Toasties - the countdown to Christmas

[Countmeout]

Just getting a thread ready.

ooh - that is a very nice bag - I am tempted!

@faustina I saw the leopard print one on Jenny Garcia’s IG and I do love big bags! I think the tartan and waxed cotton makes it even better, and perfect for AW.

Has anyone ordered a Scout bag today from Kate Sheridan? I am trying to but it says the discount code is not valid??? 🤷‍♀️

@Poplinskirt Oh I totally agree on comfort, it's just for me, the quantity of fabric required to cover my hips/arse with ease is not comfortable when hoiked in with elastic at narrow waist or underbust; whereas cut and tailored to fit securely at high hip level is heaven.

I'm down to my last jumper (shop bought), no cardis, no gilets/pullovers, and you've reminded me of the joys of knitting to suit my whims. This pattern, but I fancy a different weight yarn, and I'll extend that feature, and narrow it here, and swap in those pockets, and perfect! Although impossible to repeat because my scribbles make no sense when it needs replacing years later :)

I've not had the physical or cognitive capacity for crafts in recent years, but I'm hoping to get back to it eventually, before I'm in the zone of failing eyesight and arthritic hands. (In truth, an eye test is already badly needed). Lots of knitwear to replenish!

It's very much the loss of traditional craft skills I worry about, in myself yes, but especially in industry as a whole.

A trickier festive wishlist for me this week!
Quilt, butter dish, socks ... plus PJ's and bed jacket (as gifts).

@Poplinskirt I liked reading this post.

I move around a lot in my work every day and wearing TOAST clothes means that I don't have to think or worry about what I am wearing. Nothing is digging in. I feel good.

This has become increasingly important to me. I feel I look good in their clothes and some of them probably aren't conventionally flattering.

My mother has commented in the past on a couple of things I wear - could be a maternity dress mizu or such unflattering shoes mizu but I am unfazed these days 😁

@Poplinskirt yes! I agree with you. I am so glad we are no longer required to nip in our waists and have everything fit our curves tightly. I am so much happier in something oversized with room to move, and I don’t care if that means it is not flattering in a traditional sense. I love a Japanese aesthetic, and although I do not share this body shape, I will try to find things that give a similar feel on my body.
Unrelatedly, this morning I walked past someone wearing the grey alpaca buttoned tank with a pair of beaten up jeans and a white long sleeved tee, some Boston Birkenstocks and a long black trench type coat thrown over the top. She looked fabulous. So fabulous that I nipped into Toast a bit further up the road and tried on the tank. I had ignored this one as I have tried a few tanks/gilets in the past few seasons and have never found them to work all that well for me. But the shape and length of this one is really good, and the pocket on the front distracts too. It’s really pricey though, so I will wait to see if it pops up in a sale. Does anyone have it and how do you wear it?

Speaking of sales, I bought two sale items (both keepers I have worn loads) on November 27th last year (a Monday).

@mizu my mother once told my sis that she didn’t know why I dressed like a nun. I was wearing the long sleeveless denim dress with the button bib front from a few years ago over a long-sleeved black tee. I thought it looked pretty good.

😹@ScottishMouse

How nice you could get to a Toast straightaway to try the tank. It does look nice.

@Stravaig
The last time I wore hip level trousers was indeed the last time.
I'm blessed with a long pelvis and find anything at hip level really uncomfortable.
I like things hoiked up high 😂

I agree that we need to preserve our traditional craft skills and on that note it makes me fizz somewhat that Toast bang on about "artisans" from abroad with smug head tilt instead of using traditional British based weavers and knitters, yarn and fabric

The most recent live she said " artisans" so many times I wanted to give her a poke with Geoffreys dibber!

At least in my own knitting I can choose British yarns

@mizu
@Scottishmouse
Yes my mother would comment but incredibly sadly she hated herself because she felt she had failed-she could no longer fit in her wedding dress, worn age 19

In other news I ordered the Moonstone cord skirt .
A great example of catering to fluctuating body size, it has 2 sets of buttons on the front so adjustable .
Beautiful soft cord and will be nice and warm
Still pondering the black wrap skirt
Sadly I ordered the Aster tee after many years of umming over them and mostly the price
What a let down , its so thin!
I didn't even bother trying it on

Ah, Geoffrey’s dibber @Poplinskirt ! I still wish I’d bought it after seeing it in the flesh at KC. Only Toast could sell a small stick and get away with it 😹

I have a hankering for a cord skirt - I had one as a student in bottle green. It was lovely!

I love the shape of that cord skirt, and the deep hem. Not my colours though. Seasalt has one in a vivid green, but the cut is less special.

I’ll have a look at that @Stravaig - thanks

It's the most glorious green. My size has sold out now, which puts an end to my swithering!

I think Toast did a nice green cord skirt last year @IlovePond and @Stravaig
You might get lucky on a reselling site

@Poplinskirt I remember it, but it was the wrong green, too lime! I love pretty much all shades of green ... except lime and khaki. I think it's the yellow? Such fusspottery 🤣

Thanks @Poplinskirt

Here's a thought. I've been mulling my 5 personal wishlist picks, if we could choose from anything in the current collection. I suspect this is the prize we'd really like? Though torn between choosing warmth (below zero here), or pretty things (jewellery, silks) or lovely homewares. I may need several versions. Mostly I'm just enjoying being excited by Toast again.

Anyone else want to play, after the official festive draw ends? I'll be swithering for a good while yet!

Ooh, count me in @Stravaig !

Hi, is the Toast site not working properly for anyone else, or is it just me? I can see the pages, but it won’t let me log into my account 🙀

I’m in now. That was weird!

Looking back through my orders, I seem to have made a few purchases late November at a reduced price. I’m hoping that means we’ll get a ‘not BF, BF sale’ w/c 25/11.🤞

Ok, here’s my dream wish list @Stravaig:

https://www.toa.st/collections/womens-coats-jackets/products/wool-herringbone-belted-coat-grey-melange

But only because the orange/black coat has sold out 🙀

www.toa.st/collections/womens-knitwear/products/flecky-wool-cashmere-high-neck-sweater-emerald

Again, only because the beautiful dark blue one made in Uruguay at £395 has sold out!!!

Been eyeing up these gowns for a while:

https://www.toa.st/collections/womens-nightwear/products/silk-velvet-gown-rich-olive-1

This KS bag:

www.toa.st/collections/womens-accessories/products/kate-sheridan-orbed-tab-bag-grape

I keep visiting these quilts, so adding this one in as my final item:

https://www.toa.st/collections/gifts-for-the-home/products/hand-quilted-velvet-throw-mineral-blue-natural

Realistically, I won’t be getting any of these things- far too pricey for me 😿

I was hoping to grab the orange/black coat and the dark blue jumper in a future sale, but as they’ve apparently sold out…😿😿😿

@IlovePond You're so decisive! What gorgeous choices.

The quilted throw is one of my homewares 5, in the dark olive.

As it's a purely fantastical wislist, I say out of stock items are allowed, we're not bound by pesky reality here :D

I need to swither and whittle some more ...

@IlovePond - that coat looks amazing. They had someone wearing it on Instagram the other day
@Stravaig - good idea! I'll have a think - how many can we choose?

here's hoping for a non-black Friday thing!