Boden Sizing UPDATE (Detailed) - YouLookFab Forum

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Boden Sizing UPDATE (Detailed)

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Here was the thread that got me started with Boden's sizing, and how it might have changed:

https://youlookfab.com/welookf.....nd-sobbing

Long story short - it hasn't.

Boden sizing usually does one of three things on my body when I order the smallest REGULAR size:

Fits perfectly in a fluid or fluidly-tailored way. NOTE THE WAY I AM DESCRIBING THE FIT. I am NOT describing a tailored fit, and absolutely not describing a body con fit. (I tend to like my tailored items on the gently fluid side of tailored because I think it looks more luxurious).

Can be altered to fit perfectly.

I need exactly one size down, but it's not available.

This was my EXACT experience with the large Boden order I just received. Quality is GORGEOUS and so are the colours and silhouettes. The details with the exact Finds:

1. Horsel Jacket: A lovely FLUID fit with a very structured shoulder, shoulder pouff, and neckline. Lots of room on the arms and torso. More roomy and trapeze on me than on the model. I'm going to adjust the position of the buttons for a better fit. Excellent with all sorts of layers underneath. Incredible buttons. KEEPING.

2. Ellie Sweater: Could not fit more perfectly. A little roomier on me than on the model. STUNNING. KEEPING.

3. Cashmere Crews: They are a PERFECT fluid fit on me. But scratchy, so both are going back. (I am VERY sensitive to scratchy wool).

4.Murial Sweater: Fit is perfectly fluid, JUST like how you see it on the model (see pics). Very good structure on the neckline, shoulders, cuffs and welt. I do not think it runs big if you want it to fit LIKE THE MODEL. KEEPING.

5. Eden Dress: Exactly a size too big.

6. Farleigh Coat: Tried the 2P - sleeves are too short and the pockets are in the wrong position (too high). At 5 ft 6, petites don't work in the length - but at least I tried. Next!

7. Broadgate Crossbody: SUPER CUTE. Lovely colour. Lots of room. But I'd rather save for my next Furla.

8. Logan Sweater: Exactly a size too big.

Hope this was helpful.

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Cashmere Crew Sweater

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Cashmere Crew Sweater

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Eden Knitted Dress

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Broadgate Crossbody Bag

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Shopping

29 replies

Latest reply was from Angie

rachylou

Veteran

The Muriel sweater is ultra cool.

Anonymous

Too bad about the coat, but worth a try! Guessing you chose the red horsel

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Suntiger, red horse? Do you mean the jacket? No. I chose the animal print. Wong red!

Rachy, the bold stripes make me happy.

Anonymous

I wrote horsel not horse yay leopard jacket! Over my budget since i want to add boots, otherwise id lemming it.

Anonymous

Angie, I think this is helpful!
I want to get the red horsel jacket.
Will this work with a high-rise pencil skirt?

Also: is it suitable for indoors?

I think I’ll get a US4, which is one size up from my normal size in tops. And it’s a safe bet it’ll look good given your assessment that one size up looks good.

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mtnsofthemoon

Veteran

So great to hear your feedback and description of the items. I have the Muriel sweater in my cart. I love the colors and stripe. Such a happy sweater. I have been wanting to try Boen for awhile now. I may go for it with your guidance.

Laura

(website)

Veteran

Very helpful assessment! About the Eden dress, other than the sizing, what did you think of the dress? Did it have potential?

Darn it about the coat! But, there will be another coat for you. Onward!

sarah

Veteran

Very lovely haul.

I had an interesting situation with my latest Boden order. I ordered the jackets below in 6P (I normally wear 4P, but Boden suggested sizing up). The navy and grey marl herringbone tweed (on the left) fit perfectly. The navy and ivory hotch potch (on the right) had sleeves that were 1" longer than the identical jacket in the other color. (And the sleeves are not alterable because of the buttons). They're sending out a new one. Hopefully the hotch patch was cut incorrectly, and not the other way around!

Bath British Tweed Blazer

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Bath British Tweed Blazer

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Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Suntiger, I got in late yesterday. I'm blaming jet lag

Smittie, YES to the pencil skirt. YES to the side you're ordering. It's a blue red, AND it has a POUFF sleeve. Absolutely suitable for indoors if you are me and run cold. I think good for you too.

mtnsofthemoon, you shan't be disappointed. Or order Boden from Nordies - as far as you can. The red in that Muriel is NOT tomato. It's watermelon.

Laura, you would definitely need the petite, and it's wider on the hips. Gorgeous dress. Waist defining.

Sarah, absurd! Glad they have you sorted. Fingers crossed.

Jane

Veteran

Such a helpful post. A lovely selection of items. The spotty sweater is fun!

Please may you describe the fabric on the animal print jacket? I don’t think the shape is for me but I think ther is coat of the same fabric but in another style.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Yay - the Horsel jacket was my vicarious pick. Interesting how the sizes are so consistently inconsistent.

Inge

(website)

This is really good info, thanks Angie! And I'm so sorry that gorgeous coat didn't work out (we'll find you another one;-) I've had the same experience with Boden cashmere: great quality but a little scratchy (at least for me personally).

Love all the items you are keeping!

Carla

What a wonderfully detailed post on such lovely items, thanks for sharing this. I have my eye on that Horsel jacket too but I am not sure how cropped it is. I know I am one size up from you but I have a longer torso ... where does it sit on you?

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Glad this is helpful, ladies.

Inge, WHY is Boden making scratchy cashmere. I bought cashmere from them five years ago that is the BEST. Sooo annoying. Thanks for cheerleading (((HUGS))).

Jaime, dead right. Consistently inconsistent.

Jane, I LOVE the animal print fabric. It's VERY soft and looks hairy, but is very smooth. Not furry. Looks chic and good quality. Otherwise I wouldn't have kept it

Carla, the jacket is a comfy 2 inches below my hip bone in this size. Looks dead right in the trapeze style.

Aliona

So glad you posted this, Angie. I’ve been scanning Boden and the Muriel sweater caught my eye, mostly because it’s not cashmere. (SarahD8 posted a link to an article on my cashmere thread that explains why cashmere may be scratchier these days). I think I’ll give that sweater and the Horsel jacket a try. I’m also a Boden newbie, I avoid ordering online unless I’m sure of sizes because I find returns such a hassle. These size discussions on the forum have helped give me confidence.

Bijou

Veteran

What wonderful items - I particularly love the leopard print jacket. Since I have a leopard coat and puffer (not to mention lots of leopard accessories) this may be overkill if I also add a leopard jacket. However, I love how versatile leopard is, it really works as a neutral with the added coo factor!

Laura

(website)

Veteran

Thanks for the dress details!

Is the Horsell a winter coat, as Boden says in the description? Or is it something you can wear indoors?

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Yay, Aliona.

Laura, I think it's BOTH. Looks fab as a little outerwear jacket, AND can be worn indoors.

Bijou, animal print is signature for you.

Kathie

Veteran

Thanks for the reviews- so helpful! The Ellie and Muriel sweaters both caught my eye. Do you think the Muriel sleeves will fit easily under a winter coat?

Ginger

Veteran

This is great information! Thank you for sharing, Angie. I'm now especially interested in the Eden dress, but in the mulled wine color. It's still a guessing game about size, but knits are still much more forgiving.

Eden Knitted Dress

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Anonymous

Angie: The poof sleeve is one of my favourite parts of this jacket!

You would look good in that Eden dress, Ginger. It is very 'you'.

Carla, the length of the swing jacket is:
US2R/UK6R: 22.5"
US4R/UK8R: 22.75"
US6R/UK10R: 23"

I'm 5.5" with a long torso and the US4R/UK8R is ~2.5" below my hip bone.

I'm not an enabler; I just like to provide lots of

Jane

Veteran

Thank you Angie, it sounds like perfect fabric, and of course as you’ve chosen it, I knew it would be! I’m even more tempted!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Jane, I hope we are jacket twins And despite it being a cool brown, it works with my complexion. Versatile.

Smittie, I know, right? Our body type LOVES shoulder pouffs and pads. (Jane - yours too). So you have the red jacket already? WOOHOOOO.

Ginger, the dress looks ver YOU.

Kathie, that depends on the coat!

Christina F.

Veteran

Ugh, I really need Boden to stop making such nice things. Every time I see a catalog come in, I want to hide my wallet from myself.

Thank you for the reviews, though, plus your post today. I have a bunch of items under consideration but need to hold off ordering for a bit until I can assess my needs (few) vs my wants (many).

Carla

Thanks so much for the measurements, Smittie, most helpful. I am also a size 4R at Boden, with a longer torso, but slightly taller than you at 5.6 and half (168cm) ... i think it should be OK.

unfrumped

Veteran

Good to have some sizing reference points- thanks!

Greyscale

Veteran

I'm glad the sizing hasn't shifted across the board and sized you out!

I wonder if they'll add a size 0 now that they're moving into more markets.

It's interesting that the UK brands have stuck to non-inflated sizing and size conversion - at Topshop, Allsaints, and Boden I'm usually a UK 8 (US 4) instead of my usual US 2 or even 0. It seems like their sizing has changed less over the last 30+ years than US sizing.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Terrific and very helpful reviews, Angie. But I'm sad that coat did not work out. It would have been fabulous.

Love the Horsell jacket in both colours and also the Ellie sweater. I'm also intrigued by the jackets Sarah showed, especially the houndstooth hotchpotch in navy/ ivory. But given what she said about the sleeves, I'm hesitating. Not ordering a thing now until after we set up house in Vancouver. I have WAY too much to take and packing is scaring the living daylights out of me! How can I leave my beautiful wardrobe behind? I did weed out about 30 items..and several more will stay here in storage, but even so....

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Christina, you crack me up.

Unfrumped and Carla, you're lovely.

Greyscale, YES. Exactly. Sizes in the last 20 years in the US have gotten larger by at least two whole sizes. If not three. A US4 25 years ago is a US0 or US00 today.

Suz, good idea, and don't worry! Moving is daunting and we all have more than we think. But it all works out, and you will get there