Boden’s New British Christmas

Fashion is a funny world, the cyclical nature of shows and press days meaning Christmas begins in July, with Spring arriving just as the leaves begin to fall. I’m not complaining though – I love Christmas, and not-so-secretly enjoy the ‘Christmas in July’ press season! This Summer I went on a flying visit to London to see ‘Savage Beauty’ at the V&A before it finished, catch up with friends and – perhaps most excitingly of all – attend Boden’s Christmas Press Day. I’ve been itching to share these shots but thought I’d wait until nearer the big day, so that everything you see you can buy online!

In the name of Christmas 2015, Boden had taken over a Soho townhouse, filled to the rafters with new season offerings. Each floor was dedicated to a different kind of Christmas. As I walked through the wreath-bedecked bright pink door of the first floor, I squealed with delight on seeing the biggest Christmas tree I have ever clapped eyes on. This floor was all about the big Boden family Christmas, complete with all the traditional touches. This was reflected in the clothing too – traditional Fair Isle, given the Boden colour treatment in contrasting brights, bold plaid kilts and pillar box red capes.

I followed Santa’s footprints up the stairs to the second Christmas floor – this time focused on the kids. This was my favourite room in terms of the décor – bright white walls and floorboards with rustic wooden shelves, textures of faux fur, gold polka dots and twinkling fairy lights. I adored the handmade tree – so much crafty inspiration– and stunning mid-century rocking chair. In very exciting news, Boden has recently announced it’s branching into homeware – a genius idea if you ask me. More on this development soon!

If you can’t tell, I was pretty much ready to move in! Boden had really thought through every detail, from Johnnie Boden’s family shots on the windowsill to the gigantic toy giraffe. It was definitely the most sophisticated nursery I’ve seen, and the childrenswear offerings were just adorable. I would happily wear that red velvet party dress (not unlike one I wore when I was wee) if they did it in grown-up sizes. Boden – take note! The loungeware on show was beautiful too – festive knits in a chic palette of grey and pink.

There was also the opportunity to get crafty chez Boden, with a few different projects for us to sample throughout the day. Quill London ran the most fantastic calligraphy class I was so excited to take part in. We were talked through the different techniques – it’s all about the pressure and amount of ink you load your nib with – and I came away with a new skill! It was genuinely really calming too, one for anyone practising mindfulness.

I see that Quill London also do brush lettering classes; great for anyone interested based in the Big Smoke! I’m definitely using the calligraphy for my Christmas tags this year. Downstairs I also got busy with the glue gun and some pipe cleaners, making a traditional peg doll. Festive crafting at its best!

Once I’d had my fill of Christmas crafts, I followed a trail of multi-coloured confetti up the stairs to the most exciting room of all – the Christmas party room. The walls were painted the most sumptuous shade of teal, with gold and pink pieces dotted throughout the room: mid-century furniture in Boden fabrics, a gilded drinks trolley, Crosley record player and giant bulb lights.

But let’s not forget about the clothes! Boden does classic partywear so well – it’s not about over-the-top sparkles (although there was a healthy smattering of glitter of course) or one-season wonders, but classic pieces given a contemporary spin. My favourites were the black lace dress with midnight blue lining and bow detail – a fun take on the classic LBD and one that you would wear for seasons to come. I also adored the glittery Mary Janes, which I haven’t stopped thinking about since…

Boden’s Christmas Press Day also offered us the first peep at their new Icons collection. The standout piece for me was the red Spitalfields coat in the most stunning seasonal hue, perfect for the festive season. Other pieces such as the velvet trouser suit put tailoring in the spotlight, and would really suit the more androgynous dresser. Taking its inspiration from decades past, with those all-important modern touches, this collection was right up my street.

This weekend, Boden has 30% off everything and free delivery and returns, so it’s the perfect time to invest in a Christmas gift for a loved one or, let’s be honest, for yourself! I promise this isn’t a sponsored post – I always look out for these offers myself as part of my ethos of investing in higher quality, last forever pieces and I hope this is a philosophy you buy into as well, and that you might spot a bargain that you’ll wear for years to come.

It was also really lovely to meet people I’ve followed and interacted with online and admired from afar for so long such as Kat, Sara and Natasha. I probably came across as a wee bit keen and a lot bit Scottish – I seem to get more Scottish when I’m in London. It was so great to meet so many like-minded people; I wish I could say yes to every invite South of the border – if only my day job and bank balance would allow! Thanks for having me Boden.

What are you coveting from Boden’s Christmas collections? Which is your favourite floor of their festive townhouse?