Could THIS be the Greatest Toast Thread Ever?

[ilovecherries]

An opportunity to discuss styling all those clothes we have on temporary loan.

@PretLea thanks for thinking of me. There is a size 10 currently on eBay for £95 - was the Vinted one on sale for less than this ? ( I’m thinking about pricing structure - the £95 ebay has been on sale for some time. I think it would have sold quickly a year ago )

@Noodle421 I think it was £60 on Vinted. And new too. I just saw it pop up on a saved search when I had a look and remember there being some chat on it here.

Oooh 😮
I wish I hadn’t asked 😆
I’ll console myself with the thought it may have been too small.

Sorry @Noodle421! I saw a new pair of ecru jeans on there for £15 (!!) a while ago and whilst I was doing a double take (can this be true?), it was gone. Still haunts me. 😂

@PretLea, it looks to me that the colours in your wardrobe do all go together, quite well, and you have some really lovely things. From your post i had expected to see a lot of random items but that isn't the case at all! This might be more about needing to spend some time trying things on together to get your confidence? It looks like a really great collection and i think when mixing and matching toast it's hard to go wrong as it will just look like creative/inspired choices.

How strange, as they namecheck so many other Toast pieces and the jacket they link to is ugly far less like. Lovely blog though, thank you!

Love seeing the wardrobe peeks! @PretLea do you follow the #toastbeing on instagram? Lots of styling ideas and pointers to Toast-friendly brands.

Yes, it looks very like the Hal jacket. Looks v nice. I’d talked myself out of it but now want it again !

@PretLeaOne glance at your photo and it looks like a beautifully curated wardrobe !! A great blend of lovely clothes. Maybe have a look at pieces you love and think about why perhaps you can’t wear it as an outfit with confidence - perhaps you have a few gaps? Eg a good quality plain t shirt in a neutral colour with your preferred neckline could unlock several different outfit combinations. This is what happened to me. Once I realised my problem I concentrated my time and energy on acquiring items I’d previous dismissed as boring.

Thanks everyone, you’ve really made me feel a lot better about what I do have. So kind and a real boost.

@dudsville I guess it comes down to lacking confidence - I just feel like I don’t look right, and feel awkward. I guess it’s because I previously didn’t care much about what I wore and now I’m trying to make an effort and it feels strange. I’m not sure I’m making any sense at all.

@clowniform I do have a look every now and then and find it useful. I noticed from that I quite like the contrast of dark items with lighter ones. Which made me think I need to add some parchment/ecru items. But just find them so impractical. Is that what you mean @Noodle421 - some neutral items/staples that might look good with a lot? I have a chalk Emma and that’s about it.

I bought my first ever jumper from Navygrey today in their charity sale - hopefully will fit ok, have heard very good things about them. I really really need to stop shopping 😬😵‍💫

Neat charcoal sweater

I think it’s a really common feeling pretlea. Your wardrobe actually looks like a Pinterest inspiration board, I’m quite jealous! What helped me was trying to make the unusual just ‘normal’. So as I gradually changed my style ( which for me happened alongside massive weight loss), I made myself wear outfit combinations when I wasn’t going anywhere. That had the dual advantage of dressing for ME and also let me feel at ease in my new clothes and identify things that I was always tugging/rearranging/just not feeling right in. As someone upthread said, it’s often also about missing a few pieces that will bring cohesion. For me, that’s tees in a range of neutrals plus 2 jackets 1 blazer type and one more boxy and cropped. Yours will be different but these. Items really helped me move from ‘clothes’ to outfits. I also plan exactly what jewellery, scarf, bag and even perfume makes an outfit for me.

@ilovecherries this is such a reassuring response. Thank you. For me it’s been 1) a mind shift and 2) a process. Still working on both.

Honestly, you look like you have great building blocks already. Hang out here with us (and we’ll help you spend money, too! 😂)

Just catching up in between hospital visits up in the frozen north and enjoying people’s wardrobe pics.

@Noodle421 - I know what you mean about Toast inspiring real dislike in some people - for years I didn’t used to understand my sister’s obsession with all things toast-related but began to move to the dark side once I discovered the nightwear. However, my friend hates Toast with a passion. I mentioned my refund problems a while back and that was the signal for a long diatribe on how awful it is. She loves all sorts of brands that I just don’t ‘get’ but I don’t hate them 😹

@PretLea I’m just a little bit further through the process after a big clear out and I’m still learning. The more I examine my building blocks and work out how I can make them into whole outfits the easier it is becoming as I’m getting a clearer picture as to what I like - didn’t really have a clue before. I started with basics that I couldn’t really go wrong with (not for me anyhow) - a cream crewe neck to go under my denim pinafore dress which also works with my jeans and skirt. I invested in a pair of very plain black long length boots which I hope will last years - they can look smart with a dress but equally can be worn under wide leg jeans. As @ilovecherries mentions, it’s helpful to plan the whole outfit even down to the tights. These basic pieces help the statement items of your wardrobe stand out and provide versatility within a range of outfits. As time goes on I’m hoping I will become more adventurous with my choices, shoe styles/colour etc as my confidence grows. I’m now at the stage of looking at more fun ways to elevate the look further eg scarves/jewellery/bags but I’m taking my time so that I can work within budget and minimise the risk of making costly mistakes.

Yes, I agree !!! I like the way my relative dresses - she has a strong sense of her own style and it suits her and she looks cool but while even a little bit of leopard print is ‘not me’ and I don’t even go as far as to say I dislike it, let alone hate it, I get that she looks good in it without me having to like it for myself. Toast somehow seems to provoke such strong and often unasked for reactions in people. My relative who couldn’t wait to leave the shop is just one example, I have several friends who feel similarly. Interesting to know why you had these anti-Toast sentiments to start with before you finally cracked over the nightwear ?

@Dee1224 hope it’s not too stressful dealing with the hospital visits. A bit of warm Toast chat always helps with distraction X

Indeed - thanks @Noodle421 !

@PretLea completely agree with the advice you have had. Whole outfit planning and trying them out seeing how they work is important. Also lots of inspiration until you find what you feel comfortable in. Also don't forget basics. It is odd how some people can just do this. My 13 year old somehow gets clothes - I have a jumpsuit similar to the stack check one which she just said - need a neck scarf with that. And she's right (for me at least)

Couple of other thoughts. I think it is worth thinking about shapes and silhouette. Of course this is different for everyone. But things like - if you have high waisted trousers are you going to wear fitted tops tucked in? Slightly cropped? Do you need a cropped jacket so you can see the waist? Having different silhouettes makes a real variety to clothes

Also scarves which toast do a lot of. Obviously can be worn round neck. But I don't always want to do that so will also add to handbag or even round wrist.

Good purchase. I absolutely love navy grey 💕

@Dee1224 & @Noodle421

Definitely brings out the marmite response in people. I quite enjoy some of the anti-Toast comments on Mumsnet and sometimes even agree with them (but they have the opposite effect on me). My favourite so far has been someone saying Toast clothes are a bit too much "Soviet Librarian" for her.

@Stoic123 😹😹😹

@stoic I read that too but I like and embrace the Soviet Librarian look !! Perfect description. So funny !

I wasn't a Toast fan straight away and would go into a shop with a friend and patiently wait while she tried things on (while muttering under my breath about the prices).

What changed was actually trying things on and realising how lovely the material and cut was. And then, once I own some pieces, just how lovely it is to wear.