Toasties - the countdown to Christmas

[Countmeout]

Just getting a thread ready.

@MsDastardley, thanks for the info, I'll let you know how I get on.

The only things I've received so far from Christmas sales are some cotton velvet jeans www.jigsaw-online.com/products/delmont-velvet-tapered-jean-black and a linen cotton light knitted sweater www.jigsaw-online.com/products/linen-cotton-v-neck-jumper-ivory from Jigsaw. I find Jigsaw quite hit and miss with loads of viscose and polyester, but occasionally I find some nice things from there in natural fabrics.

I got 2 sizes of each. The 28 jeans were enormous, so I kept the 26. The S top was a bit baggy, so I kept the XS. Pictures attached, although I wouldn't actually wear them together, the top is for summer and the trousers for winter. The 27 inch inside leg makes them full length on me!

So, in answer to your question about chest size increase, no mine hasn't increased. But I've lost about a stone and a half since this time last year, so I've kind of shrunk all over.

@MsDastardley - about bra sizing: have you ever tried going down a band size (or 2). I used to buy 32/34 but I am actually a 30 with a bigger cup size

@Theteapotsbrokenspout I loved the minako trousers so much I didn't take them off! They were a bit tight in the waist when I first tried them, but they've stretched out already so am sending the larger size back (S) . Maybe worth trying yours on again?

I might have to keep the other pair too (tallow cotton linen canvas ) because they're really lovely. Much smaller than the minako if anyone's thinking of ordering. I've gone one size up

Loving all the reviews! Some we win, some we lose, that's the joy and heartbreak of the sale.

Not much luck with the dresses
Square neck velvet - a bit see through and unlined for the luxury it hints at.
The navy with orange grid lines, excellent waist, runs big but the raglan sleeves give me that winged squirrel look. I also doubt I'll ever work in an office again and it has a hint of corporate about it.
Tie dye blue sleeveless, I was desperate to love this strolling along an imaginary sunny dockside. It channels my formidable SIL and DH couldn't handle it.

Enjoying the Kantha but the embroidery is missing in a few places. Feels like a weighted blanket but with the option of moving around the house.

@faustina That’s interesting, I packed mine back up straight away - perhaps I’ll get them out again.

@faustina the Minako trousers are great. I have the graph check version. I thought initially that they didn’t work on me but I have worn them so much since buying them recently. I dithered over the blue ones in the sale and of course now they are all gone, but S is my size so I may look out for your return!

@ScottishMouse the fabric is amazing - a bit like the alix indigo twill..possibly just slightly lighter, but not much. I'm so pleased with them. Will be sending off on Monday- I guess the back in stock notification won't work because there aren't any left now

Ah yeah, that’s true @faustina. I’ll maybe keep a vague eye at the end of next week, but I probably don’t need them to be honest.
I am reading Patrick Grant’s Less at the moment, and it’s making me think that if the two orders I placed on the 23rd and 24th never got dispatched, it would probably be no bad thing. The sale really sucks me in sometimes, and I don’t need any of the things I ordered. Buyer’s remorse has set in before they have even been dispatched.
I need to do a proper wardrobe edit and make a list of what gaps there are and only buy to fill those this year. Let’s see how well that goes.

Hi - I am also reading that book - it is FANTASTIC !!! Biggest take away so far - look for quality rather than quantity .

It is really good @LoveFairIsleJumpers. I have been a quality over quantity person nearly all my life. I have no idea how I turned out like this as I grew up in a family that are the complete opposite, and will buy the cheapest crappiest version of whatever they need, and then wonder why they constantly need to replace it when it falls apart. It drives me bananas. It is not for financial reasons that they do this either. They think I am a snob, and will not hear the logic behind my argument at all.

Looks like there has been a wee restock (not that I am looking, given what I said about buying less!).

Thanks @ScottishMouse not that I’m looking either 😁

I also ordered the loop back sweater in green and the Jessa dungarees in black (already have the indigo). And the cotton twill trousers in phosphorite and cotton/linen sweater in parchment.

I'll let you know what I'm keeping!

I did go to Brora in Bath never having been there before, but after noting the positive comments on here thought i would check them out. I picked up a lovely pair of socks - they were £98 so I put them down again 😂

£98 @PrincessofWells - for socks🙀🙀🙀(It’s a good job I’m already lying down😹)

I am not hopeful of any further additions to the Toast sale at this point. Can’t believe I haven’t found one thing to try!

£98 for socks is ridiculous. DS20 can't believe DH and I spend £15 on a pair of wool socks.

That's really shoddy isn't it.

Here's a picture, the colours are impossible to capture!

Has anyone had any orders from dec 23rd or 24th despatched yet? I’m waiting for two (oh and the two more I made last night 🤦‍♀️, but that will be a while longer I assume).

@ScottishMouse yes, I have had both my orders from the 23rd.
the Men’s Blackhorse Lane jacket fits well
in S. so glad I took a gamble of it. Gorgeous denim indigo and will be very useful.
The obsidian square neck velvet dress is gorgeous and drapey. A couple of little faults in the velvet which I’m going to live with as Toast seem a bit rubbish at discounts.

On a more positive note, I did have a very nice shop in Cheltenham recently. I returned a pair of trousers that I had bought for mums Christmas present. I had ended up with two pairs as thought one was lost in the post. Decided to be honest about that they were so chuffed in the shop that they gave me a free printed bandana for mum and socks for me. I thought that was a nice little gesture. The staff are so lovely in there.

This is the least spendy sale in ages. Last winter and summer I bought loads. I have bought a few full price items this season as I loved them so much I didn’t want to miss out. A bit of a bland sale this time around so quite glad I picked up what I loved earlier.

Do you mean you’ve already received them @Primrosespaw? No sign of mine being despatched yet which does feel quite slow.

@ScottishMouse yes, they both arrived by RM yesterday. I did two orders in one day as cracked over the denim jacket. I hope yours arrive soon. It is a bit annoying when they are slow off the mark.

Also finding the sale dull@Primrosespaw
A damp squib indeed.
My sale purchases - nothing 😳
Already had a new things full price email
Looks like Toast have changed their MO and the good sales are a thing of the past

@Poplinskirt I so agree. I remember 12 years ago when I first discovered Toast, the sales were great and better priced. Such amazing fabrics. A silk ikat top in jewel colours, all sorts. Sad that top is too small now. Damn those hormones!

Also agree that the sale this time is a bit meh. I have kept two pairs of socks from my
first order - not even exciting socks, just the charcoal grey Falke wool ones that I wear every day.
I imagine most of my other orders will go back too. Managed to nab a returned onyx stripe dress last night so will see if it is better made than the one I returned (although it could of course be the one that I returned 😆). Also ordered the cotton wool herringbone wide leg pull on trousers. I fear all the pleats and gathers will make me look awfully wide, but I have seen them on a colleague and they looked fabulous on her so we’ll see.
But if my orders from dec 23rd & 24th haven’t made it out of the warehouse yet, I imagine those ones from last night will not arrive for ages yet. If I had managed to order everything together I would have shelled out for express delivery, but seeing as things get added and restocked randomly and you need to pounce when you see something, I can’t pay for express shipping each time.

@PrincessofWells @IlovePond @Netcam I’ve got a pair of Brora cashmere socks! I didn’t pay anything like that for them though, I think they were about £39 in sale. Still a lot for socks, but they feel so luxurious. They also stay up which apparently a lot of cheaper ones don’t.

I was wearing them when I had an appointment with a dermatologist early this year. I went to see him about a spot on face, and wasn’t expecting to strip off for a full body check. He and the nurse were admiring the socks and asked if they could touch them 😂😂

Socks are usually added towards the end of sale, and they do have good reductions.

My DD bought me four pairs of Nishiguchi Kutsushita socks from Toast last Christmas. I am apparently difficult to buy for. These are great and wearing really well

@MsDastardley Nishiguchi Kutsushita socks are amazing. I have three pairs. They are my absolute favourites. Not cheap, but I will be darning them if holes appear in years to come.