Toasties debating another sale 😬and waiting impatiently for all the new things

[Countmeout]

New thread

Trust pilot review for Toast seem really rubbish too with huge issues with customer services.

Thought they would have been more positive now [ They were awful after re-doing their website] Remember the huge issues with posting and refunds a few years back?

Ive also noticed this [copied from TP review] with things like veja trainers, Solovair etc that the prices can be different and usually much more on the
Toast website:

'Every time I have reached out to customer service I have had a negative experience. They just aren’t very nice or helpful. Beware they also sell items at a significant mark-up. I purchased a Klippan blanket off their website only to discover I could have bought it for £30 less on Nordic Nest. The exact same blanket, not another one or similar. I brought this to their attention asking if they would price match and they really couldn’t have cared less.'

Just beware if you are purchasing branded items on Toast.

Tbf, Marks and Next can also do the same.

I think it’s up to us to check out competative prices , I haven’t found much that I liked at a lower price but if I did why bother going back to Toast for it?

Also sorry there is no live. I prefer those done by Toast staff; Evie and Nicci especially make me like something I haven’t previously noticed.
I found the two blog women useless , it felt rather insincere and dreary.

have you seen they are doing a community garden event . . . in London ?

@LoveFairIsleJumpers - I guess cities are where most people live, so they might only have small gardens or a community space? A friend of mine lives in Tottenham and they have the most amazing community garden where they all help with planting and clearing. It looks really nice! I'd love to move back to London, but I would really really miss my garden

About pricing of other brands, I think I'd always check if it was much cheaper elsewhere, although with something like Blundstones or Solovair I wouldn't mind paying a bit extra for the fast and free delivery and free returns

Having said that, the pretty red watering is available at TKMaxx in a smaller version, and in the same size in a very nice blue and green (for about a fiver)

I suppose they started it during lockdown and had a lot of exposure. Maybe they felt like a rest. I did like Nikki doing it though, she always seemed to be wearing something that worked for me ( although I am not anywhere near as slim) .
I warmed to Evie after the layering video she did which I thought was useful.
I also liked the lovely tall girl whose name I cannot remember that did the denim edit. She’s very natural.

The Style in the Stix ladies were refreshing the first time but should have been a one off. They’re Too Tall and Too Thin for average Jo ( me) . I think people who work for Toast are better as they obviously have to wear the clothes at work if not the rest of the time whereas Influencers are just selling what they are paid to sell.

I wonder are they reviewing doing lives as obviously it’s not lock down now although they’re so useful for those of us without access to the shops,
or maybe all the ladies wear hasn’t arrived due to delivery delays ( just wish someone would say if that is the case)

I liked Nikki doing lives too, and the designer when she explained some of the thinking behind the themes etc - it was interesting. Style in the Stix have a great Instagram feed - really imaginative, but yes, it's not tremendously useful to see how things look on them (to me)

I hope they don't stop the lives though!

Is the Emma Tee now renamed Cleo? I bought an Emma tee in the sale and really like it but it no longer seems to be there? Has anyone bought the Cleo , review says it not swingy? Is it very straight?

I'm really annoyed because bought this skirt and loved it but eventually had to wash it (gentle 30) and it has shrunk a lot in length. I've stretched it out as much as possible but don't think it'll be the same.

https://www.toa.st/collections/womens-skirts/products/crinkle-organic-cotton-patch-pocket-skirt-darkest-olive

@faustina I think Nikki Sher has left Toast. I'm not a fan of Evie, or the other two...

@BeezusQuimby - ah! That'll explain why she's not doing lives anymore! What a shame! I really liked her presentations

@faustina I agree. She did all the sales chat with a bit of warmth.

@lordloveadog I would contact CS about the skirt…

@lordloveadog I have the boat neck dress in that material which I 've washed a few times and I noticed that (surprisingly) on the care label it says something like 'iron back to shape'. Does the label on the skirt say the same? If it does it might be worth a try?

@lordloveadog had the new season red crinkle Franca. First time I washed it, it shrunk. I returned it. Yet I have the black crinkle dress from a previous season and that has stayed true to size.

A TOAST questionnaire in my inbox this morning. On the one hand, a promising sign. On the other, when a clothes company is more interested in your use of social media and engagement with their ancillary activities, rather than your thoughts on their styles, cut, fit, fabrics, colours, buttons, zips, seaming, sizing, collections etc, then it's all over really 🤷‍♀️

@Stravaig yes, thought similar. But will complete and hope I win the £300 😁

@mizu I was honest and detailed :D Ever hopeful of rekindling original Toast.

£300 of winter sale stuff would be very nice! That said, I have never won a Toast draw, in some 25 years, even when I was writing regular reviews.

@Stravaig I too completed the questionnaire and was honest but there was limited opportunity to say what I wanted to say - they didn't ask the 'right' questions. I've been wearing Toast for 24 years. I much prefer the Toast styles of yesteryear which were more vibrant in my opinion. Too many baggy brown things these days! (Apologies to anyone I may have unintentionally offended!).

@Stravaig I received and completed the questionnaire, commented on inconsistency of sizing and lack of Toast shop in my nearest major town. However, I agree, little opportunity to make some more pertinent points.

Had a look at Nikki's linkedin profile.
Suggests that she left in August 2023

What I found if particular interest was her mention of how in 8 years she turned Toast into a double digit profit making company. So that an over 10% profit for the shareholders etc. And that explains the jacked up prices well over inflation rate etc

It may be my ever more menopausal body, my ever more fussy nature, my ever more grumpy disposition, but I am less and less enamoured by recent items and collections. I returned the cashmere wool raglan cardigans I recently tried, along with the sleeveless “Lydia” top, to store last week, and spent quite some time trying on many things. I am not a fan of the jacked up prices, but am also willing to pay for quality, something that is either that bit different or I know I will wear to death. But I could find nothing I liked enough.
On my way home I popped into a small boutique and tried on and loved 3 or 4 items from Girls of Dust. I bought only one, a plain white classic tee, the fabric is thick and weighty and it falls well and will be worn until it falls apart. It was about the same price as a Toast tee, but quality wise seems so much better.
Later that evening, I had a trawl of eBay, vinted, and the fb group, and have earmarked a few things I am interested in from previous collections. Added up together, I could buy 3 or 4 for the price of one new item. I think this is going to be the way forward for me. (Although, of course, there will be a May drop soon, and I love the look of the skirt in the photo advertising the live on May 2nd, so I may eat my words!).

For me, I have been willing to pay the prices for items of interesting design, that I get pleasure from wearing and that are high quality. If any of those three aspects are not there, then I won't buy at the price they are asking. Unfortunately, the last year or so the quality (and fit) hasn't always been there for me. I have bought a few great items (like that apron dress that is currently my favourite dress :-) ), but I have sent back an awful lot more than I have kept. For everyday items, like plain tops and t-shirts, I won't pay Toast prices when I think I can get better quality items elsewhere, often cheaper too.

Also, I understand that they are cutting down on the number of new items, but this spring there seems to be so little new released that I have lost some of my interest in the brand. There's only so many times I will go in and look at exactly the same clothes before I find new places to look.