Friday 1 August 2008

Have I arrived?

Obviously I have arrived back in Chicago. We had an easy flight back from Heathrow yesterday and the kids behaved beatifully. I suspect this is in part, due to our luck in having so many Ball & Chain-earned air miles that we can fly Business Class. I dread to imagine the scene if they were all crunched up ("MOM, ...he's touching me") and unable to have their seats almost flat. The B&C is making sounds about some type of retirement in a few years, but I'm afraid if the result is a reduction in accummulated air miles, I may well have to put my foot down with a firm hand.

No - the question "Have I arrived?" refers to something far more important. Something that I found amongst my gargantuan pile of mail (term used very loosely there) on my return. A Boden catalogue. It seems old Johnnie is now attempting domination of North America as this is the first time I've seen one of these, and believe me, if there's a catalog out there it's guaranteed to land on my mat.

Over the last four weeks, and in my general keeping-up with all things British, I am highly aware of Boden and all the implications therein. Hence my question -"Have I arrived?". These catalogue people use huge marketing lists to circulate their wares, and I am obviously in some category on one of them to have received the Boden USA version. I don't think I qualify as a Yummy Mummy although there is potential. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak, as they say. I do have a young child, kids in private school and a minivan (people carrier), so that may be what's done it.

Anyway, I flicked through the pages, and yes the clothes are very nice but nothing much different from some other brands in the States such as Flapdoodles, CD Kids and Gap. The prices are exactly the same as in the UK (I checked both web sites) and less expensive than I had imagined. I even looked at some of the women's stuff, which is a little different from what you can get here, so now I'm wondering if it's safe to order a few things before everyone jumps on the bandwagon. (I hate following crowds.) Would that label me? I don't really care that much about clothes, as you'd know if you saw me. What I do hate is, well, being a Boden-type if it's not a good thing. Am I making too much of this?

Over to you folks - I need expert advice here.

Oh, by the way, despite the appallingly soggy start, we had a nice time back home. (More of that to come.)

19 comments:

  1. Having something unusual is always nice. I loved the catalogue and would buy buy buy if I weren't on a debt reduction program (self induced). Looks like Old Navy and Target for me for a while...
    Back to you - treat yourself!

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  2. It seems I have arrived also then!LOL

    Good to have you back Toni and glad you had fun. I would defo be slapping up the hubster on the retirement issue if it effects those A-M's!

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  3. Welcome back! Hope you filled that suitcase with restorative British goodies!

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  4. Never having heard of Boden, either US or UK, (I know, I'm soooo out of it) I clicked their respective links.

    The sites are vitually identical, except the UK version spawned a pop-up asking if they were giving me satisfaction. Seems like the UK is more concerned with my needs and desires . . .

    Glad to hear your trip was a success and not totally washed out.

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  5. Hmmm, I'm not a great one to ask about labels and their implications. I do a clothes shop twice a year as the seasons change and it takes the form of a supermarket sweep round H&M, Top Shop and Zara. I'd be happy in jeans and flip flops really, but I don't think that would go down well now that I have a 'proper' job (sigh).

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  6. PS. Glad the weather improved for you, and guess you're now comfily back at home? M xx

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  7. Glad you had a good trip home. Don't know what the weather is doing in Chicago but it can't make it's mind up here. Sun and showers repeatedly. I bought some Boden shoes for my sister's wedding and they were brill so can recommend their footwear department!

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  8. aaagh! Committed cardinal sin of:
    it's and its. It should be "its" above. Just spent two and a half hours putting the children to bed and it's taking its toll!

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  9. Thanks for your comment. One point though,how is it that a former investagative journalist such as Judith O'Reilly omits the significant role of her nanny who provides the childcare. Is it 'Faking it in the North' ? I enjoy a good yarn like anyone else, but I know first hand - and still do - the time consuming but rewarding work that is required by a parent in looking after a child. I don't have a nanny, but those that do should acknowledge the significant help they enjoy. regards.

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  10. I always find that i read the boden catalogue but never buy. Maybe just not the demographic. Could be too old or too mean. Lovely pictures though.

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  11. I think I need to go through my current wardrobe and chuck out things that haven't seen the light of day for over a year. I can't really do the 6 month test as we have such a huge range of temp from summer to winter that it requires two completely different sets of clothes.
    Perhaps that will be my motivation - no new clothes until the old ones are sorted out!

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  12. Thanks for the visit. "Wherever ye gan yer sure to find a Geordie." How can you tell I have been reading some of your recent posts? ;-)

    Me and Mrs Billy were born and spent most of our lives in Newcastle (west), before moving up to Embleton 1n '86, and then to here in Seahouses in '02.

    Don't disappear now, bonny lass.

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  13. never heard of Boden, guess I am very behind the times........

    Gill from Canada

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  14. Have you got the Toast catalogue yet? You're either Toast or Boden but never the twain shall meet, have a look on the website and then you'll know for sure.

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  15. Ah - t think I'm a little bit more Toast than Boden. Throw a bit of Monsoon in there (except for the tat I saw this summer) and that's about me. Or it would be if I could be bothered to venture out of jeans, capris and a plain t-shirt but it's all too much effort.

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  16. We've been on the Boden mailing list for a while now. I think it's an address thing - we get a lot of catalogs we never used to get at our old (i.e. smaller, less expensive) house a mile down the road. They mostly only ever mail us the miniBoden catalogue. There's some cute stuff, but for me it's too expensive. I do sometimes buy Hannah Andersson clothes for both the kids and myself, but only ever when they're on sale.

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  17. Welcome back!

    YUCK - I DO hate that term "Yummy Mummy", though.

    Janet

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  18. I have a "hand me down" shirt from Boden that is now on its 3rd child...I know I am cheap! The quality is great and they wsh really well.

    Happy shopping!

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