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Toasties hoping for a sale while sailing into Christmas

1000 replies

Countmeout · 26/10/2023 18:28

New thread

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108
Countmeout · 17/11/2023 17:48

I have to agree with @neveradullmoment99 .

OP posts:
dudsville · 17/11/2023 17:53

I'm so sorry all, and especially @Laska2Meryls, I had no idea that my post came across the way it's been taken. I certainly wasn't meaning anything about you @Laska2Meryls, I was also happy for you and enjoyed living through your experience of winning and didn't think you did anything at all that i would be critical of. This is a lovely space and I have misrepresented my thoughts causing hard feelings here, sorry all.

Stoic123 · 17/11/2023 17:53

@Laska2Meryls - I'm sorry that you read in my comment any implication that you have any connection, personal or professional, whatsoever with Toast other than as a customer who enjoys buying their goods.

AmethystMoonShine · 17/11/2023 18:48

I went to the Toast Christmas Market in Coal Drops Yard today. They were still setting up at 12 🙄
Best bit was meeting Emma Aitchison who makes jewellery for Toast. I have a few of her pieces and she’s so lovely. She had lots of her other pieces there which were beautiful.
I think they could have made more of an effort with the main Toast stall, it was a bit sparse. I bet if they bought lots of scarves and socks they’d have sold them.
The artisanal crafts people all had their own stalls which were okay.

I also spotted Geoffrey Fisher twiggy table brushes in Margaret Howell… he gets about!

AmethystMoonShine · 17/11/2023 18:51

It was also my first outing of my new navy Gloverall pea coat…. Inspired by one of @Laska2Meryls ’s prizes last year. I loved the Toast pea coat and have coveted a version ever since.

The Gloverall ones are very good quality and made in England and I’d highly recommend if anyone’s thinking of one.

Theteapotsbrokenspout · 17/11/2023 19:03

@AmethystMoonShine Thank you for the Coal Drops Yard info, I was wondering about making a trip up to see my daughter in London and drop in at the stalls. Disappointing about Toast, perhaps they’ll get their act together as it progresses.

Glad you enjoyed your first Gloverall coat outing, and the jewellery sounds lovely.
Shame you didn’t get to meet Geoffrey Fisher 😁.

BrontëParsonage · 17/11/2023 19:09

@AmethystMoonShine I absolutely love Coal Drops Yard - and my seven-year-old loves the nearby fountains while the teen could watch the students coming and going from Central Saint Martin’s all day long. When I retire - and have pesky children off my hands - I’m so moving back to London. I don’t care if I have to live in half a broom cupboard. I love Emma Aitchison’s jewellery and I have a couple of her pieces on my Christmas list - for me!

faustina · 17/11/2023 19:37

@AmethystMoonShine - oh lucky you with the Gloverall peacoat! I think I bought one for one of my DSs one Christmas/birthday - they are beautiful and perfection in a peacoat. It made me laugh to hear Geoffrey's been spreading himself around the shops of London. Did he have his dibber in MH? Also, how much was it there I wonder?

@dudsville and @Laska2Meryls - you are both right and this is a lovely little corner of the universe - I think we all cheered very loudly when one of us won!

cashmereandcosysocks · 17/11/2023 19:41

Why the long drawn out explanation and the subsequent back tracking?!?I think the above posts were spot on - nothing personal, just factual.

The prolific purchasing and posting order details and pictures (and subsequent numerous returns) means it’s incredibly easy to identify customers on here.

Come on, it’s just naive to think otherwise 🙈

I actually emailed Toast at the time to ask why they are shilling on Mumsnet and why they magically decided to make a winner a highly active poster on this thread - they of course denied all knowledge of this, but I brought it up in a London store when I picked up some glove and was met with a smile and the words ‘no comment’ - fair enough, but let’s not pretend. It matters not whether the recipient knew not of what they did!!

Anyway I love reading these threads - used to be a massive Toast purchaser, but realising the cuts did me no favours, knitwear bobbles like a bitch and beautiful high quality items could be found on sale on par with the non - prices. Mid - end of eg Matches / NAP sales actually often match Toast sale prices.

I did make a fantastic profit unloading much of my wardrobe on eBay over the last few years and what struck me was why so many people resell. There are gazillions of Toast items on every platform going - almost like buyers remorse, or after one or two wears it’s decided that actually the item perhaps does not quite work. I found that since I’ve moved away from the brand I no longer have such a huge and consistent wardrobe rotation, which gave me food for thought.
Even Toast themselves are doing it - question is why on earth people are giving clothes back for free (it’s clear many are historic and recent circle items) and why anyone would repurchase paying a company x times over to sell the same goods - crazy.

There are so many sumptuous brands out there I do sometimes read this thread and wish you all would perhaps compare / scout out other brands. Toast is a mid range (quality) brand where the cost is really not on par with the quality and has slowly gone downhill over the years. I do think items are overpriced now.

  • dyed garments should not be staining my skin and soft furnishings
  • knitwear should not look like a cheap bobbled rag after a handful of wears - this I found to be a consistent issue
  • sizing should be consistent (I honestly cannot understand why this is deemed charming) this is so detrimental to the environment and the merry go round of multi purchase / returns has clearly had a knock on affect on Toast’s balance sheet to the extent that there have been issues with PayPal refunds at one point - outrageous.
  • shirts and dresses should not need to be pinned as a default due to poor cut / inability to design for women who have normal proportions
  • Can you imagine spending ££££ and receiving items scrumpled up like rags in a paper bag from any other brand? If people did not steam / iron and instead swiftly returned, Toast would soon sort this nonsense out.

I could go on and on and on ….

I still have a few items from past past past seasons that didn’t make the cull - a beautiful wool cotton seersucker check dress, wool and cotton Alix pants, a couple of Gabi pants, a beautiful heavy weight cotton dress, a couple of shirts, an old pair of shearling mittens which are very warm, oh and their very old cashmere comb which is wonderful.

I think everybody should relax. 1st world problems discussing clothes should never be taken any way other than lightly (and with a sprinkle of light humour). This is - whether you agree with it or not - a 'great' marketing thread for Toast and it’s absolutely fine to acknowledge this.

I like these threads, everyone is very sweet to each other which is quite charming 🤩

mrstrickland · 17/11/2023 19:46

@cashmereandcosysocks Hi, I am wondering where you do buy from now? I love to hear about brands I might not have tried. Toast is too expensive for me, but I am always happy to buy second hand

clowniform · 17/11/2023 19:48

Adding apologies if my comment in any way offended or upset you @Laska2Meryls I don't even think there is anything untoward going on with the Toast giveaways, let alone involving you. I wasn't even on these threads when you won (last year?) though remember when I started posting several people seemed to assume I worked for Toast too 🤷🏻‍♀️ (I don't and never have.)

@AmethystMoonShine thanks for the field report on the CDY pop up! I was thinking of going this weekend but sounds like it may not be worth a drenching.

AmethystMoonShine · 17/11/2023 19:50

@faustina no sign of Geoffrey’s dibber in MH….. but it was a rather fine table brush. £30 if I remember correctly.

I only associate those with places like Claridges where they come and sweep the table in between courses but have thought one would be handy at home with the mess my husband and daughter make 😂

AmethystMoonShine · 17/11/2023 19:54

I wouldn’t go out in unfavourable weather for it @clowniform but if it’s sunny like today was, then Coal Drop Yard is so very lovely it didn’t matter that the toast market was a bit lacking.
I’m also very conscious others may think it was better than I did! I don’t want to put people off. It just felt like a missed opportunity somehow?

OftenOrange · 17/11/2023 19:58

Outfit of the day and managed a quick before and after with the Alpaca waistcoat . It’s great being able to wear a blouse in Winter without freezing , and I think it looks so much more interesting with the tank .
Also wore it yesterday with BW stripe roll neck from Uniglo .
Added bonus , cuts down on ironing (what a lie, I never iron in Winter😂)

Toasties hoping for a sale while sailing into Christmas
Toasties hoping for a sale while sailing into Christmas
Stoic123 · 17/11/2023 20:01

@OftenOrange - love the top on you. With and without the waistcoat.

dontcallmelen · 17/11/2023 20:08

neveradullmoment99 · 17/11/2023 16:49

Ive not read back just the last few posts and I am 😯at the response to @Laska2Meryls Ive known her her personally for years and since she was on the Hush thread and is a friend of mine and she has NOTHING whatsover to do with Toast. Who knows the reason that they chose her but it was nothing to do with her. I absolutely vouch for that.

Seconding this 💯”I know” this poster, Laska & Cherries from the long running hush threads from a few years ago, I don’t personally buy or wear toast clothes because I’m am very petite & they don’t suit me, but do sometimes have a nosey on the toast threads as I like seeing what they & others have bought & do sometimes wish the clothing suited me.
some of you should be ashamed of yourselves with the insinuating posts really uncalled for & unpleasant has no place in a thread that always appeared to be supportive & friendly.
feel free to check out my username I’m a long standing poster.

clowniform · 17/11/2023 20:09

@AmethystMoonShine Well it's forecast to rain all weekend so will probably be nice enough for a stroll down 😁It would be good to see more Emma A. pieces IRL as I'm trying to up my jewellery game but my eye is too untrained to buy it online as I do other things.

OftenOrange · 17/11/2023 20:09

@stoic thank you , the top is pretty and one of my better sale buys ; pity it got hitched into my pants on the waistcoat photo , I’m useless at photos ,

AmethystMoonShine · 17/11/2023 20:14

Definitely worth seeing Emma’s work in real life @clowniform. We were chatting about that, saying how you get a much better idea of weight, size, scale etc. by seeing and holding the pieces.

OftenOrange · 17/11/2023 20:14

Here’s a question that may concern @PretLea
The green houndstooth coat is a very heavy coat , being long and a wool tweed.
It has a very plain shape with quite snug shoulders and a little seam that gives a nice fit on the shoulder . I did return the first one because that seam was poking out and as the cut is simple that was quite a noticeable flaw.
Now I need to hang the coat I’m concerned the hanger will make pointy folds , anyone know of a good very padded hanger ?

Stoic123 · 17/11/2023 20:16

OftenOrange · 17/11/2023 20:09

@stoic thank you , the top is pretty and one of my better sale buys ; pity it got hitched into my pants on the waistcoat photo , I’m useless at photos ,

I am very envious. These shaped tops from Toast don't suit me - but I wish they did as they are super useful and pretty.

clowniform · 17/11/2023 20:20

@OftenOrange I should think any thickish hanger with proper sloping arms would work. IIRC there were shocking QC issues with the sewing of the shoulder darts on the coat leading to the 'neck nipple' effect on many, but if you got a good one I don't think any hanger would produce bumps that couldn't be easily steamed out.

Also I love that round yoked blouse on you

OftenOrange · 17/11/2023 20:22

@cashmereandcosysocks That’s an interesting perspective, it’s quite easy to dismiss brands when one is out the other side and shopping elsewhere.
I had lunch today with friends from another forum I used to frequent and we were all laughing about the brand and picking holes in the company and the aesthetic, and we are offloading many of the items on the healthy resale
market .
I do read the forum posts and kind of envy those who are still 😍 about it all , I miss the cravings , so for me Toast shopping is a very refreshing and down to earth experience. Love the non judgemental, generous and helpful community .

Stoic123 · 17/11/2023 20:45

@cashmereandcosysocks - good critique of where Toast goes wrong. To that, I would add their inabilty to sew on buttons properly.

I have sold a lot of Toast recently - some on a Facbook page and some on eBay. I have a final bunch to sell on eBay in Spring and then should be left with things I love. I am starting to look further afield for new clothes.

I also find bobbling an issue, especially on the neater jumpers, and, while I enjoy a couple of Toast fair isle/alpaca jumpers, I now prefer Navygrey for plainer ones.

Some of the Toast trousers are really useful but I've peaked on dresses and they are my most regretted purchases. I still adore the very first two items I bought from Toast - both pinafores. I also love my kantha gown from Toast. It was overpriced but it brings a lot of joy on a grey morning.

Socks...still faithful.

Stoic123 · 17/11/2023 20:58

AmethystMoonShine · 17/11/2023 19:54

I wouldn’t go out in unfavourable weather for it @clowniform but if it’s sunny like today was, then Coal Drop Yard is so very lovely it didn’t matter that the toast market was a bit lacking.
I’m also very conscious others may think it was better than I did! I don’t want to put people off. It just felt like a missed opportunity somehow?

I'm getting a train into Kings Cross tomorrow and have a couple of hours to kill. Will pop in and have a nosy. Thanks for the reminder!

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