I Tried on 9 Pieces from Boden’s New Fall Collection—These Are My Faves

If there’s any item of clothing that makes my friends say they thought of me, it’s a dress with a big skirt. The Lauren midi dress has a skirt of generous proportions, plus big pockets and a sophisticated boat neckline. Admittedly, I was hesitant given the bold pattern, but the design is broken into four quadrants, making it feel manageable instead of overwhelming. I’m usually quite conscious of my chest, but because of the way the pattern is broken up into fours, it provided good visual contrast that prevented me from looking like a blob. It’s mostly cotton, so a great choice for the last dog days of summer when the humidity and temps have felt like the sauna of hell.

There are just two things that I’d be weary of. The first is the dyes. I noticed that the color on one of the underarms ran just a (tiny) bit after I had worn it on a hot and sweaty day. Upon applying some Tide-to-Go, it didn’t seem to worsen, so I suspect it’ll be fine, though you may want to avoid washing it with your whites, if you’re like me and typically do a big, cold, delicate load. The second thing I noticed is that the fabric is pretty sensitive. I saw a couple small knots where the threads had somehow been pulled—and I’m very careful with my clothes. In other words, you’ll have to treat this dress with care.

Fast Facts

• Size range: US 0 to 22
• Fits: regular
• Colors: 1
• Materials: cotton, elastane
• Machine wash: yes

Hands down, ⅞ pants are my favorite type of pants. They can be worn easily with flats, but don’t look dorkily short with heels. I was instantly smitten with the red gingham pattern, which has arguably been a major summer trend that segues nicely into fall with these trousers. They are stretchy, which I typically don’t like, but I found them flattering and smoothing, even when I tucked in a gigantic white button down. Bonus points for pockets and being machine washable. The downside is that there’s only one fit, although I will say that I have shopped with Boden for years and find that even the regular length is good for tall girls. (In fact, I often get my Boden pants hemmed and I’m 5’6’’.) 

Fast Facts

• Size range: US 2 to 22
• Fits: regular
• Colors: 3
• Materials: cotton, viscose, elastane
• Machine wash: yes

Ta-da, the pants are actually a matching set with the Kinghtsbridge jacket! It’s a cute boxy cut, which isn’t usually my style—I kind of wish it had been designed as an oversized blazer instead. But if you aren’t a fan of boxy shapes either, wearing it open helps to manage the visual weight. I would do a white (as shown above) or red top to keep everything in the color scheme feeling cohesive. It’s a fun piece that feels, in my Gen X father’s words, a “throwback to the 1970s!!!” My favorite things are the patch pockets, cropped length and fun collar. Now, who’s ready to disco!?

Fast Facts

• Size range: 0 to 22
• Fits: petite, regular
• Colors: 1
• Materials: cotton, viscose, elastane, polyester
• Machine wash: dry clean only

I’ve been wanting to add corduroy to my wardrobe for a while now so I was keen to try these trousers. Like I said, I’m 5’6’’ and I typically wear a size 4, which is what I tried on here. Boden pants have always run just a tad large on me, but I’m in the awkward in-between space where I can’t size down. I found the waist here comfortable, but they bagged out in the bottom and puddle when I’m not wearing 3.5-inch heels. I love the darts that give the pants a more tailored look and the thickness and quality of the material, so I’m planning to have these tailored to help manage the excess fabric. While the pants are available in petite and long, be forewarned you may still need to do some work on them.

Fast Facts

• Size range: US 0 to 22
• Fits: petite, regular, long
• Colors: 1
• Materials: cotton, elastane
• Machine wash: yes, dry clean recommended

I’m trying to enter my blazer era but don’t want to look like I work in a bank. The Hapsted blazer has been a pleasant addition, with its textured bouclé finish and (important!) functional pockets. When buttoned, it has a semi-fitted shape that pulls in slightly at the waist, which I like. It’s also fun to wear open or on your shoulders. I can totally see myself dressing this up with a skirt or dress or down with my favorite sweater and jeans.

Fast Facts

• Size range: US 0 to 22
• Fits: regular
• Colors: 2
• Materials: cotton, acrylic, recycled polyester, elastane
• Machine wash: dry clean only

Button downs are a wardrobe staple, but they can be a little…predictable. The Lorna top gives a twist to the classic, with light blue stripes and fun embroidery running down both sleeves. The lightweight cotton is breathable, even when I wore it on a humid summer afternoon. I like styling it by pushing up the ruffled sleeves, which, thanks to the elastic in the wrists, still feel comfortable and flexible. It’s also pretty low-maintenance—I tossed it in the wash, line-dried it and called it a day. Sure, like every button-down it could use a little ironing. Or, you can do what I do in the summer and embrace looking like a wrinkled, freshly unfolded pile of laundry. It’s called an aesthetic.

Fast Facts

• Size range: US 0 to 22
• Fits: regular
• Colors: 2
• Materials: cotton
• Machine wash: yes

I tend to shy away from oversized sweaters in favor of the sweater shirt which I find a little more elevated and flattering. The Eva sweater fits the bill perfectly. Not bulky, but still cozy, thin enough to be layered but sturdy enough to be worn alone on a bright fall day. It comes in a ton of colors, but I opted for the rich Mocha hue. I liked how it looked styled with the Kensington pants, but I’d also wear it with jeans, the Hampstead blazer thrown over with a pair of white flats, or over a button down for an undone academic look.

Fast Facts

• Size range: XS to XL
• Fits: regular
• Colors: 9
• Materials: cashmere
• Machine wash: yes, dry clean recommended