This British Brand You've Never Heard Of Is Making Our Ideal Winter Wardrobe
Image from Boden
by The Candidly Team
Do you remember the Golden Age of 90s shopping when we all had that one store we loved more than any other? THE store we visited at the mall for pretty much anything “cute.” First it was Wet Seal. Then The Limited. It makes us mildly ill to admit it but even Bébé had a moment. Bébé guys.
The point is, nowadays, when we need clothes, we have to go trudging through the internet where we simultaneously feel overwhelmed with choices AND like we keep seeing the same disappointing things over and over. In short, we’re bored … and tired.
Which is why when we stumbled upon this British brand, our interest piqued. It’s called Boden.
Though new to us, Boden has been a staple in the U.K. since the 90s (sort of akin to our J.Crew). It’s known for creating classic designs with pretty details, often in unexpected, bright colors or thoroughly British prints. It’s not really considered posh or trendy, but a reliable source of well-made pieces worn by the likes of Kate Middleton along with millions of women across the nation.
And while, admittedly, we found some of the things on the brimming BodenUSA website to be a miss, we were happy to discover a loooong list of gorgeous knits, perfect tops, smart coats, and lovely dresses that we could see ourselves feeling excited to wear any chilly day of the year. Add to that its inclusive sizing and flattering cuts and we were ready to pour ourselves a cup of tea and start shopping.
And here’s what our cart looks like:
1. The Tee That Makes You Instantly Chic
What is it about a subtle little stripe that makes everything instantly better? More styled. More nuanced. More British? Beyond that, we have to call out how this shirt, with its super subtle ruffle details, takes the whole classic Breton tee to new heights, making it all the more chic. Tuck it into a wide-leg jean or a long drapey pant and poof, you’re the best dressed person in the room.
Price: $50
2. The Effortlessly Flattering Dress
It doesn’t matter how bloated or lazy we’re feeling, we can slip this dress on and whoosh, we look our best. The smocking is ultra comfy and flattering around your middle. And everything else is just light, easy, and spacious. Exactly how we like it.
Price: $103
3. The Jumper That Dresses Up Your Boring Jeans
The detail in this sweater makes us look like we took actual time to put ourselves together and style our clothes when all we actually did was toss it on. The red and white is eternally chic, but it comes in other equally pretty colors. Pair it with jeans and a ballet flat for a complete cozy-chic effect.
Price: $98
4. The Best-Fitting Ponte Pants We’ve Ever Worn
Isn’t the dream always to find a pair of pants that has the right amount of stretch but still looks expensive and tailored and like they were molded to flatter our exact body? Well, we had to dip a toe across the pond, but we do believe we found the pants. And these are them. And though they may scream Kate Middleton, they’re particulary stunning on curves, sizing up to 22.
Price: $98
4. The Raincoat That Makes You Feel Like The Most Put-Together Person To Step Out Of Paddington Station
This is what Boden does best - elevating classic pieces like a trench by adding a print or pattern that makes us weak. We have the tendency to talk up a trench coat anyway, because what other piece of clothing is as effortlessly chic and flattering and Audrey Hepburnesque? But this one stands alone.
Price: $345
6. The Smartest Lady Jacket We’ve Ever Laid Eyes On
There might not be anything more British on this list. And there is certainly nothing more elegant.
Price: $190
7. The Perfect-Fitting Trouser
We spend an embarrassing amount of time sourcing the most perfect, curve-complementing pants on our planet. This pair fits so well and look soooo good with a tucked button-down or a soft jumper. Plus, the color just sparks joy as they say.
Price: $165
8. The Top That Transports You To The English Countryside
The brilliance of Boden is adding details that make our everyday clothes look special and styled. This is not just a buttery soft sweatshirt. It’s that perfect length that makes us look smart and well-proportioned and not like the total slobs we truly are inside. But more importantly, zoom in on the collar. The broderie trim makes us weak.
Price: $88
9. This Tank That Doubles As A Waist-Nipping Vest Over A Button-Down
We wear this over a button-down to keep warm, and it makes us feel like we just stepped out of a Nancy Meyers movie. We love that we get a little extra tum coverage but still look very pulled together. The detail on the neckline is quite special and it comes in many colors. All good.
Price: $52.50
10. The Chic Cropped Trousers That Feel Like Joggers
Every year, we find ourselves increasingly finished with tight pants. These cropped trousers feel like loungewear but look so polished and tailored, gliding over our hips and nipping our waist. With a fitted tee or sweater, you’ll have the ideal hourglass silhouette.
Price: $119
11. The Quiet Luxury Loafers That Elevate Your Look
Something about the two-toned neutral color of these loafers makes them much more impactful than your average loafer. Just imagine with a whisper-soft white tee or crisp button-down and wide-leg jeans. Perfection.
Price: $96
12. The Blazer That Gives Us our Smoothest Silhouette
Once again, we have that perfect tailoring that frames our shoulders and nips our waist, however, we also appreciate that this jersey blazer is stretch-ponte, so we can freely move our arms and don’t feel annoyingly squeezed as we do in many, many blazers.
Price: $185
13. The Pretty Knit Tee With The Single Most Flattering Sleeve Length
Like we keep saying, the brilliance of Boden is adding details that make our everyday clothes look special and styled. This is not just a buttery soft knit tee. It’s that perfect arm length that makes us look smart and well-proportioned and not like the total slobs we truly are inside. But more importantly, zoom in to see the texture on the collar and sleeves. Perfection.
Price: $80
At The Candidly, we try a lot of stuff so you don’t have to. We only recommend things we truly love, and that we think you’ll love, too. All products are chosen independently by our creative team, and all details reflect the price and availability of products at the time of publication. If you buy something we link to, The Candidly may earn a commission.
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