British online retailer Boden is expanding their presence in the US, so they asked us to participate in a campaign by using the sights of a major American city as the backdrop for some Boden outfit photography. We chose Boston, because Greg and I love the city. And because it has a preppy integrity that seems a perfect match for Boden’s distinctive style. 

I selected products from the Boden Spring catalogue, putting together a denim-friendly mix-and-match smart casual capsule made up of modern classics and on trend pieces across solids and stripes. Some of the fits are tailored and some are fluid. I chose dark blue boyfriend jeans, skinny white jeans, the Darcy sweater in ivory and deep blue, the Blenheim blazer in navy and navy stripe, a stripy sweatshirt, the Holland Park coat, gold boho booties and a lemon bowling bag. The blazers, skinnies and bowling bag are modern classics. The boyfriend jeans, upscale sweatshirt, fluid pullovers with high-low hemline, and gold booties are trendier pieces. The coat looks as classic and retro as it does modern with its roomier fit. 

For shooting our mini travel guide I wore my favourite combinations from the capsule, showcasing them at different locations in Boston at different times of the day. Our first stop on the city map was Boston’s Back Bay neighbourhood, which is full of historic landmarks, shops and eateries. It’s also a gorgeous residential area that looks over the water to neighbouring Cambridge, the home of world renowned academic institutions like Harvard and MIT. Below you can see the Commonwealth Avenue Mall, a wonderful greenway that runs the length of Back Bay alongside Commonwealth Avenue, all the way to the Public Garden. The statues and memorials along the mall reinforce Boston’s historical atmosphere.

Here I am wearing white skinnies with an untucked, roomy upscale sweatshirt, gold booties, and yellow satchel. The rise of the jeans is higher than I am used to, which is why I kept the top untucked. I topped off the lot with the striped Park coat, keeping the front open to elongate the outfit. The combination of subtle and bold stripe in the same colour family feels modern, as does cuffing the jeans to showcase the bootie.

I can’t talk about Back Bay without mentioning Newbury Street, which is full of wonderful shopping, from boutiques to large chains and high-end designers. Also in the neighbourhood are two beautiful churches: Trinity Church overlooking Boston’s famous Copley Square, and The Mother Church alongside a reflecting pool.

Our next stop was South End. This is where Greg and I had rented an apartment and it turned out to be one of our favourite neighbourhoods. It is a wonderful combination of residential and commercial. Lovely row houses on tree lined streets right around the corner from posh shops and the best restaurants. Tremont Street, in particular, is home to many fantastic eateries and we sampled many of them, from the quirky Metropolis Cafe to B&G Oysters, a go-to place for New England lobster rolls. They were as delicious as they look.

Here, I paired the same white skinnies, stripy sweatshirt, gold booties and yellow bag with a navy blazer. The topper is the only difference between the two outfits, making it a dash more classic and breezy. The blazer is tipped with a micro stripe which works well with the stripe of the top. Its tailored fit is conventionally flattering. The low one-buttoned stance adds a modern and relaxed touch.

With our next two stops we decided to celebrate Boden’s British heritage. First, a British pub: the Elephant & Castle in downtown Boston, which is conveniently located for thirsty bankers from the nearby financial district. I had my pub lunch staple of fish ’n chips, and Greg had bangers and mash. Both dishes were yummy, and the vibe in the pub was fun and festive.

This time round, I wore relaxed dark denim boyfriend jeans with deep blue roomy pullover, creating a column of colour under the dramatic striped coat. The gold booties and yellow bag stayed the same. This outfit was even more comfortable than the first two because none of the pieces are tailored. Fluid for a change of pace. 

Walking back to Boston Common we passed the impressive Massachusetts State House, a stunning building and home to a statue of John F. Kennedy.  It’s amazing how the historical culture of Boston is alive in every part of the city. Not only is it visually attractive, but there are fascinating stories behind each building, park and statue. And it was fun how the gold dome of the State House matched my booties.

Last stop on the map was the Langham Hotel for a very British High Tea. Having a civilized cuppa with yummy goodies in tranquil surroundings rates as one of my top ten things to do, and The Tiffin at Langham did not disappoint. It was extremely soothing as we savoured every bite and enjoyed each other’s company. Wedgwood fine bone china, strong tea, fluffy scones, and dainty delights went down well after hours of city walking.

I wore the same dark denim boyfriend jeans that I wore to the pub, but paired them with an untucked roomy cream high-low pullover and micro striped seersucker blazer this time round. I can’t tell you why, but wearing a seersucker blazer to High Tea felt spot on.

Needless to say there is a lot more to Boston than we could ever hope to cover here. Theatre, museums, historical sites, shopping and eating — Boston really has it all. To cap it off, everyone we met was welcoming and friendly. Not to mention dog-friendly. There are people walking their dogs around every corner, and that’s one of the things I loved most of all. Saying hi to doggies along the way brought tremendous joy to our wonderful time in Boston. 

Visit the same places we did on the map below: