Toasties counting down to Sale Day.

[ilovecherries]

New thread as we wait eagerly for the next sale :)

My v-neck black jersey dress from the re-stock batch arrives tomorrow and I pray it looks good because I've been waiting for it to come back into stock for months, and I really need a smart summer dress...

I love Alix best of all @ilovecherries although possibly not light enough and poor colour choice.

Meanwhile, I have trimmed my saved list down to 38🤣

@Noodle421 I completely relate to your post re: worrying about shopping feeling out of control. I have had a shopping fixation in the past and it really came under control over the past few years. Partly because of covid, partly because of stopping sale shopping (in the main - Toast excepted..!). I just love lovely things (clothes, make up, beauty products - strangely I have no joy from shoe shopping, I just buy what I need) and I also love the process of searching, planning, and scheming over what to buy. I think Hannah Louise Poston captures the time it takes up and only realising when she stoped shopping. The thing is I really love it, I wear what I buy and it brings me joy. I have no debt apart from the mortgage so I don’t really want to stop. But I am definitely an addict…

@Dee1224 You don't have a wishlist problem until you've actually run out of space! There used to be a limit, and then it wouldn't accept anything else 🤣.

I have updated my saved list on the Toast website with the items I really really love (but are either too much ££ now, or are things I don’t actually need). This is an excellent distraction from my twins and their A level Maths paper 2 this afternoon.
I have a couple of green tops ( cotton pique /cotton linen/driftwood check shirt). Quilted needle cord jacket in cream. The Pond linen dress. Indigo stripe dress. And the heavenly Sea Kelp dress that I LOVE. We will see if any of them are down to the price point I can justify. Oh and some silk bandanas! And Fracap sandals etc etc etc

@Saurus72 you sound in a great place with your shopping ! Enjoyable, items well loved and worn and no debt issues. I’ve had to have a big re-think for the first time ever because of my constant wardrobe dissatisfaction resulting from years of impulsive and ill thought out decision making. 2/3 of it a waste of money and time. I’m feeling quite excited about being more considered and careful going forwards. Shopping less and better. It’s a positive change. I’m hoping that will translate into happier wardrobe vibes…

@Saurus72 , I hear you and you sound like me. Sometimes I am slightly embaressed on this thread as I have so many of the things that posters are enquiring about. Today is a rare day when my only two items that I am ‘wearing’ are the orange oilcloth bag and a pair of orange Birkenstocks. I am wearing one of my only two purchases from Poetr: a lovely cream and gold patterned shift dress with a gathered neck and short sleeves. I bought the same one in cream/grey/black. I will take a photo of the pattern and post.

The denim panelled jeans arrived yesterday in S and in M. I am a 12 and keeping the S as I prefer the more streamlined look in terms of gaps in my wardrobe and I thought the M would be too big if they stretched a bit (which apparently they do).

I have only two things on my sale wish list, possibly three. I have too many clothes (like Saurus) and need to be choosy in what I need and buy.

…embarrassed….

It was really hard to begin with, and I quickly realised I was using shopping (the problem is with online for me, not in store nearly so much) as a self-soothing/comfort thing. The last 4 years have been totally hideous and I realised when I was stressed or upset or sad, I was shopping. Once I realised that, it was easier because I was able to ask myself ‘what is it I really want/need’. I said three months initially, then stretched it to 5. Since then I’ve let myself buy preloved. It doesn’t seem to give me the same dopamine hit and makes me consider how much I want it, and I try with that to operate a one in/one out policy, even if the thing that goes out again is the thing I just bought if I realise it’s wrong. I did have Toast vouchers I’d got for Xmas and I bought the denim wrap jumpsuit and I’ve failed to find the right pair of lightweight trousers preloved so I’ve decided to buy one new pair.

Beautiful Poetry patterned dress.

A good friend buys one Toast dress a season and wears it constantly, no babying . I wish I could find time to wear my Toast items so much, but after being drilled to ‘ keep nice things nice’ I simply can’t bring myself to change.
I bought the linen balloon trousers to wear as house and garden clothing , but already I’m afraid to spoil them.
It’s ridiculous that I feel obliged to wear the hideous green linen trousers bought in the local market instead!

That’s the other thing, isn’t it. We are in our touring caravan for a large chunk of time this year (home for two days to mow the grass!). In the past I’ve had ‘camping clothes’. I’m not talking simply about the practicalities of decent waterproofs but rather about thin, worn, sad clothing. This year I have forced myself to take a bag of lovely dresses and tops and wear them. Not ‘dressed up’ clothes but certainly easy fit, comfortable but lovely stuff.

@OftenOrange - you have hit the nail on the head for me! I have a whole wardrobe full of things that I am apparently ‘saving for best’ - why? I hardly go anywhere nowadays🤣

I left my red floral gown and matching nightwear in the wardrobe for months before giving myself a stiff talking to, (I think I was scared of bonkers rescue pup ruining them), but have started wearing and they are now my favourite items.

The cream/turquoise pjs and nightie that I bought last proper sale are still neatly folded in my bedroom, unworn. Off to give myself a good talking to😂

@ilovecherries - I did some trousers research a month or so ago and the lightest weight with the best reviews seemed to be the balloon trousers. In the end I went for another pair of Alix which I found preloved, but I expect they're not lightweight enough for you?

I have room for one more thing too and it might end up being the navy linen dress which isn't going to be in the sale, but I'm hanging on to see what is there first - oh and a mid-weight jacket! So two things!😀

Quick walk around the park for a break at work as it's so glorious out here. Wearing an old TOAST dress but such a good one. Let the hem down this year so it's a wee bit longer.

My policy with clothes is usually one in, one out.

Brave, very brave

@mizu It looks lovely and somehow even with such a limited view I can see it’s giving you joy🌞

Changing your mindset, especially if certain self soothing behaviours are linked to difficult areas including anxiety/boredom/stress etc is really tricky, so fantastic you recognised this and acted on it so effectively. So easy to fall into this pattern without realising. I’m also looking at underlying triggers for unhealthy shopping habits. Feels good to address them. Need to find that healthy balance now as I do love a great piece of Toast but will limit number of items to one or 2 pieces per season ( that’s the plan anyway ). Also, using your one in one out strategy and preloved.

@OftenOrange and @Dee1224
I seem to have a real block of not wearing things even if I love them, saving them for ‘best’ I guess. So I don’t care where I’m going - supermarket, petrol station etc I’m trying to wear most of my clothes as every day clothes. I draw a line at cleaning the toilets etc/ gardening. It really is old leggings for those jobs.

I had to return a pair of shoes I was really unhappy with - felt really let down by the quality. They looked tatty very quickly but they were a year old before I wore them so I was worried that I wouldn’t be believed when I said I’d worn them a handful of times only. Toast customer care were fantastic and I got a full refund. I explained I sometimes find it hard to wear the clothes for the first time and they often sat for ages in my wardrobe (strange I know). She told me that clothes degrade in wardrobes even if they are not being used. She urged me to get the best use out of my purchases by enjoying them straight away. I’ve remembered her words and now put on new items as soon as they arrive and am trying not to save anything for best. My conversation with her was really helpful. ( I didn’t realise I had so many wardrobe hang ups 😆).

That's really interesting @Noodle421 , I have also been guilty of just letting things hang unworn in my wardrobe. By gradual culling of my older non-toast items I am now having to wear my toast or risk going out naked 😁.

My Dad was a huge fan of quality clothes shopping (obviously runs in the family) and could often be found gardening in a posh suit that had been superseded by an even posher suit. I haven't gone to those extremes yet but maybe one day.

As regards online shopping, I know I often go to buy something when I'm upset after an argument, so knowing this is a trigger I do try to be aware of this and take a more considered approach to buying.

@Dee1224 @Noodle421 @ilovecherries I’m resolving to wear the new stuff now, starting tonight!

You are in good company with @dudsville - did she not mention nudity in a previous post ?? That’s why I don’t listen to general advice about getting rid of everything you don’t wear. Often it’s testament to how much I love a piece by the length of time I’ve not worn it. Bonkers isn’t it 😜 it’s as if the item will never be so perfect as when it’s first unwrapped. I never used to be like this !! I couldn’t wait to go out in my new gear. Now, my clothes are laid out as if on exhibit. Given a light dusting from time to time . Renew the mothballs. Oh dear. This needs to change.

She spoke to me in such a soothing voice, like I was getting a bit of therapy mixed in with getting a refund. Customer care at its best.