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Welcome to our new series, How to Build a Work Wardrobe At ___. Today, we're looking at how to build a work wardrobe at Boden — you can also view the entire series how to build a work wardrobe here eventually).
Boden is one of the readers' favorite places to shop online for workwear, and with good reason — most of their workwear is machine washable, has friendly sizing up to size 20/22, and also offers tall or petite size ranges.
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Some of our favorite pieces for work include:
Everything in Boden's Ottoman line is beloved, and has been for years. The fabric is soft, stretchy, and machine washable — huzzah. It comes in sizes 2-18 in regular, petite, and long sizes. (Almost all of their ponte dresses are machine washable, actually!)
If you're looking for a t-shirt blouse silk-blend t-shirt/blouse hybrid to wear under suits, Boden has had great options here for years. The Ravello (pictured) has been around for a thousand years; the Carey has a slightly higher neckline, and a newer option, the Florence, is a washable silk version. Nice.
Most options are machine washable, priced between $80-$85 when new.
Their Martha line is '60s inspired, with a lot of pieces featuring a heavy stretch cotton that resists wrinkles and is machine washable, and most of the tops featuring rolled collars.
In the past there have been Martha tops, and even a skirt to match the tops — but as of 2020 it looks like they're limited to dresses.
It's not exactly tweed blazer season, but we've featured their tweed blazer a number of times in our roundups for velvet blazers and other winter blazers — it comes in fun colors and fabrics, and you can currently find lucky sizes on sale for $79 (down from $198).
It's not exciting or sexy, but Boden's classic shirt (pictured here in polka dot but also available in white and chambray, as well as eight other prints) wins rave reviews, as noted in our recent roundup of the best dress shirts for women. It's 100% cotton and machine washable, has a semi-fitted shape, and is currently available in regular and petite sizes 2-18. The Classic Shirt
Finally, do consider the shoes at Boden. I always think of one of my best friends when I see Boden's shoes — she absolutely loves colorful, quirky, beautiful heels — and I think a lot of these would be a great statement shoe to liven up your basic neutral sheath dress or suit. (But, an important note: All of the pictured shoes also come in basic black.)
heatherskib
I’ve had to move away a bit from Boden. They’re moving more and more towards synthetics, sizing has gotten funy, and they’re cutting off their larger sizes. I’m sad to see them go, because I’ve loved past pieces.
Tetra
Agreed! WHY isn’t everything available in sizes 16 and 18 anymore?
heatherskib
That and the new Icons thing. Seriously, didn’t they learn anything from J. Crew’s implosion?
Ellen
I love Boden, all thank’s to the HIVE. My issue is that I DO like to try thing’s on in PERSON, and that is NOT possible on the WEB, so I limit the things I buy from Boden to those I can give to ROSA if they are to small for me. She fits all of my size 2’s that are to small for me. I should buy size 4, but I am VANE, and therefore ONLEY buy size 2 or size 0, hoping that I can squeeze into them. I hope that my tuchus can be remedied now that I have done NOTHING all weekend but eat! FOOEY!
CX
AND they seem to have stopped stocking a lot of the more basic, work appropriate Ottoman dresses… in favor of insanely-patterned jersey dresses.
Anonymous BigLaw Associate
I can’t wear Boden because everything is too short, and they don’t make my size in longs. :/
Notinlaw
I’ve lurked some on Boden’s website but never pulled the trigger.
Tel me about their sales cycle and when they mark things down.
heatherskib
You can usually find a coupon code anymore. When they mark things down, they are generally ineligible for coupon codes, except a few times a year when they do seasonal clean outs.
Me
How is Boden pronounced exactly? Long or short “o”? I’ve always wondered….
heatherskib
I say long “o”
Cass
Whenever I want to buy something there, they are out of UK 12 long. :( So, I’ve not gotten to try their clothes yet. Do the dresses have much room in the bust at all?