Showing posts with label Boden. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Boden. Show all posts

Tuesday, 9 October 2012

Boden...WTF?


So I’m browsing through Facebook and see a plaintive cry from the lovely Fiona.

Nice brogues...
‘What's going on?’ she asked. ‘I usually throw the Boden catalogue straight into recycling but in today's there are at least 20 things am salivating over. Has Boden got better, or... have I 'gone Boden'?
And I thought, yeah, good point well made.  In fact, I said, 'Yeah me too. WTF?'  Cos I’ve been feeling exactly the same.  I even stuck a Boden picture on Pinterest the other day with a rather pathetic note saying, ‘I find myself craving a dress and coloured tights. Why?’

Since I don’t go shopping, I do actually cast an eye over the catalogues that find their way to my door. Though, it has to be said, the catalogue people are obviously cutting back.  I haven’t seen a Toast catalogue in a very long time, so they have clearly given me up as a lost cause. Or that weird Peruvian one.  And, thank heavens, the tacky silver jewelry people have sidled off too.  But good old Boden stays faithful, despite my not having bought anything since James got too big for cute t-shirt and camouflage shorts (so, yeah, we’re talking seven years or so).  And even then I used to wait for the sale.

Anyhow. Said catalogues (the game survivors or those who can’t be arsed to figure out who’s actually still ordering their stuff) go to the loo where they are perused in lieu of magazines (another cutback). And usually I play the game of ‘Okay so which thing on this page would you wear if you Absolutely Had To Pick One Thing’ (at this point, let me point out that I don’t get very nice catalogues in the main – we’re talking Cotton Traders and the ilk).  This has taken over from the old pastime of ‘which house would you buy?’ which I used to play when my pal passed on her old copies of Country Life. I would add that I don’t spend a lot of time on this…  Unlike the males in this house who spend…HOURS on the bog. Aside: why DO men do that? Are they all constipated?  Just wondering. J  

But Boden. Hmm. Yeah.  They’ve suddenly upped their game. A lot.  As Fiona put it rather well:  ‘Yes – the coats, the little sixties-style dresses, the tweedy A-line skirts, sweaters and tops…want it ALL! Oh – and the boots.’  And then she mused, ‘Perhaps this improvement has been gradual, and I’ve missed the interim stages? There are none of the hideous mumsie dresses in terrible prints, or the ‘fun’ skirts.’

Oh hell yes, the ‘fun skirts’.  I used to spot a fair few of those at the school gate, along with the ‘witty’ cardigans.  And let me now just offer a swift prayer to the god of bad parenting for the TOTAL BLISS of no longer having to do the school gate thing. 

And I used to think, ‘Jesus, if I ever EVER buy a fun skirt from Boden, just shoot me.’  But now?  Nice things actually.  Things that, if I had an income, I might actually buy.  Whether I’d wear them, of course, is another matter.  J

Fiona writes great books by the way – check her out here 

I would wear those!
By the way, Boden know nothing of this post and there has been no bribery involved whatsoever. In these days of sponsored blog posts and wotnot I felt this was worth mentioning.  

Friday, 10 June 2011

Israel calling...

Yes, yes, I know this isn't Israel...but desert, camels right?
Seems I’m getting a bit better at this manifestation malarkey.  Not exactly spot on target yet but getting closer, a lot closer. Now then, you know I have this *thing* about deserts?  Not quite sure why but there’s something about all that emptiness that just calls to my soul.  Add camels, crusader castles, ancient cities, souks and falafel, and I’m close to heaven.  Ask me which countries I want to visit and – right through my life - the same ones come out on top:  Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan.  Middle East – yeah, yeah, I know it’s problematic but, but, but… email pings in...

‘Would you like to come to Israel?’ 
Say what?  I read it again.
Tel Aviv beach - so,  no pressure then?!
I was being invited on a blog trip; a week organised by Kinetis, a non-profit organisation whose aim is to dispel the, um, conflict-laden image of Israel and show “opinion-makers” (*cough*) just how creative and vibrant Israel is.  Interesting.  Opinion amongst people I know is fiercely split over Israel.  My mother in law and best friend loathed it.  My brother and another good friend adored it. Maybe I should make up my own mind.  Could I blog on whatever I liked?  I asked.  Absolutely, they said.  Hmm. If you sit on your backside, nothing ever happens. It wasn’t Egypt but it was close.  ‘I’d love to,’ I said. ‘Yes.’

So, I'm off at the end of the month. Then I found out on Twitter that RosieScribble was going too and we got to thinking.  Neither of us has a stitch to wear.  I figure we need a wishlist…hey, maybe some smart companies or PRs could even pitch in here... Nothing ventured, eh?... and boy, we give damn good social media!  Here we go:
1. Swimsuit.  We're going to be frolicking in the waves on the beaches at Tel Aviv which, from YouTube, look pretty amazing.  We'll have stiff competition from sickeningly gorgeous teens but, hey, we're goddesses, right?  There's even a swimsuit named after us at Figleaves.
The "Goddess" - ho hum.
2. Handbag.  Mine is a sad, torn and frayed thing.  Yup, I have just the one. Contrary to popular belief on the part of men, not all women have a wardrobe full of handbags. Now, I'm not being greedy or anything; don't mind a bargain.  Have my eye on this little number from the Mulberry outlet store.  What you reckon?  78% off??! Still can't afford it though. :(

3.  Sunglasses.  Rosie stipulated this.  I have "vintage" Raybans bought from Miami airport on an aeon-ago press trip to the Bahamas. But if she thinks we need new, we need new.  Rosie likes Burberry, but I rather fancy these D&G aviators from Sunglass Hut.
4. Tops, cropped jeans, t-shirts.  Boden would work for this.  And, oh my, do I love these clog sandals... Just sayin'...
 
5.  A jaunty hat.  I have thick hair so it needs to be roomy... Have my eye on one in the Joe Browns catalogue - a snip at £12.95
Now then. What are we missing?  Ideas? Thoughts?  Offers?
Oh, and if you want to follow our *journey* (so far our Twitter conversations are getting well out of hand) follow Rosie as well as me...  she's @RosieScribble on Twitter and you can find her blog here  I hasten to add that she is a *pukka* sensible grown-up "parent blogger" - unlike yours truly.  ;)