mailed me or gave me permission to use your reviews. As always, if you would like to include your review in today's post, please e-mail dinagideon@aim.com before midnight. Otherwise, I will include it in next week's roundup! Also, if I inadvertently missed your review, I apologize in advance, and please do let me know!!!

Reminder: If you would like to see the item close up on either me or CW, click on the photos of us. If you would like to be taken straight to the Boden website, click on the Boden stock shot. I have also included a few Boden images that I have downloaded for Polyvore. If you click on those images, you will not be taken to Boden's website, rather you will just get a larger look at it here at my blog.

If any of these items make it to Boden's "Catch of the Day" this week, I will make sure to link back to these reviews for you all.

First up is my newest love, the Notch Neck Shift. I had been eyeing this in the blue/green colorway for months, and with the last 20% off deal, I bit. And like last week's dress (relaxed silk dress), I used the precise measurements to decide on which size to get. Unlike the relaxed silk dress, though, this dress fits perfectly, not too small and not too large. It is wonderful!

I bought the size US 8 Regular (UK 12 Regular). I would recommend one thing, though, and that is if you are more ample on top, to please consider sizing up. I had a time getting in and out of this dress, but nothing terrible. From what I am reading on the reviews over at Boden, this dress can be a bear to get on and off if you are anything larger than a B cup.

From the side. The dress does look green/blue, doesn't it? I would say the green is misrepresented. In reality, the green is more of a dark olive, verging on brown. I think this makes it more sophisticated, so I am not bummed by this, but please do keep that in mind when ordering.

From the back. I found this to be quite slimming, and I love how appropriate it can be for all occasions, from work to church to dinner out.

Paired with the J. Crew Collection Moonbeam Sequin Blazer and the Anticipation Heels from Anthropologie, this could definitely take you to a nice dinner out. Two thumbs up for this outfit. I do so look forward to wearing this combo!

The above picture is for Polyvore.  Are any of you Boden babes having issues clipping Boden to polyvore or is it just me?


Notch Neck Shift. I also happen to like the pink floral version, but that may be because I know it has a matching mini-Boden dress. LOL. I bet you I won't be able to resist this dress on sale...and that mini-Boden one will probably come home with me, too.


Fringed Tweed Jacket. On Tabitha and wow, does it ever work for her, even if it was for her Mum initially!!!


Brittany Jumper. Polly still loves it in grey and white, even with exposed zippers and all!  :)  Also, check out her blog, I started following today and I look forwarding to seeing what she and her BFF, Fiona, have up their sleeves!


Textured Cotton Skirt. Polly looks beyond lovely in this bright green skirt!


V-Neck Knitted Top. Polly models the silver, showing why every Boden Aficionada should have one in her closet!


Printed Jersey Top. Hey, lovely ladies with baby bumps...the very sweet Louise shows how this top can work for all stages, from the first trimester all the way the third.  (I don't know if it could go right up to birth, but I can see it working for a good majority of pregnancy!)  Oh, and so you know, I plan on getting this, and I am not pregnant, so there you go...a top for all stages of life.  :)

And, as promised, multiple times this week, above you will see two images of CW wearing the Heart Pocket Crops, which have been part of the Boden "Catch of the Day" since Monday.  Aren't the heart pockets incredibly darling on little girl's clothing?  :)

She is also modeling the Poster T-Shirt in the bluebell/kitten colorway.  I personally wanted CW to pick this one, but nope, she picked the other version, in the candy/strawberry colorway (you will see that one at some point in the near future, most likely next week's review roundup).  I may pick the blue one up when it goes on sale.  We did, however, buy the heart pocket crops, and at full price.  LOL.  If these are still on sale on Friday, I will pick them up in the purple color.

Note on sizing.  CW usually wears a 2T or 24 Mos. Pants.  We sized up to size 3 as this is a slim-fit pant.  Do not size down.  That said, if you do size up and find it is too big in the waist, there are adjustable tabs to make it smaller (which is what we did).


Heart Pocket Crops.


Poster T-Shirt (Bluebell/Kitten).  Yes, the pink one is the one CW chose.  So predictable. ;)

The above three images are for polyvore.

You all have a great night!  :)