On we go Toasties heading for Spring???

[Countmeout]

Other one nearly full

I find my steamer is great for a quick refresh.

I remember the brass Alix mishap! Not sure if I've washed them since, but I will have to remember to take care and not wash with lighter colours. I put all cashmere - expensive and not so expensive, in the washing machine with a delicate/wool liquid and a low spin (I think it's called silk on my machine - the wool wash is a higher spin). Never had an incident from washing. Always dry flat.

I've been ok with cotton Toast t-shirts but the only two I've had in linen have been absolute washing disasters - huge shrinkage, one to the point of unbearable and the other is now a teeny tiny boy fit. I think really t-shirts should be invincible and won't be buying linen again from them

@Theteapotsbrokenspout - I have the green Ashley jeans. I've washed them before so must be sheer luck that I put in with very dark colours. Thanks for the warning.

@faustina what was your brass Alix mishap? I picked those up in the sale, not worn them yet.

@Snowyowl78 I washed them with some ( desert cactus?) alixes and a favourite pair of ecru kin barrel leg joggers and the other two things came out a very different colour!

@faustina oh dear! Are they still wearable?

Yes, still wearable luckily, but not the same colour as before. So def wash yours completely alone!

@faustina thanks for the tip!

Popped into a store today to try a few things. Nothing I had my eye on worked for me, but I did rather like the black check crinkle pinafore dress. I am far too busty to be able to make it work without anything underneath, so it might not be versatile enough. Size wise, I needed a medium, whereas in old Toast sizing I would have been a small.
I tried the Franca dress and it did nothing for me, it was tight on the bust even in a 12, but too big on the shoulders. I also tried the ruffle neck shirt in the brown colour. The ruffle looked ridiculous on me, and raglan sleeves on a shirt don’t really suit me.
I nearly tried the ridiculously expensive tunic dress with the drawstring neck, but I figured it would be my luck that it would be amazing on, and I am not paying anything like that for a dress. Maybe I’ll try it nearer to sale time and see.
I was otherwise kind of underwhelmed by much of the stock.
The sales assistant said there was going to be another small drop at the end of this week. Only about 20ish items though.

That was an important lesson from this thread, and then I ignored it, carried on mixing colours because i wash on 30 and never had any trouble. Then I washed my olive oil dress with something else new and it came out with two shaded areas. Not properly stained, but disappointing. It did gradually fade with the multiple washes of summer but the lesson has been learned.i now have a few things i put in individually on a 15 min cycle.

I'm still going through some serious Toast shopping withdrawals. Suddenly i like more of the current stuff. I even had a look at arizonas and bostons, as if i need anymore. Ridiculous. I have however made a change for the better - i have a few pairs of prepandemic toast wooly trousers. Post pandemic they became too dressy to my eye so they never got worn, but i wore a pair for cosy homewear and they were perfect.

@ScottishMouse i ordered the pinafore dress you mentioned and felt a bit matronly with a layer underneath ( body shape has changed with menopause) but I don’t like revealing my upper arms so I think a little boxy sheer cardigan may work well with it in the summer months - revealing enough to show the lovely shape of the dress and straps without revealing other bits I don’t want to show - perhaps this may work for you ? I love it in so many ways, I want it to work but equally I agree it needs to be very versatile to justify its keep.

Chunkier boxy knit - winter

@ilovecherries do you mind me asking what steamer you have? I thought of buying one in the autumn but was overwhelmed by options and mixed reviews and stalled.

This is the one I have. I’d really like a full size one but just don’t have storage for it. I got this for the caravan initially, and it works great for a freshen up. It’s not ideal for very creased or stiff fabric - poplin for example, or shirt collars - but it does most things just fine. If I’ve got a load of stuff, I do tend to just iron, but for one or two things at a time, it’s ideal. Plus it does extend wash times.

Thank you!! Anyone else have a steamer recommendation?

@lordloveadog I have a portable hand held steamer but no point recommending it as I bought it in when living in Australia. I use it instead of ironing items that just need a light going over and when I'm travelling for work. Throw it in my carryon. It cost about £10.00 a few years ago so no need to spend a lot. I dislike ironing so will do anything not too!

Thank you no eggs!

I bought one but can’t be bothered with it. Easier to get the iron out.

@Noodle421 , yes I think a cardi could work quite well. I like the styling with the breton top online, i have a similar top that might work. And I wonder if one of the neat cashmere wool sweaters would work too. I think I may have enough possible options to order it and try.

Has anyone got the Aurora T strap shoes? I've suddenly "noticed" them and am feeling the urge!

@ScottishMouse It’s a lovely dress but I’ve decided it doesn’t quite work for me and so it’s being returned. Toast assistant also suggested to style it with a neat cashmere jumper. I so wanted it to work but I’ve decided I must love it to justify keeping it - I’ve made too many mistakes over the years ! It will look amazing on the right person I’m sure.

I’ve kept the Breton top - I love it. Goes with so many of my clothes

I ordered the Franca dress, the V-Neck Wool Cashmere Sweater in topaz, and the Square Neck Crinkled Cotton Dress to try.

The Franca is perfect in fit and fabric, but the seam across the front was slightly wonky. So it is going back and I have ordered another, this time to UK. True to Toast sizing. If that style of Toast dresses works for you, this will too.

The jumper is beautiful quality, but not quite right on me. The V was too small and the dropped shoulders - which usually work - just made me look beefy.

And the crinkle dress also not quite right. Less excessively oversized than last year's one, but the pocket placement was wrong for me and the square top came up too high, onto my throat. If that's because of the new sizing, they've got something a bit wrong in the scaling down.

Today I'm wearing Wool Cotton Herringbone Wide Leg Trousers in blackish and supersoft Wool Cashmere Raglan Sweater in blue from winter and summer sales and feeling very cosy but also a bit stylish.

The worst has happened. There is a whole load of new lovely things. I have put at least 5 things into my fantasy basket.

I really really really want this as it’s the same shape as the Turrell and sounds like the same material and drape of the print leaf one from the sale- both my faves!

www.toa.st/products/gathered-river-print-dress-bark

Also this
www.toa.st/products/drift-check-crinkled-cotton-dress-charcoal-ecru

which is the same material as the tunic style one but much more in my sort of shape. Sob.