Every summer, Mini Boden contacts me to see if I want to partner with them to promote their back-to-school clothing collection and each time, I’m like— YESSSSSSSSSSSSSS. Of course I do. Mini Boden is my absolute favorite line of children’s clothing. I like their adult clothing too (check out my awesome bird dress up top!!!!), but my clothes are kind of beside the point.
Picking out back-to-school clothes this year is an especially big deal because Harlow is off to kindergarten this fall. *SOB*
Her style is easy though. It’s pretty much in line with my own. We like dresses, mismatched tights, layers, lots of color and adorable accessories.
You can pretty much pick anything in the Mini Boden catalogue (as long as you skip the pants) and Harlow will be on board. She loves the little sequined details.
She loves the pops of color.
She loves the animal appliques.
She loves the thick cable knitted tights. (She even begs me to wear those to camp in 80 degree weather.)
I didn’t need to show her the catalogue to ensure she liked her clothes. I just picked everything I wanted her to wear and she loved it all.
Mazzy is much tougher. Last year, Mazzy and I really struggled trying to figure out her style. We both knew what it was NOT (no dresses, no pink, nothing babyish, nothing plain, nothing long sleeve…) We pretty much settled on jeans, t-shirts and sneakers. Although, exactly what t-shirts is a puzzle I still haven’t quite cracked. I know she prefers “cool” and “sporty” as opposed to “pretty” or “trendy.” But her definition of “cool” is very different than mine.
I have learned that Mazzy needs to pick out her own clothing or else nothing will get worn. When she and I first looked through Mini Boden’s fall collection, which is inspired by Wind in the Willows, I was a little worried. She selected one thing— a pair of striped sweatpants and an owl t-shirt. She also fell in love with a pair of rainbow hightop sneakers and a pair of gold sparkle hightops. That was it.
I told her we needed to pick out at least three outfits for the shoot but she insisted she didn’t like anything else, so I decided to select the rest of her clothing on my own and see what happened. Typically, when I look through the Mini Boden catalogue, I’m attracted to the show-stopping outfits that jump off the page— the striped rainbow sweater dress or the pink skirt with the big fox pocket, for instance. (I bought both for Harlow.)
I think that’s what Mazzy saw too when she flipped through and determined there wasn’t anything else she wanted. But Mini Boden has tons of more basic items that are lurking in the pages of their catalogue and I found myself earmarking things I normally wouldn’t have noticed— like jeans with heart patches on the knees, a pretty white button down, overall shorts, brown suede boots and a polka dot hooded sweatshirt.
When the clothes arrived, both girls tore through the packages excited to see what I had chosen. Mazzy was especially excited, holding up each item and exclaiming, “Mom! I actually LIKE this!” Thank god.
Her rainbow hightops came a few days late and I swear she stalked the mailman until they arrived.
The girls also got some back-to-school accessories like a backpack, a fox bag that converts into a rain jacket and an umbrella that they will have to fight each other for an rainy days.
I got a few items for myself too.
I tend to get really practical clothes because I know that’s wha will get the most use.
But in an uncharacteristic move, I ordered a navy bird button-down dress with a yellow ribbon sash. In truth, I ordered it because I thought it would look good in the photos.
I was right and I $%$#@ love that dress.
Not only does it give me a showstopping outfit to wear for once, it has these covert buttons on the underside of the closure (in addition to the regular buttons) so that there is no pulling or gaps around the chest. Best construction ever.
And it’s nice to look as cute as my girls. Well, almost.
For one last photo op, we recreated the inside cover of my book which (fun fact!) was a photo we had taken a few years ago from a previous back-to-school Mini Boden shoot.
I think Mazzy and Harlow are just as cute as they were back then.
And definitely just as well dressed.
GIVEAWAY: $500 Boden Gift Card
If you’d like to win a $500 Boden gift card to use on yourself or Mini Boden clothes for your kids…
1) You must be a daily or weekly subscriber to the Mommy Shorts newsletter. If you are not already a subscriber, you can subscribe here.
2) Then check out the Mini Boden site and leave a comment below telling me the one thing you or your kids must have for this school year.
Winner Update:
Congratulations to Rylie Burch! Please email allie@mommyshorts.com to claim your prize!
—————————–
All photos were taken by Christine Han.
This post was sponsored by Mini Boden, but we would be buying and loving their clothing regardless!
I like the rainbow cardigan for my girls and the cord pull on pants for my son. Such cute clothes!
My daughter would fall head over heels for that peter pan collar all rainbow dress. She starts all day pre-school in 3 weeks and I am freaking out. And for me, I need any of the pretty striped sweaters. I am back to work for a month since having our son three months ago and feel as frumpy as can be.
My daughter NEEDS the rainbow striped dress Harlow is wearing 😍😍
The jersey ballerina dress in red because if it doesn’t twirl… its not a real dress (according to Miss J)
The all weather waterproof jacket for boys with the rainbow is just perfect!
My daughter would love the Stripey Jersey Dress. She hates when things are too fitted or have any sort of itchy (sparkly is what say calls it). So all of her dresses have to be a bit baggy in order for her to be willing to wear them.
Printed shaggy lined hoodie!! My girls are obsessed with super soft sweaters and this one looks perfect!!
My older daughter is starting Kindergarten this year, too, but at catholic school – she’ll be wearing the typical catholic schoolgirl plaid jumper. So any of the Mini Boden dresses with lots of color would be perfect for the special days where she doesn’t have to wear her uniform, like the Woodland Friends dresses or striped collared jersey dress. But, really, she is a dress-loving girl (just like Harlow) so any of these would be super cute on her! 🙂
Those rainbow hightops are absolutely adorable!!!
Boden is killing it with the rainbows this season. There’s no way to choose just one thing, and your post and my subsequent re-visit to Mini-Boden has me realizing there is so much cute stuff to choose…but if I just HAD to choose 1…hmm…I’d go with the Rainbow collared jersey dress.
I love the wind of willow collection. The skirt with the fox pockets that Harlow wore is a must for my youngest (animal pocket skirt). I also love those Hotchpotch Raglan t-shirts.
I didn’t know they had boy and baby clothes and now I’m obsessed! For my son, I love all the long sleeve striped tees and for my girl (on the way!) I need the corduroy romper – so cute!
The skinny jogger pj pants for me!
Those short overall you got for Mazzy are adorable! And I love Harlow’s whole wardrobe as usual. I was always jealous when I read your Mini Boden posts because you have such adorable little girls to dress. I had no idea they had a boys line!! I’m so glad I discovered it. The layered funny animal T will be a hit with my boys for sure!!
LOVE the striped all weather waterproof jacket!
Ahh just one?! I love Biden. Excellent quality and the cutest clothes! Crushing on those rainbow high tops or the sweet red polka dot jersey dress!
Boden! Autocorrect 🤦🏼♀️
I love the little Peter Pan collar dress Harlow is wearing in the first few pictures!
Anything rainbow, but that sparkly rainbow skirt is fabulous!
The Woodland Friends dress! My 4 1/2 year old is obsessed with horses- it is all she can talk about. She would absolutely go nutso for that dress.
My kiddos have always been into rainbows and MiniBoden had never failed to deliver each year- there is at least always one rainbow item I can count on! I wear Boden dresses to work, and now since I got a promotion to Principal I would love the Jessie Jersey dress. I like them for work b/c they have fun patterns and my students love them.
My daughter, like Mazzy, at 8 years old is coming into her own fashion and i can’t shop without her opinion first. But i think she would flip for the rainbow hightops.
Please, save me from having to step foot in the mall b/c Justice….
My 7YO son would love the various camo-style pants or some of the shirts that have bugs. My 3YO daughter would probably love the pink skirt with fox pockets.
I adore the Woodlands Friends Dress (my toddler is obsessed with ducks!) and the Fun Applique Dress (would be fab for the first day of preschool prep!) Thanks!
Love the jersey Ballernina Dress!
My son NEEDS that Music Applique t-shirt – he loves to play with his drums!
My daughters both have the short adventure overalls on their lists in pink. http://m.bodenusa.com/en-us/girls-dresses/playsuits-and-dungarees/g0087-pnk/girls-honeysuckle-pink-short-adventure-overalls We love Boden and my oldest always picks out ALL of the rainbow items. That’s her favorite. We now are on a mission to find rainbow underwear because she said that’s all she’s missing haha. She even wears a rainbow hair and everyday! Ahhh Boden shopping is the best 🙂
Love the animal pocket skirt… and all the rainbow dresses, really 🙂
I love all of their stuff. It’s so cute without going overboard with pink, ruffles, bows, and tulle. I really love the navy blue cat overall dress. It could easily be dressed up or down and could easily be layered for those fall days that are both cold and hot.
The girls and boys printed willies are so cute!
One of the animal shirts for my son in pre k!
Ugh, I want ALL THE THINGS. If I had to pick one, I’d go simple with the Stripey Jersey Dress in ecru/navy. So versatile, & so so cute!
I absolutely love the Short Adventure overalls. My 6 year old has a dress that she calls her adventure dress. She would love to add adventure overalls to her closet 🙂 My 5 year old would love any of the applique dresses. <3
The rainbow dress and rainbow high top sneakers!! We are so down with rainbows right now! And i think they are perfect for an almost 4 year old
The animal overall dress for my girl!
Hard to pick just one! Either the Fun printed dress with cars on it, bc big brother LOVES cars so I’m always putting little sis in something to compliment his shirts… Orrrr.. The blue animal overall dress, since my daughter’s nickname is Kat. 😀 M&H look so cute in these pics!
The Chelsea boots!!! My daughter would FLUP. PS you look FANTASTIC in the dress!
I mean FLIP! 😉
Those raglan would be so darling on my boy 🙂 And all.tne pajama pants!!
WHO is that lovely, doe eyed young lady? Surely not Mazzy??!? Sigh…. time…it passes.
I love your style. And I love when you do articles about the clothes you were. Lot of times I see something and think oh no that wouldn’t be good, then I see you wearing something similar and I go back and get it and it looks great on me.
My soon-to-be preschooler (SOB!) would go utterly bonkers over the Odd One Out ‘wainbows and sunshiney’ top Mazzy is wearing…especially if we paired it with a “princess skirt” ala Harlow!
Love the umbrella!!! Way too cute!
My little would be fascinated by the animals on the wild adventure sweater. Too bad it’s still 100 degrees! Even the socks are cute. But I’m sad they don’t seem to have sparkly or rainbiw sneakers for adults; I’d wear them!
My six year old’s favorite color is ‘rain’ so that pair of rainbow high tops has me like 😍😍😍😍
Most of the Mini Biden stuff is out of my price range for kids’ clothes, but with a gift card, I would love to get the adventure overall dress for my daughter!
*Boden
The blue and yellow collared dress – too cute.
I must have the Wild Adventure Crew Sweater for my son! It is SOOOOO cute!
(I also subscribe)
My 6 year old used to love dresses but not anymore, so I’d have to go with the Fun Leggings. I think she would also LOVE the rainbow cardigan.
I love the Mabel Jersey Dress (womens), mainly due to the pockets!
Omg! My first comment on a blog of yours! Ok so I’m all about the leggings and tee shirts! Also the sneakers! Here in Texas, it’s hot as hell one day and then the next we’re having what we consider, a snow day! The light jackets will also be great for that! Ok so pretty much everything is kind of great, love the colors!!! Fingers crossed!! I’m a true snap watcher😁
The boys all weather jacket w colored stripes is definitely needed for my lil guy!
We will not make it through the school year without mini Boden’s “cozy pants” as my son puts it. A couple of the adorable shirts….especially the glow in the dark shirts would also be amazing! We love mini Boden waaaayy to much♥️
The rainbow dress (which I came very close to buying a few weeks ago when my 4 yo suddenly decided she was into dresses and I needed to stock up)
My daughter would love Almost all of it, but the overall dresses are SO cute!
I love all of it, but one of my favorites might be the rainbow dress!
My daughter would LOVE the polka dot jersey dresses and those soft lined jackets are perfect for the chilly Ohio fall!
I am freaking out looking at the boys’ back to school things! The
Electric guitar appliqué tee is a must have! My 7 year old
Starts lessons tomorrow!
My baby girl is almost 1 and my hubby says she needs more dresses! EMBROIDERED RUFFLE DRESS is adorable and reminds me of a dress I wore as a child!
My daughter will ONLY wear dresses — the jersey ballerina dress looks both adorable and comfortable/practical. So many cute dresses to choose from!
Wow, Boden stuff is gorgeous! I love the classic duffle coat for my daughters and aToulouse shoulder bag for moi!
Having just this weekend become a great aunt to an adorable a baby boy, I would totally go for the baby deer shoes and wild animal jacket! My niece has lots of practical clothes for little Archer, but every self-respecting newborn should have baby deer shoes! 😉
My daughter NEEDS the bunny shirt, her words not mine, and I love the rainbow sweater!
My daughter would love the horse dress. She is dying to get a horse. Not happening anytime soon 🐴
Animal overall dress!
With two boys rarely do I get to buy cute kids clothes. But mini Boden is my favorite! I love their appliqué tshirts. This year I really love the frog sitting on the stack of books and the duck driving the race car. Totally perfect for both my boys’ personalities!
Pretty sure my girlie would LIVE in the hotchpotch raglan t-shirts and fun leggings if she could!! She just loves all of their bright, bold colors and fun prints! (Can’t say that I blame her!) 😉
Oh my goodness, we need the Jersey ballerina dress!
I need that toddler fun animal knitted jacket, the one that looks like a mouse. Too cute!
My 5 year old son, has recently fallen in love with the rainbow in all forms. I love how the boy connection doesn’t shy away from color. Also, I mean, what 5 year old wouldn’t love a glow-in-the-dark dino tee?
MUST haves for my girl: jersey ballerina dress and animal overall dresses! For my boys: those rugby shirts with the elbow patches! And for all of us: stock up on clearance swimwear for our indoor winter swim lessons! I am a subscriber 🙂
A hotchpotch jersey dress! I love the mix of patterns with stripes. And the corduroy overall shorts with cable knit tights to transition into fall.
Animal overall dress!! So cute! My daughter would go nuts over all of these bright colors! I think I would get two so little sister could match! 🙊
Love the green skirt with the frog pockets!
The denim shirt dress would be a favorite around my house along with the cute long sleeve appliqué tees.
My son is starting kindergarten in Portland, he would love the printed Wellies!
The rainbow cardigan and snail cardigan are delightful. Also I’m in love with anything florasaurus. Boden is the best.
Oh man, I think me and my girl need those glitter high tops!
Glitter high tops!!!
Absolutely need the fun printed dress for my little one!
My 7 year old son only wears basketball shorts, (even in the winter) and refuses most pants because how they feel. I would get the joggers and track pants to try and change his mind!
Rainbow dress and rainbow high tops 🌈
My little guy has been obsessed with all things dinosaurs since he was two so we’d have to get the glow in dark Dino top for sure!
No entry for me, my 7 yo son is about tshirts And basketball shorts, and my 11 yo girl is wearing uniforms. Just want to say that I live the way Mazzy looks at Harlow. Have you noticed? Pure adoration.
The hoodies and cardigan!!!! Everything Boden is great in my book.
The brown boots and the rainbow cardigan!
I would dress my 4 month old in that summer birds romper- super adorable.
Oh my — how do you decide?! Any of the Woodland Friends Dresses would be a hit for my little one. She loves dresses and animals. I probably spent a little too much time seeing if it was available in my size, too.
The Fun Printed Dress in Iguana Green Lily Pad, it is the cutest pattern I have ever seen!!! NEED IT for Candice, she loved it when I showed it to her
How I love Mini Boden! My son is 6 and very picky.. he’s also not sure what his style is yet. One thing he does love though, dinosaurs! The glow in the dark t-Rex shirt would probably get worn every single day, all year 😂
All of their dresses and mary janes are to die for! 😍 And that umbrella! my girls have been begging me to buy them one forever!
Definitely the fishermens jacket for my son: )
Love the car dress and the overalls
And by the way, my 7 year old was looking through your book and was super excited to notice that Mazzy and her look alike, “we even like the same things mom!” “I can’t believe it!” 😄
Those glow in the dark dino shirts would be a big hit in our house! Love their sweatpants too.
The glow in the dark Dino shirt would be a huge hit with my youngest (whose birthday is August 24th btw. What a perfect gift this would be 😘) My oldest would love the skateboarding British fox. What’s Does the Fox Say is still his favorite song 😂😂😂
All of the Dino tees, especially glow in the dark!
My daughter would LOVE the backpack with flowers, cars and bikes!
My daughter would love the shoes, and skirts, and dresses…she would love everything!
i would get the cosy cardigans! my girl hate to wear sweaters… and the cardigans would be perfect for easy get-on and get-off outfit 🙂
I have been obsessed with overall shorts since I was a child. Pairing it with a white tshirt is one of the most beautiful and simple outfits all in one. Since having my daughters I have always made sure they have one in their wardrobe. They love wearing them just as much as I did. I couldn’t be happier to pass on something I loved so much to them.
Their weatherproof jackets are so amazing!!
The rainbow high tops are awesome! They are so cute and stylish, but they are also a symbol of love wins!
The Ruffle Cord Pinafore!!! Adorable!