TOAST

[goldpendant]

Now I never thought I'd say this, not until my mid 40's at least, but I feel like celebrating the wonders of TOAST! I'm not sure I'm game for the wintry stuff but their summer dresses are just perfect. For years I've longed for the undone, easy linen look but usually end up looking like a sack of potatoes... not this summer my friends!

My dad earlier said I looked "outrageously well sorted" in my new orange linen number - I think he meant well put together, and I've just got the navy on sale on JL. Yipppeeeee!

If I could wear any designer constantly it would probably be Margaret Howell tbh. I have one much-loved shirt from Ebay but even that felt like a serious splurge. Most of it is way out of my reach sadly.

I got these, not really a Toast vibe but part of my moving away from skinny jeans!
www.newlook.com/uk/womens/clothing/trousers/petite-black-floral-wide-leg-culottes/p/650789209

These were a cool shape (not for summer) but again I was in between sizes

Margaret Howell. I love her Barbour stuff. Went into the shop in Lonfon and bloody hell the prices. Still regretting the MH tweed blazer for £20 in a charity shop I passed up as it was too big.

I have one piece of MH knitwear that I got in a charity shop for £2.50. Clearly they didn’t know what they had. It had a few tiny moth holes but my mum worked her magic with invisible darns. I would love to have more but even eBay prices go out of my range usually.

Yeah I'm not keen on Ebay for a number of reasons but partly because the prices for anything high end are likely to get forced up by the better off bidders. It helps that I don't live in a particularly affluent or fashionable area and so the second hand prices reflect that, even for someone like Margaret Howell. But then the downside is that she's a rare find, apart from of a couple of sources, for whom I'm crossing all my fingers.

Definitely found my tribe! I buy Toast and Cos because I can't afford a whole wardrobe of Margaret Howell. Luckily I live in London and hit up the MH sample sale to stock up though the crowds have been getting bigger the last few years.

I am so enjoying this thread love MH too but never bought anything as even on eBay it is so expensive.

I have 2 teen girls so I am on Depop too and have just received a rather lovely TOAST dress and an And Other Stories dress in the post. Now too cold to wear either but they are lovely.

@ZaraW that is heavenly! Which colour do you have?

Depop is a good shout! I will have a look.

Railings I have the navy blue.

@ZaraW - gorgeous! I will remember that site. I always think I should buy less and better quality but then I love the thrill of the buy. Bad bad

Especially since I've kind of pre- approved the expenditure in my head

I love this. Unfortunately I've very good at approving the expenditure, spending it on something else in the interim, but when the original thing becomes available, I feel I'm still entitled to buy it because of the fact it's pre-approved.

My parcel(s) arrived today. Three of the boxy tees, pea green, bright blue and dark indigo. Love the fit, great arm length, not too long and kind of swingy, but just a little bit. Nice wide neck too. Thick quality slubby cotton. Love them.
Also a striped jumper in blues and black. I ordered a small which is perfect. I’ve put it away for winter but know I’ll wear it loads. It’s smarter than I thought.

My stuff arrived yesterday, very speedy delivery. Though can confirm no pre-paid return label!
I got some tapered tobacco coloured trousers which are an excellent fit. Unusual for me bc anything that fits my hips is usually huge on waist. And as someone earlier mentioned, very good pockets! And a silk shirt that is just beautiful quality. Also got a second pair of trousers, which are again great quality but shape not as versatile, so they will go back. And a checked lightweight blouse which is pretty but has unflattering puffiness at shoulders, so another return. But I'm very pleased with what I'm keeping. Can't wait to cultivate that spinster chic.

Agree with everyone, that And Daughter dress is lovely. I try to avoid looking at their stuff bc it's so perfect and so expensive. A girlier take on a similar aesthetic is Meadows. I really want one of their embroidered blouses.
Also like the look of LF Markey. For more urban dystopian wear. Anyone tried their stuff?
And don't think anyone has mentioned Plumo yet. They usually have a good collection of brands, though it annoys me that they don't list what the actually brands are.

I really want to love TOAST but sometimes the colours or the shapes are really unflattering. However the items are really good quality and I genuinely want to find things I like

Ooh I like the look of Meadows stuff. Also live Margaret Howell but absolutely can't afford it! Tempted by this in the current sale - does anyone have it?

www.toa.st/uk/product/womens+skirts/c3naa/grace+large+check+poplin+skirt.htm?clr=C3NAA_Olive_sw

I love this. Unfortunately I've very good at approving the expenditure, spending it on something else in the interim, but when the original thing becomes available, I feel I'm still entitled to buy it because of the fact it's pre-approved.

Lol I'm the same. I'm waiting for an Issey Miyake Pleats Please skirt from Matches which is coming soon. In the meantime if I see something I like I will go ahead and buy it and wait for the skirt to arrive.

[quote ballroompink]Ooh I like the look of Meadows stuff. Also live Margaret Howell but absolutely can't afford it! Tempted by this in the current sale - does anyone have it?

www.toa.st/uk/product/womens+skirts/c3naa/grace+large+check+poplin+skirt.htm?clr=C3NAA_Olive_sw[/quote]
I ordered the dress in that print, it’s lovely. Unfortunately it was too tight across the bust and it’s showing out of stock in the next size up so I’ve sent them a grovelling email imploring them to find me one! The fabric is great and the colours are really nice. I definitely recommend it.

@SteakDiane I have a bit of a mission to squirrel out the brands on Plumo! They are doing some of their own designs now but most of the stock is still other labels (you'll notice they only ever say the brand when it's Ganni!). The oversized ribbed jumpers, for example, are from small London company called Paisie. They also carry a lot of the Scandi labels I usually buy from Zalando - Selected Femme, Just Female, Second Female (all v confusingly-named), Samsoe & Samsoe, Becksondergaard. Some crossover with JL too, the same Numph jumpsuit is on both JL website and Plumo at the moment. What Plumo does brilliantly though is the styling - it's slightly risible in some ways (there was a thread on here a while back justifiably taking the piss out of one particularly severe outfit) but they usually make the clothes look loads better than the original brand images.

Love those Kin poplin trousers cherries.

Ha, yes, have noticed the Ganni special treatment. And you're completely right about the styling being Plumo's selling point. Unfortunately I seem to need potential spelled out to me! I'm a sucker for Toast wankery.
Oh, thought of another brand, with more genuine credentials - carrier company. All made in Norfolk I think. Apols if it's been mentioned already. This thread took off!

Does anyone play out different personalities in their wardrobe - to the extent you have accumulated a random selection of brands?

I'm 35 and I love Toast to express my more arty and functional side. They are mostly 'man repellent' clothes though! I used to like white stuff for a similar reason but they have got very drab in my opinion.

Then I buy from Zara and topshop and Reiss if I want something more chic and sexy for going out.

I really like Pinterest for finding new ways to wear standard 'basic' items like skinny jeans and blazers.

I mean really people, as if I needed more shops to fling my pounds at!

@Yorkshirelass04 totally - and now I have a huge wardrobe of non matching clothes

@Yorkshirelass04

I agree. At work, I’m in clothes from the Fold, Winser, Max Mara etc. Off work, it’s Toast, Plumo, Poetry and MH. On a dinner date, I’ll be in Reiss, Joseph, Hush etc. I like wearing different hats so to speak.

@Whatthefoxgoingon @Railingsohno

Pleased it's not just me! It's great to feel so liberated in different brands and styles. I hope I keep my various personas as I get older. There seems to be an urge amongst some to stick to a style or brand. Like once you're 35 it's Boden forever.

As I direct contrast I also use dance wear as loungewear - from polejunkie.co.uk it's mainly for pole dancers but can be worn for yoga or just hanging out.