Toasties moving into autumn and dusting off the mothballed knits (or buying new ones)

[ToastCosILoveIt]

New thread for us lovely Toasties.

I am still in a swimsuit.
Contemplating what I need. Possibly the Alixes but I’m not sure they are too blue. Or whether to give the low slung cords a try.
Ibviiusky will have to play size roulette. That is annoying @ScottishMouse

There’s nothing wrong with pernickety @ScottishMouse I have put notes in with a couple of things I’ve sent back explaining the quality issues.

That’s a good idea @Theteapotsbrokenspout, I might just do that.

That's not pernickety @ScottishMouse , you're highlighting toast's bizarre problems! How annoying. As these newer items increasingly hit the sales toast will get a real shock.

That's not pernickety @ScottishMouse , you're highlighting toast's bizarre problems! How annoying. As these newer items increasingly hit the sales toast will get a real shock.

Those are very legitimate complaints! Rubbish.

Can I add my own. Tried to buy a new dress in store - the v neck didn't sit quite right - not meeting properly at the sharp point and one side not quite flat against me. Only one in stock...

Ordered online. Arrived yesterday. One side of the v neck had been pressed firmly into position wrongky - leaving a visible seam on one side only.

Rubbish!

www.toa.st/collections/womens-dresses/products/v-neck-garden-print-dress-toffee

Oh that is frustrating @NoCureForLove what are you going to do? Are you going to order another to see?

Am debating. It shouldn't be so v hard to buy an expensive dress...

Absolutely @NoCureForLove. Did the shop assistants notice it?

Oo those are nice but I fear with my high instep I have no chance of getting them on. I’ve seen some chunky ones in navy at White Stuff that are quite fun

It seems that the issue of quality isn't confined to a few items. I have sent back everything I have bought recently apart from one top and a scarf, not because they didn't fit or were the wrong colour but because either they were badly(cheaply) made or poor quality material. Not unreasonably I think that you shouldn't be able to see through a dress at Toast prices. The latest is the red crinkle dress which is noticeably poorer quality than my favourite crinkle dress which is 2 years old. The fabric of the old one is dense and closely woven, the new one is much 'airier ' if that makes sense. It definitely would not be as warm, would probably wear out quicker, and hand on heart I do not strictly believe it is all cotton, it may well be a poly/cotton mixture. Where do I go to buy dresses?

I hadn’t experienced the drop in quality until this year , I spent a while mulling over a coat I loved but found it has puckering along a seam and what looks like irreversible stretching on the shoulder from being hung on an unsuitable hanger.

Yesterday I was at a small Toast store event where Evie discussed styling and showed items from the new drop.
They were keen to have feedback from us on issues like sizing (😂)wish list ideas like colours and styles we’d like to see added, )
There were some beautiful velvet pieces : spaghetti strap dress, gathered skirt and boxy jacket in the deep blue black .
A very glam dress and a forties style blouse in a colourful nostalgic print.
A grey and a green mohair fairisle jumper .

We got the chance to try on lots of things and to chat to Evie , she looked lovely in the navy herringbone trousers, long pintuck blouse and navy alpaca waistcoat .

They generously offered 15 % off so I came home with the navy funnel collar jacket which is gorgeous and very impressive quality ,a modern classic which I shall have for years .
Sizing of the jacket is generous , I’m usually Toast 8 and took XXS.
I meant to buy the navy waistcoat because it was so cosy, but forgot in the excitement of buying the jacket .

I’ve bought garment covers from Lakeland to protect my nicer coats from moth , it’s been a game changer.

@OftenOrange Ooh thanks for posting, it sounds like there are some beautiful pieces in the new drop. I’m looking for a Christmas party dress - my first party is in November (OH work being cheap and not wanting to pay December prices 🙄) so I need to get a move on.

Has anyone tried this dress? If there’s nothing in the new drop I might go for this - I’ve got some sparkly boots I could wear with it or maybe some silver stilettos to dress it up. I’m quite reluctant to buy something that isn’t really versatile and this looks like it could be.

sounds like a great day out . What sort of styles and colours did people want to see @OftenOrange .

I would like a pair of Alix in baby cord if anyone is listening. Preferably green.

@OftenOrange , that event sounds fab. Where was it and how did you get invited? I am very keen to see the velvet bits in the new drop.

@Saurus72 , that dress looks lovely. I am eyeing it up in the green colour.

My friend has it and she absolutely loves it. She wore it out to a dinner recently. I haven’t seen her wear it but she always looks good and has great taste ! I’d be tempted because of its versatility but I already have a couple of navy dresses so it’s not a top priority for me.

I’ve seen a few of the new velvet pieces. Gorgeous midnight blue colour. Kick flare trousers with matching boxy cropped jacket and a beautiful dress in the same fabric.

@ToastCosILoveIt@Countmeout@Saurus72

I booked for the event a few weeks back, I think it was probablyKindred I
It was in the Notting Hill store and was supposed to be K Atkinson along with Evie, but she cancelled. There were a few of the NH staff along with Evie and they were super helpful.
The format wasn’t what I expected , it was a 9 30 start , I arrived late and missed the breakfast and some of the discussion.
They explained that Toast want to bring more colour into collections and the crepe type bouse and very glam dress patterned dress ( think Kiera Knightly in Atonement) reflect that .
For those looking for velvet ,you will love the new pieces. The strappy velvet dress was being tried with a t shirt and big boots which looked great and shows versatility.
I’m more interested in dressing smart casual so didn’t try any of the evening wear .

We were asked what we’d like to see more of , or new ideas. One of the staff was taking notes.
Everyone wanted consistent sizes. One lady wanted more rich deep reds which was noted.
Someone else wanted a choice of trouser length which isn’t going to happen, they feel that now there is a length for everyone in the collection. In fact trouser length was very much an issue for many .
Also fit around the bust came up and was noted.
We were asked what we made of the shaped midi dress in indigo denim or needlecord . I piped up to say that I’ve tried it and found it too smart and slightly uncomfortable as the waist was too high.

Editng to add a new piece that attracted a lot of love, a alpaca cardi in soft orange and in midnight blue black . No buttons and short so designed to wear over dresses, felt soft and heavenly , quite £££

YES @Countmeout I could absolutely do with a pair of green cord Alix! I actually ordered a pair of green cord trousers from Sea Salt today, as recommended by @Alpacasoft. Definitely a gap in my wardrobe.

I’d really like some green cords, there’s definitely a gap in my wardrobe if I squash everything up 😁. Which ones did you order @PretLea ?

I’ve just spent my lunchtime looking through the plumo website, so much stuff that I love. I am quite put off by having to pay for returns though, and their sizing seems odd - some one size and some multi-sized. Does anyone think it is worth trying a few of their pieces?

I would also love some needlecord alixes - that is a brilliant idea!

@Dee1224 my beautiful, glittery mustard socks arrived yesterday - thank you so much for pointing them out to me!

I've been too upset to post about this before, but it was my birthday on Monday and I finally managed to get around to taking my very well loved linen robe into my local Toast to get it fixed. It has a small hole in the seam of one pocket and one of the sleeves is quite badly ripped at the seam.

I checked the terms and conditions of their mending service and it said if something extensive needed to be done, such as relining of a piece, a charge would be made which I was more than happy to pay obviously.

When I got there, there was someone I hadn't seen before and she said I couldn't expect something as badly damaged to be fixed for free. I said I was more than happy to pay as mentioned in their terms and conditions. (I honestly can't see that it's a bigger thing than the relining of something!). Then she started speaking slowly to me as if she thought I was stupid that it was a free service and I couldn't expect such damage to be repaired for free

She was so rude to me and actually raised her voice at one point and I have never ever had such a horrible experience in any shop anywhere, or been made to feel so shit!

Then they called the manager who showed me photos they'd been sent of similar damage to a sleeve and said as a free service I couldn't expect such big damage it to be mended. I repeated what was on their terms and conditions and that I just didn't see how it was as extensive as relining something and that I was more than happy to pay. In the end she took photos and has emailed another store and given them my contact email as said I can post it to them if they'll accept it. She wasn't rude like the first person, but I was very upset by then as you can imagine

I've just emailed Toast to complain (was too upset to do it before) and I will never set foot in that shop again. If I need to go to an actual shop I'll go to a London store where I'll hopefully not be spoken down to. It was a horrible and very unexpected experience and it completely spoiled my day!

I popped into my local Sea Salt store over the weekend to have a look at them, and the shop assistant was wearing a pair. Looked really nice on, and I think the green looks nicer than it does on the website. @Theteapotsbrokenspout

https://www.seasaltcornwall.com/asphodel-cropped-wide-cord-trousers

Oh gosh @faustina I’m so sorry how awful to be treated like that. You also go to the Cambridge store am I right? I know they’ve hired a few new staff there recently, as it’s my local too…