TOAST - taking inspiration from the acrylic back catalogue of C&A men’s knitwear?

[IwankaTramp]

What happened?

It used to be so lovely....

I think quality has dropped. Many of their winter coats are now unlined and for the price, that is ridiculous.

I find their stuff looks a bit drab these days and although it looks great, I am average height (ok not petite with, I'm told, a good figure or as DP would say busty) so I just think no.
I think I must have unsubsribed cos I've not heard from them for a while.
Off to look at TOAST.

Not inspired. Still like it but I'm skint.

Both the linen jumpers I snagged in the sale have hand wash below 30 on them - I’ve found though, most knitwear does better with a hand wash, annoying though that is

Oooh 'sister-wife' - I've never heard that before, but it conjures up ghastly smug asexual droopiness.
Those clothes are definitely frumpy (I'm mid-50s, a post grad and rarely wear make-up).

oh and that jumper - Kaffe Fasset - just saying...

And the elastic waisted trousers. Just no.

I spend slightly too much time in their outlet shop (Shepton Mallet - on the A37, well worth dropping in) - and have snagged some wonderful bargains which I wear and wear, but that doesn't include the long dresses - although I do try them on sometimes for a bit of a giggle. There are alternatives - on holiday this year I virtually lived in two simple shift dresses - one in patterned cotton and one in plain silk. I also have a lovely long pinafore dress in grey denim. Also love their linen t-shirts which go on and on...

I must speak up for elasticated trousers. If you're in between sizes - as I often am - then a little bit, especially at the back of the waistband, gives a much better fit, and also a smoother line than a belt.

Oh bug my MIL still speaks so dreamily of Kafe Fasset

Agree about weird lengths-I'm tall and I do like their voluminous skirts but as all their trousers are cropped to start with they're all pedal pushers to me. Shame as it's sooo hard to find decent womens trousers. Incidentally if anyone is really committed to the more vintage vibe of Toast gone by, Old Town might be worth your while.

@pennycarbonara thanks - you've actually helped me decide! You're right, I don't go to enough formal occasions to justify another smart dress, and silk, while lovely, is horribly impractical. I think I have a fantasy alter-ego that's always glamorous but in reality, I'm a fulltime working mother whose natural fashion habitat is low-maintenance smart and a bit boring, throw-on in the morning kind of thing.

Glad that turned out to be useful.

Elinor, I've always loved the look of Old Town stuff but not the price; I don't think they ever do sales and their stuff is like hen's teeth on eBay. I've enquired with them about once every two years this decade and then realised no, it's a silly price for me. And something about them (the way the pics on the site resemble shape illustrations on the backs of sewing patterns?) always makes me think I ought to improve my sewing and make things myself. But this year I've been able to get a Seasalt pinafore dress at a discount which has finally filled the niche of the Old Town things I wanted most, and also doesn't have the potential inconvenience of wraparounds.

Also I bought that vaguely capey navy mac and I really like it, but it feels more like something Cos would do.

I know what you mean penny, I do think they might reconsider their marketing on that front as their target audience surely includes a lot of people who can vaguely sew-which is what informs my appreciation of quality! I'm quite aware that a good bit of the price of a garment should be in the fabric as well, which is definitely the case with Old Town. Toast are still notable for using decent stuff compared to the rest of the high street. Have you looked at Merchant and Mills? Very good fabric and very simple patterns...might tempt you back to your machine

I have a pair of Toast elastic back trousers and I wear them loads and loads. They're the Alix trousers - dropped crotch, baggy at the top and tapered to a cropped just above ankle length. They fit brilliantly and as I never ever tuck things in I'm not worried about the elastic, they work very well with slightly cropped length tops. They're very well made, nice fabric, and they are a shape I have never seen on the high street. I bought them at full price and at cost per wear they have been bargainous.

I also have two boxy lambswool sweaters which I wore pretty much on rotation all winter. Very light but very warm, go with loads of things, super-soft. Again I think full price was worth it (though extremely painful at the time). I'd wouldn't dress top to toe in Toast but when I look at my (few) purchases over the last couple of years they've all been from Toast.

I'm with you @Floisme on the elasticated waist thing.

I've even started inserting a section elastic into the back waistband of skirts and trousers I already own. Bloody marvelous.

Yup. The future is elasticated. Free your minds.

For anyone who likes work wear / utility wear, Community Clothing might be worth a look. Not tried them myself yet but quite fancy the look of a few pieces.

The slim cut selvage jeans look good, and the shirtdress.

Community Clothing also manufacture in the UK. I know Toast still have a reputation for ethical practices but I'm no longer convinced.

Yes, I really like Community Clothing’s ethos. I have my eye on the workwear trousers and the chore jacket. If I get them, I’ll report back.