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!
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All photos were taken by Christine Han.
This post was sponsored by Mini Boden, but we would be buying and loving their clothing regardless!
Thank you for this giveaway !
I love the APPLIQUÉ HIGH TOPS… and I am sure my daughter would adore them : she can’t resist rainbows either !
I’d love to dress my 4 and 7 year old girls in the mouse and cat overall dresses with cable knit cardigans!
My daughter would love the cat overall dress!
The patchwork applique t-shirts.
I love the rainbow applique jersey dress for my 7-year old daughter because she always brings color and hope to those around her. The layered vehicle t-shirt for my 6-year old boy is perfect because he likes the idea of layering but doesn’t actually like to layer. Problem solved with this tee! I love the odd-one-out t-shirt for my 4-year old daughter because she is our self-proclaimed “favorite middle child” and always wants to stand out. And that baby rose collared smock dress would is to die for! I’d love that for my almost 2-year old girl because all her clothes are hand-me-downs from her oldest sister, and some just haven’t stood up to the all the wear and tear from years of playing. That laura denim shirt dress is a must-have. As a SAHM to these four, my “uniform” is usually pjs or yoga pants. A shirt dress looks so effortless and fashionable yet I would still be able to chase after my four littles.
Can I pick 15 favorite things? I love all that is mini-boden. If I had to pick just one, it would be the shark shirt, because I always wear a JAWS t-shirt and my daughter loves to scream, ‘mom you have a shark on your shirt!!!!’ then say, “but don’t worry it’s just pretend.” I totally want to do the same thing to her because she will love it.
The the shaggy lined hoodie.
It’s impossible to pick one thing. I love the purple polka lined jacket. I saw it in store the other day and almost grabbed it for my daughter. Love any of the stuff with rainbows on it. Love the sweatshirt with the Apple and the cute tshirt with the gold sparkly heart. And about 100 others things….
i need that rainbow dress for my daughter and a reversible animal tshirt for my son!
Glow in the dark Dino t-shirt
I would wear those suede shoes of Mazzy’s! Anything with the car pattern for my girl!
The animal overall dress is perfect!!
Really adorable photos. The rainbow hightops are my favorite. I started reading this blog when Harlow was a little over a year old and my daughter was a few months old. That first year was so slow and now time is flying. Can’t believe Harlow is starting kindergarten.
I would like the
Crochet Floral Cardigan
We love high top zipper shoes!
The Jersey Ballerina dress for my 4 year old daughter would be great, but really, anything from Boden would be ideal!
My daughter would love love love the sherpa lined anorak in pinkberry with the dog print – looks so warm, adorable and comfy!! (….as well as most everything on the website!)
What could be better than a fox bag that converts into a rain jacket
Come rain or shine we’ll be SMILING at the start of the SCHOOL year
Definitely the Donkey Holiday shirt. My daughter’s lovey is a donkey so she’d get such a kick out of it. (P.S. I’m a fairly new, but loyal, reader and I’ve been admiring your daughters’ style for months. They always look so colorful, stylish and put-together, but still like kids, not mini adults.)
The adorable Jersey Swing Dresses that can be paired with colorful leggings in the winter, so my girl can wear the dresses she loves year round! 🙂
I’ll admit I went right to the women’s section and checked out the dresses…I love the Carina dress among many others…
Is all of it an option?! Boden clothes are gorgeous. I am
Drooling. Love the stripey jersey dress with the rainbow pockets. Rainbow leggings and their cozy cardigans. Would also love some jeans and joggers for my son.
I don’t know how to choose just one! But, we are predicted to have another snowmaggedon this year, so I’m going to say the awesome all-weather jacket any color / pattern! ❤️
There are boys shirts with Moles and Badgers … that’s the best.
The Animal Applique Jersey play set for my little one – she is still a baby but we call daycare “school”. I LOVE miniBoden!
I was just swooning over the Boden catalog. The Woodland Friends Dress has my heart. Those little hedgehogs!! I’m obsessed. Now…to convince one of my daughters to wear it.
Eeek!! I must have the frog wild animal knitted jacket for my littlest guy. SO super cute!! Your girls look adorable in their new clothes! The bird dress is on point – super trendy on you!
My 1st grader would not be able to go back without her favorite animal on all she wears. The woodland creature dress would be a staple in her wardrobe!!
We ❤️Mini Bowen!! & we need those adorable Chelsea boots!!
Boden!! Autocorrect 😉
I just bought my goddaughter the printed umbrella , stripy jersey dress and the Fun leggings as an early birthday gift! She loves it all! She’s ready to back to school in style!
I love all of the boys basic tees (solid colors!!!) And especially the rainbow/blue all-weather jacket.
Anything florasaurus is at the top of our list this year.
I have honestly been looking at the overalls I have a pair of the shorts for my youngest and the green cord pair are calling my daughter name. She is very much in that finding her own style mode Mazzy is in now that she’s 8 and it’s hard. It’s been a little bit confusing finding things she likes when my little one wears anything
The SEQUIN APPLIQUÉ DRESS with the ducks is adorable! My 92 year old grandmother is a collector of ducks. She’d love love seeing her great grandkids in that outfit. It’s super cute and original!! Love love love!
There are SO many great things from Mini Boden. This year my little lady is starting K too ( Sobbing). Two things I would love to get her the Woodland Friends dress ( the horsey dress) or the Rainbow all weather coat. It gets cold here and I know she would love it.
We are HUGE fans of the all weather waterproof jackets! Living in New England they are a MUST!
My daughter has decided she’s really into skirts! So we’re going skirt shopping this weekend!
I love Mini Boden and buy clothes from Boden all the time. I would buy the boys Leather High top with the orange back for my son. He goes to private school with a strict uniform and these would pass the shoe test with just a bit of irreverence!
The fun knee pants (fox!) are super cute and I could get them in 6-9m for my son and 3-4y for my daughter. It’s so hard to find matchy matchy clothes for boy/girl kids with such a big age gap.
I’d get myself the slim jogger and bonus, it looks like they have pockets!
Love the woodland friends dresses. My daughter would love!
Oooh never heard of this site! Love the surfing cow and suitcase carrying sloth t shirts, amongst others, in the boys section
The selection is pretty amazing! I hondeslty would love to grab everything, but the rainbow dress is my ultimate first pick:)
Omygosh! It’s so hard to pick which item is my favorite! My daughter LOVES all animals, so I’d have to go without the animal overall dress, so freaking cute! Followed by the woodland animal dress!
My oldest is starting kindergarten this fall, too! She’s in a pants-boycotting mode, so the bright cord leggings are at the top of my list… warm for the fall, but still comfortable and great with tunics or any of the adorable applique Ts.
My 3yo has to wear a school tshirt to school but she can wear whatever type of pants she wants. I’m loving the striped sweatpants that snazzy picked out! Love that there are several different colors and patterns and they look super soft.
I love all of the Hotchpotch raglan tees and striped jersey dresses!
My daughter would love any of the Florasaurus dresses.
The fuzzy vest and rainbow dress are adorable
Punky says she Needs the girls rainbow stripe dress, with the rainbow leggings, and the rainbow embroidered high tops, or maybe the gold boots for that outfit.
Seems legit 🤔😂
I love The polka dot jersey ballerina dress!! You and your girls are adorable. Love your blog :):)
My daughter is going through a dinosaur phase right now and would love any of the Dino dresses!
My Harlow is OBSESSED with the grey mouse Animal Jumper. It’s so cute!
We MUST have a new Jersey dress – navy stripes with rainbow pockets. While my 6 year old is still obsessed with all things rainbow still she is more understated about it. She also LOVES the rainbow high tops. 🌈🌈
It’s so hard to pick one thing, but I’m kind of obsessed with these mini boden toddler dresses ALL OF THEM! And I love your chic mom vibes. Also that umbrella is so cute! These are great photos and they definitely belong in a magazine!
My youngest would go crazy for the little shoes with the fox on them!
My 6-year-old is super picky about her clothes! She wants to wear dresses, but they HAVE to be soft and they absolutely CAN NOT HAVE ANY SEAMS! The printed jersey dress looks like a dream come true!
We just got our mini boden catalogue a few days ago and I’ve been trying to decide what to get my preschooler. To be honest I want it all! But I’ll probably settle on a few staple pieces and a fun dress or two. I really love the sweater that Mazzy has on!
My girls would love it all! I love the baseball tees with sequined appliqués, the heart pocket denim skirt, and the Chelsea boots are a favorite!
My son would die of happiness if he had the Textured Creature T-shirt with the fish on it. He is obsessed with animals, specifically fish. It is too adorable!
I think my daughter would love the pretty smock dress.
There are so many great things, but I love the All Weather Waterproof Jacket! This would be great for the rainy days waiting for the bus!
Soooo many choices! Mini Biden is a favorite in our house too! Love the pink skirt with the fox pockets and the rainbow sneakers.
Great contest!
Love Boden! My bank account…not so much, ha! I’ve been eyeballing the car print dress!! My 3 year old daughter isn’t so much into the pink and sparkles either, but she loves all of Bodens animal, space, and car prints.
I have three boys and I love raglan shirts on them with jeans.
Love the fall mini Bowden collection! The appliqué t shirts and all the rainbow attire would be a big hit in our house!
I am obsessed with mini Boden, especially their fleece lined sweatshirts…we buy a new one every year! But for back to school we are definitely snagging some of the layered vehicle long sleeve tees for both my boys #boyslovecars
Love that rainbow dress!
We love mini boden so so much! My 8 year old loves the 🌈 hightops! I love everything. Crossing my fingers we can win.
Love the Toulouse Shoulder Bag and the boys clothing can’t pick just one. It’s totally my son’s style!
My little bunny is beginning kindergarten at the school where I teach. I’m the luckiest mama! He would rock those slouchy sweatpants for sure. Also, Boden makes THE BEST comfy dresses to teach in…professional and cute all in one!
I love all their colorful dresses! My daughter would stalk the mailman too if we ordered anything from them!!
The woodland animal hoodies would be great for Colorado weather and the bird dress (squeeee!) for me would be perfect for work in the schools and out and about on the weekend.
I am dying for the Elizabeth Ponte blazer!! Along with everything else….
We 1000% need Harlow’s rainbow dress! All the heart eyes!
A piece of mind knowing my daughter and son are happy. My wishes every time that they never encounter bullying. Kids can be mean… we always hope they are in good hands. When we are hard at work to provide for their needs.
I have three boys, so I loved the three styles of the Animal Stripes! It’s cute to coordinate them without the exact same shirt.
Love their warrior sweatpants too – my five year old prefers softer clothes but he’s also rough and tumble!
I love the florasaurus printed tunic and the dress Harlow has on in the last photo! 😍
My 3 year old is obsessed with Dinos – the glow in he dark Dino T is a MUST!
This line is FANTASTIC!! Rainbows a plenty! My girls have already fallen in love with the rainbow bunny sweater which are on their must have list for fall! My oldest will look amazing in it for her first year of school- kindergarten here we come!
I don’t have children of my own, so I would shop for my nieces! I would for sure get he overall shorts because I just know the oldest would look adorable in them! I’d also get the color block striped sweater dress/top…SO cute!!
Definitely the allnweather rainbow jacket. Great excuse to wear daily rainbows! My 3 year old loves all the loud, vibrant and mismatch styles of Boden. Best company ever!
Love those rainbow high tops! Gotta get those!
My girls would LOVE the colorful stripey t-shirts. I love that they would match just about anything else in their closets… shoes, leggings, sweaters. With three girls in our house, it’s quite a feat picking out back to school clothes. I hope I win!
My daughter literally circled everything in he catalog, but I think she would like the rainbow striped dress 🙂
LOVE that umbrella! 😍 And the All-Weather Waterproof Jackets!
Stripy Jersey Dress
ONE THING? My girls, like Harlow, LOVE dresses and hate pants. This proves tricky during a Michigan winter! My pick would have to be the knitted rainbow dress but many others too! Maybe the jersey rainbow dress to coordinate though my littles love to match 🙂 Photoshoot turned out fabulous – amazing captures of daily routines and so many authentic smiles!
I love the baby play sets!! The littlest one accompanies me along for most of the play dates the oldest has. And I’m often struck by how hard it is to crawl in dresses 😂 I love the mini Boden baby okay sets.
Dedinately going to need the collard rainbow jersey dress. And those gold high tops. And of course and umbrella. And that rainbow all weather jacket. All of it!! We need it all! 😍
We just moved to NYC so the taxi printed appliqué dress is on the top of our 4 year old’s list! But her favorite color is rainbow- so maybe the rainbow dress?! Both. Done. 🙂
We absolutely love Mini Boden. Got the catalog yesterday and my daughters went through and circled everything they wanted. The list incudes: Shaggy lined hoodie, rainbow knitted dress, skirts, skirts and more skirts with tights!!
I have a 9 month old daughter, so no back to school for us yet, but those play sets and emrbroidered cardigans are to die for!
So much cute stuff! I love it all, but my kiddo *needs* the Chelsea Boots.
My son will love the Slub Rugby shirts!!! He loves looking “handsome” and dressing up for school in collared shirts!
Well we need everything but some quick grabs – Girls, Rainbow All-weather jacket, Adventure Overalls – Boys, Reglan Tshirt, Stripy Tshirt.
Love it all!
We LOVE Mini Boden for their classic age appropriate styles! For this school year we’re excited about the Animal Overall Dress, the Woodland Friends Dress, and the Leather Mary Janes (just like Harlow was wearing)!
The Woodland Friends Dresses!
We have a rainbow obsessed 6 year old at our house, so we’d definitely have to choose the rainbow dress! 🌈It’s all so cute. I never would’ve thought about Boden for me before, but I like it
Love the slouch sweatpants for my son and the frill jersey dress for my daughter!! Its all so cute!!
Love that rainbow dress!