Toasties - still loving the knitwear and the chat!

[IlovePond]

I have set up a new Toastie thread, guys.

Thank you for advice! I’ve actually ordered the Kantha pinafore in the sale which @TosstTastic recommended (tho I can’t see any reviews?). I have very broad shoulders. It’s probably not flexibly sized, but it’s so beautiful that if it looks nice I’ll be really pleased with it. I’m unlikely to shrink beyond a small-end large 14/16 since am just a big person and was 14 even when lithe teen, so it might well continue to work. Will see!

Received an email about last final markdowns, up to 60% off.

I wish Toast would give an option to list items by highest to lowest discount. It is very difficult to find items which have been further reduced.

Hi, my order has arrived.

The blue Donegal jumper is a lovely colour and feels soft. I like the sleeves, collar and buttons. TBH, I like the idea of it much more than I was expecting to.

However, I should have paid attention to the reviews that said it was too close fitting. It fits me, but I prefer a looser fit - this is far too snug. Also, it’s too short, (I loathe Toast’s penchant for waist/just below waist jumpers and tees!) I’m only 5’4” but this jumper was ludicrously short on me. I fail to understand how it could have looked as long as it did on the tall Toast model! also don’t like the darts - they are just weird.

If it wasn’t out of stock, I might have tried the L - but that would probably have looked ridiculous on my arms/small shoulders as the M is quite baggy already on the shoulders.

The M pj bottoms fit on the waist, (I couldn’t go smaller), but they are absolutely huge and baggy on the legs.

The nightie is absolutely huge in the S/M. However, I suspect XS would be too tight across the chest or pull at the back. It’s hard to know and, of course, the smaller size is oos!

I intended to wear them together, but I look like I am about to take off!

However, I do like the material and the colour is more flattering than I expected. I will ponder over the weekend but the jumper is definitely going back.

Just ordered the XXS nightie to try, (which is ridiculous, but we shall see). I do like it more than I was expecting.

My little olive wood pinch pots have just arrived and they are a delight!

I also bought a (hopefully) lovely alpaca Brora jumper yesterday evening in a colour called seaweed....only to then see it on Claudia about an hour later when I watching Traitors! My daughter said "Oh I love her jumper Mum, you'd look good in that"...it was only when I took a closer look I realised. There were all sizes available when I bought mine, but I noticed it was out of stock this morning. I'm so glad I perused the Brora sale when I did!

A little bit random I know but I was looking at the reviews for the black Jessa dungarees and saw that some of them were from 7 years ago!!! Not many shops would be selling the same things for 7 years!

@AFingerofFudge I probably bought my first Hal jacket about that long ago. I wore it until it became too small, and about 3 years ago I sold it and bought a bigger size. I have just sold that one and bought a bigger size than that (bloody menopause!).
Interestingly, I said here a few weeks back that it had gone up £20 in price to £185, but when I bought my new one in store this month it was still the old price of £165. Even having replaced it twice, I think it is my lowest cost per wear Toast item ever.

@IlovePond what a shame about the jumper, it's such a great colour.

@AmethystMoonShine I am watching the traitors right now (last night's episode) and thought that was a beautiful jumper, my kind of colour.

I am still pondering 🤔 the scarf now at £65 down from £110.

I’ll keep an eye out for its reappearance @mizu just in case a bigger size might work!

@ScottishMouse That’s the kind of story I love to hear : a piece so thoroughly loved and worn , cost per wear down to pence . I’ve never tried the Hal jacket but shall do so now.

My equivalent , the Annie indigo denim trousers ….3 pairs over 6 years with the newest in he longer length now my best trousers and the oldest worn for day to day knocking around locally .
Second to that 6 yr old Jesse dungarees in indigo denim , house and local wear ,so comfortable and still look good as new.

It would be really interesting ( and enabling !) to hear other tales of longevity .

Interesting @OftenOrange how these are all denim items. Toast denim is great quality. Sadly I have never found a pair of trousers to fit, but the Hal jacket is the best. The only thing I am not liking right now is that I need to wear my new one in a bit as it is very stiff to begin with. What’s the best way to wear denim in and soften it up quickly anyone?

My other best Toast buy for longevity is the indigo Alix trousers. They first brought them out about 7 or 8 years ago, and my pair from back then is only starting to fall apart now. When they reappeared 2 or 3 years ago, I was thrilled, and have bought another 2 pairs since. I live in them year round instead of jeans.

@OftenOrange - my most worn item is a cotton linen pinafore in 'Slate'. This was in stock for a few years. I wear it weekly Spring- Autumn. It doesn't look like new anymore as the linen has faded but I have a spare one tucked away to dig out when I want to semi retire the old one (for gardening/walks etc). My (current) favourite Toast clothing item is the Striped Lace Yoke green sweater

My most used Toast items are the home things I use/see daily- Rebecca Williams butter dish, Riverstone bowl, Cara Guthrie soap dish, a patchwork quilt, bed linen (Camille Stripe), Poterie Barbotine breakfast bowl, Carla Murdoch colander and a couple of cushion covers. Now that I think about it - I probably treasure these more than my Toast clothes!

@OftenOrange Clothing I'll have to ponder with more brain than I have right now, but echoing @Stoic123, homewares are easily my best value, most used, most enjoyed overall.

I've written about these before, but this is the earliest Ticking Stripe bedlinen, in a zingy Raspberry which preceded the Rose - is that 15 to 20 years ago now? - and the forged handle cutlery of similar vintage.

Lovely @Stravaig !

Not exactly old, (because I only succumbed to Toast’s charms during lockdown), but I love love love my Toast nightwear - particularly the red floral nightie/bottoms/gown combo that I shamelessly copied from the Toast picture.

Sadly I am not 5’10”, super skinny and draping myself in a Tuscan doorway as per the model, but it’s an outfit that always makes me happy!

On another note: Booking for exchanges is now open on the Toast site.

I was wondering:

With this new policy of having to hand over items before entry to the hallowed rails, what happens if you don’t have anything to bring, but are clutching multiple tickets from previous swaps? Do they still let you in? Does anyone know?

Thanks

Just been admiring my newly arrived bag from the ROKA sale which is big enough for my laptop!

DSis has booked us both in for a March Circle/Exchange so I must decide what I can part with. Possibly the previously exchanged tee shirt that DH thought he’d got me for Xmas, (as every time I see it now, I have a little growl to myself 😹). I also have a perfectly nice plain top that needs to go as it is too small 😿

I think I might try the Hal jacket too - not sure if I ever have, and am on the lookout for something. I have the organic denim jacket from a couple of years ago but it's quite fitted and I'd like something a bit less so. My favourite and most worn clothes I think must be the Alix - the first pair I bought in John Lewis in desert cactus (? - the beige ones) - they just work with everything and are a bit interesting. I think the golden olive pair I paid full price for is down to pennies per wear too.

For homeware - well! My favourite linen dressing gown which is very well travelled, and then I have that raspberry ticking colour too @Stravaig - it's one of the bolster covers they used to do. I use it with the pink ticking flat sheet, and the red and white duvet cover - can't remember what it's called but it has a stripe across the top and bottom and DS2 says it looks like a rather nice tea towel (but bigger) - also love the matching pillowcases. The piece de resistance - also very well travelled - is the cashmere blanket I bought in a sale years ago for maybe £100? I use it every day and take with me it when I go away too, because it's the warmest thing in the world.

@faustina your blanket sounds lovely .

I see they still have lots of kanthe pinafore dresses available . Will they reduce them any more? Or do they just bring them out every time there's a sale?
Mine hasn't been dispatched yet .

I received my dress this morning from the Facebook site bud check in ochre . I love it !

Why don't Toast give inside leg measurements rather than outside leg?

I'm 5ft10 and have a 32 inch inside leg thus knowing the inside leg measurement is crucial. Most Toast trousers are too short.

And don't get me started on the absurd cropped kick flares they have been peddling. Absolutely hideous and flatter no-one. Wearing them is an exercise in how to make one's legs look even shorter than normal.

What length of coat or jacket looks good over Toast dresses? I am short so most of my Toast dresses are quite long. I wear a very long puffer with them in winter, but when it gets a bit warm for that I am always stumped until it is warm enough for my Hal denim jacket or similar. Other coats and jackets I have are thigh/above knee length and that looks frumpy. I also tried the ribbed grey cardigan from the sale but that looked similarly frumpy. So I think I need either a lighter coat that is as long or nearly as long as the dresses or a short jacket that is warmer than a denim/workwear jacket (though I tried my DD’s puffer jacket and that was too puffy to look flattering). Any suggestions??

@ScottishMouse - I find the Nicole Jackets from Roake Studio work well for me over Toast dresses.
Surprisingly warm https://roake.studio/shop/customnicolejacket

Good tip @Stoic123 , I have admired those in the past. I would prefer something that closes though (because Scotland!).
I feel like that blue cord padded jacket from last AW would have been a good buy, but I didn’t love the colour so never tried it. Does anyone have it and can report on it, it’s maybe one to look out for on resale sites (I’d risk dyeing one if it was not too expensive)?

@OftenOrange lovely idea of longevity + love items!

Mine are probably my 4 TOAST denim dresses that I wear to work, my Jesse dungarees and my Kate Sheridan Tab bag in burgundy. And a couple of bowls that I always reach for that I got in sample sales. Oh, and I have the rose ticking stripe duvet cover and a different stripe fitted sheet that I love. I have another TOAST duvet cover that is really old, light blue, mustard and cream stripe but I don't sit in bed with my book of an evening admiring it as I do the rose :)

@IlovePond i have signed up for the exchange again although last time we had to queue to give items, write on the card etc and it was all done so slowly. There was one woman there who walked straight in and chose a few things on the rail before anyone had had a chance to look as we were all still queuing, gave her tickets and walked out......... and then came back again twice to do the same thing. I reckon she was selling on. And she must have had loads of tickets!

Has anyone got/tried the new navy crinkle Freya dress? Specifically, can you see the checks on the reverse through the front fabric? I ordered a red one in the past which went straight back because the check pattern shone through, and I just can't be bothered with ordering and returning if this one is the same.
I would normally go to Llandeilo for a bit of a try on, but I've only just started driving again and I think it's a bit far. Thanks in advance for any insights.

@mizu - I think some dealers on eBay and Vinted have got wind of the exchange events and are taking advantage of them. Disappointing that the Toast staff at yours didn’t say one entry only - it’s not exactly in the spirit of the events to do what that person did!

Just remembered that one item that gives me joy every day in winter is the bargain mohair blanket that sits on my bed courtesy of the Ukraine charity pop up two years ago! I wish Toast would do something similar again, (and not just because I want some bargains!)