Toasties onward with Spring in our step to Summer

[Countmeout]

New thread

Thanks for the scarves link, I'll check that out @ToastCosILoveIt !

Thank you for the new thread @Countmeout

I'm very excited as I'm going to a real life Toast shop tomorrow in London! I'm hoping there's some of the new items there to look at, although this is the only one I'm taken with. Too much sleeveless going on for me and my wings!

Where did you find that @AFingerofFudge ? I can’t see it.

Oops see it now. Thought it was a top.

@AFingerofFudge - colour won't suit me but that dress is gorgeous

Yes I think it’s lovely @AFingerofFudge . And I’m sure it’s not as sharp a green in real life.

@ToastCosILoveIt you have the black ola-s on your wish list too !! I don’t blame you, they are very cute and stylish. My olive pair arrived yesterday and I love them but the toe on my slightly larger foot rubs on the side leather strap. I’m not sure if the slight discomfort would escalate over a day of wearing and if so I should return them or whether the leather will stretch a bit with wear over time. They’d be too big if I go up a size - they looked good tried on with black leggings under one of my Toast dresses - it was a mistake piece of styling - I couldn’t be bothered to take my leggings off and the unexpected combination looked good.

Maybe I should try the next size up ( Fracap Ola)

• has anyone here had the rubbing toe issue that I’ve had with mine and if so, does the leather ‘give’ a bit with wear ?

My ola’s arrived today - they rub and they are big fitting - I’m not convinced. My feet are a nightmare though - they blister with broken in shoes too - saltwater are my only successes.

@Madoz thats a shame ! They are possibly a slightly narrower fit of shoe. It’s irritating because only one of my toes rub but comfort is so important

My Fracap ankle shoes arrived today, the left foot is perfect but on the right foot my big toe is squashed downwards.
I’ve not noticed this problem with any other shoes so I’m wondering if the right foot shoe is slightly different in shape.

I’m also wondering the same as you @Noodle421 if the leather will stretch. I’m considering sending for another pair to see if this is the same with all the shoes.
I really like them and they would be so useful if they fit, so it’s quite annoying.

I didn’t find them narrow - I’d have need to get an extra hole punched on the strap. They just hurt after a minute and that is enough to tell me they won’t ever work - my feet will complain too loudly.

@Theteapotsbrokenspout it’s my right foot that is affected too. I think I have one foot slightly bigger than the other but it’s marginal. Toe affected is the one next to the small toe on the right of foot as you look down at it. Perhaps someone here might advise us as to whether the leather might stretch before going to the bother of returning/purchasing new pair.

Re the Ola's I don't have rubbing the issues but I have teeny tiny toes. They have stretched a little bit, mid-section and ankle strap where they receive the most movement. For me they're the most comfortable sandals I've ever worn no socks even when I was recovering from a broken foot last summer and one of them was still swollen. I have tried shoes before where seams/cuts were slightly off on one shoe, but another pair in same size were fine.

@fiddlefigs My soft sole Saltwaters arrived and they are really joyous, I think they might be the answer to all my summer sandal needs. V tempted by the olive and maybe the red next.

@Noeggsontoast Good to know your personal experience, thanks for posting. My non rub foot is super comfy in the shoe - I agree, they have so much potential.

@Noodle421 and @Theteapotsbrokenspout , re both the Fracap Olas and the Fracap Ankle shoes, i wore both at home first with socks on and then progressed to walk to the local shops in them, again with socks - no more than a 15 min walk each way. I have found that they stretch.

I tried the Ankle Fracaps on in both a 38 (my usual size() and the 39 in the Cambridge store last summer and the 39 were definately too big. I have a difficult left foot (hallu rigidis which is essentially a stiff big toe which pushes the joint out) and it means I need shoes with a wider footbed despite my feet being very slim. I have found with both the shoes and the sandals that the leather is soft and it has stretched over time enough that the shoes have become very comfortable.

With the Ola Olive sandals it is obviously early days (I broke the tan ones in laast summer with very little effort) but I wore them around the house for an afternoon when I was moving around a lot, I drove in them (short journey) and I have worn them to the pub with socks and they have definitely softened to the point where I was barely aware that I was wearing them. I haven't worn them without socks yet (too cold obviously) but I am expecting that the wearing with socks will have nicely softened up the leather by the time the hot sun arrives. @Noodle421 , might this be an option for you?

Oooh the newness!! Nothing really popping out at me… but I do like these trousers:
www.toa.st/products/prince-of-wales-check-trousers-grey-navy

Any idea why a cotton/linen blend garment requires specialist dry clean only?!

@ToastCosILoveIt thanks for your feedback. I’m taking your advice and am currently wearing them around the house with socks to start with. Rub is less apparent. They feel good and fingers crossed I think they will be keepers.

Thank you @ToastCosILoveIt I have sent for another pair just to see if there’s any difference. If not I will take your advice and hopefully they will relax enough, I was concerned because with the ankle shoes I wasn’t sure if the area with the seam round the toe would stretch.

@Noodle421, hope this works for you, it certainly did for me.

@Theteapotsbrokenspout, I think ordering another pair just in case is a good idea (i have done that in the past). I think the leather will soften and give a by wearing them with socks in the house. The other way to slightly stretch is thicker socks than you might have worn with them and the gentle application of some warm air from a hairdrier while bending and flexing your foot.

@happysoju , love those trousers, definitely one for me to add to my (growing) list 😀

There’s a lovely matching jacket for the trousers but the dry clean is off putting - maybe not pre shrunk. I can’t think why else they’d have to be dry cleaned.

On problematic footwear ~

If you can find an old-fashioned cobbler, one with traditional leather-working skills, they'll be able to gently soften or stretch the leather in just one area. The tricky part is finding such a treasure!

You can probably find instructions online for how to do it yourself. Over the years I've read threads where hikers discuss how to spot treat walking boots to accommodate bunions, and Fluevog aficionados on how to stretch the calves of narrower styles.

@Saurus72 oh I am glad to hear that about the Saltwaters. They are good! I can't decide between the olive and the mustard for this year. And now I've just spotted the rose gold....

@Stravaig good ideas, thank you. It would be wonderful if we could see a proliferation of local cobblers/alteration services like the ‘old days’