The rest of the High Street is awash in tasteful neutral colours. So, after a turbulent period… can Boden bounce back brightly?

Bold, bright and quintessentially British is the message of Boden's spring/summer 2024 capsule collection.

The brand has never embraced minimalist or utilitarian in its 33-year history and now – in a season that will be coolly understated and quietly chic – it is forging its own path; stepping up what it has always done best and throwing some extra color and whimsy into the mix.

Last summer, founder Johnnie Boden called himself an “idiot” for trying to take the clothing brand on a trendy path, and this season you can still buy an everyday jersey dress, navy shorts and the celebrity moms. on-holstered pedal pushers, Breton tops and handy kaftans that are Boden's bread and butter. But the core of the collection – the 'get them now while you can' hero pieces – is where the brand is pushing forward a bright new look.

These clothes are confident, refreshing and strike the elusive balance between fashion-conscious and never-dating style.

This long midi silky shirt dress (left) is elegant, unexpected and screams to be worn at Ascot. Dress, £250 and platform sandals, £130, boden.co.uk

Looking ahead to summer, there's a pair of trendy stripe jeans and gold snaffle loafers that any fashion editor would love to be seen in (watch these fly out).

The pink, red and cream strawberry print dress is something the Princess of Wales would definitely wear to Wimbledon and the sleeveless Clarissa white-on-navy polka dot jumpsuit has summer garden party written all over it.

There's a long, silky midi shirt dress with a print of jockey silk and galloping horses on a pale pink background, which is elegant and unexpected and screams to be worn at Ascot with a pair of woven open-toed platform sandals, which I bet I'd love to wear will sell out before you can say, “Those look a bit like the Prada ones I had a while ago.”

Boden also likes to bring fun to fashion – a lobster print here, a sparkling knit tank top there – and to combine things in that unusual way that sets British style apart from the rest of the world. There's a trench coat in this capsule collection with a Union Jack lining, but what makes it truly British are the combinations and the colors – and the sense that what goes around comes around, including striped blazers, knitted rugby shirts and '70s sandals -style. .

If you're looking for a classic pair of gold twist-front high heel sandals, Boden made them, and they're great, as are the double-buckle, two-strap raffia slides that were big last summer.

And when you can think as far ahead as a holiday abroad, who wouldn't find room in their carry-on for a splashy paisley print shirt and matching palazzo trousers?

Not all hero pieces will appeal to the brand's core customers, but this collection is a message in bright light: this summer Boden will be the hotspot on a cool shopping street that women who love color and print can flock to.

And if you don't like bright colors, you can still buy your shoes here.