Toasties - always here for the clothes and breadboard chat, (with fond memories of the dibber!)

[IlovePond]

Here’s a new thread!

What sort of stuff do they have at the sample sale? Do they ever have the dregs of old sales? I bought a dress in one of those 3 day sales but needed a size bigger. I’m sure they had them in stock when they closed the sale but they shut it down before I got a chance to buy the size up.

@OrangeyLemon you can ask by chat for something. I bought a coat that I had in a smaller size but the sale ended before I got the bigger one.

Thank you @Countmeout!

@OrangeyLemon - the one I went to in October was absolutely rubbish - they had only a few mostly empty rails by the time I got there at 1pm. At previous sales, the room has been crammed with rails full of stuff all weekend. I hope October’s poor effort was a ‘one off’!

Some of my best buys from last April and June’s sample sales:

A ‘sample’ of a grey linen jacket: £50, (the identical item was for sale in the main shop for huge amounts of money)
Linen lime/black dress sample: £15, (this had been further reduced from £30 over the weekend)
Ikat dress sample: £10, (they’ve subsequently put these back on the rails at KC outlet at a much much higher price!)
Gown: £50
Nightie: £30

Things I saw but didn’t buy:

Donegal jumper: £50
Cord over shirt: £8, (a truly awful putty colour, but a gift for anyone good at dyeing!)
Bandana woolly scarf sample: £10

They occasionally have damaged returned sale stock or very old sale items in the outlet section, as well as recent sale stock. It’s always worth calling them, particularly if you have a picture/the stock item name. For example, I keep seeing my favourite blue jacquard jumper turn up there, five years after I got it in the sale!

What I meant to say @OrangeyLemon is that the sample sales are ‘samples’, but the year-round outlet section is where they have old sale stock.

They are very helpful on the phone, but I don’t recommend calling during the sample sale period. They will sell outlet stock over the phone, but not sample stuff.

Thank you @IlovePond that’s really helpful. I can’t believe those prices!

@IlovePond - I can see why you're so pleased there's one coming up soon. Those prices are really good!

Not Toast, but I bought some really nice trousers today - I was especially pleased that they're balloon/barrel shaped but not so long that I need to turn them up which is the case with most trousers ('I'm 5'4). I like them so much I wore them straight out of the packaging. Very reasonably priced too, and a small uk brand. here:

https://www.forgottentribes.com/products/waste-yarn-denim-cropped-barrel-leg-jeans

The first part of my sale order arrived
Moonstone Baya shirt-really thought I would love this but it's a really drab cream not the lovely crisp cream on the website

Black Denim wrap skirt
Tiny on the waist but the hips flared out like a giant triangle.
The wrap front was also asymmetrical-nope and was about an inch longer than the other panel.
It looked odd as if faulty not intentional
Both going back
Disappointing

The Agnes lyocell wool t shirt is a very pleasant surprise, I know it’s a winner as it was worn straight out of the packet.
The colour is Orange/ Mauve Bauxite; I’m baffled by the Mauve though …..it’s just soft orange and ecru….
My other sale keeper is the Space tank , yet more irresistible knitwear !
Franca dress in green gingham is beautiful, understated and elegant ,but the khaki green isn’t my green any more sadly.

I do like those trousers @ScottishMouse and I think the space tank is lovely @OftenOrange

I am all ready for Shepton Mallet - I have booked a mini break locally for the couple of days before it starts and will hit the sale on the Friday en route to Cornwall.

We were planning on a week away in April anyway. It was a toss up between going back to our favourite cottage in Cornwall or going up north again, (as we really enjoyed our trip to Thirsk last Oct). Timely notice of the sample sale swung the decision southwest!

I really hope this sample sale is as good as last April’s. If it’s a washout like the one in October, I will be a bit miffed, (especially as the summer and winter sales were so disappointing!)

I will report back on the day and also ask about restocking over the weekend. If I can manage it in the chaos, I’ll post some pics too.

@faustinalove those jeans, the cut and the colour although I think they might be a tad short on me.

The sample sales can be great. I got the current season’s patch pocket denim skirt for £45 in the last sample.

@mizu - ah yes, you got to the October one earlier than I did- glad you got a bargain! Did you decide on Friday or Saturday for this one?

@IlovePondstill not sure whether I can get out of the staff thing but I’m thinking Friday if possible.

@mizu 🤞you make it. Although hopefully it would be ok to go on Saturday provided they really do add stock over the weekend this time around.

@mizu - they probably wouldn't work for most - it's just very difficult to find a barrel leg that isn't too long for me - and of course you can't really roll a barrel leg without losing the shape. they're verging on too short for me, but I think they just work.

I'm trying to convince myself that a trip from Suffolk to Somerset when I said I didn't need anything would be a good idea. I do have one pair of trousers which have been relegated to garden only and were my favourites. Maybe I will see if I can still read the code and give them a ring before the sample sale on the off chance that they have a pair hanging around!

I meant to say - those trousers look nice @faustina - unfortunately for me I can’t carry off that shape at all.

I wouldn’t mind some more Toast linen trousers but I have only ever found one pair that looked ok on me. Disappointingly, these have not worn well and now look very tatty. They were not worth the money given how little I have been worn them before they were no longer really fit for wearing in public 😿

Oooh @ilovepond I would be in the vicinity of SM on that weekend, however

A.Dont need anything
B.It is a VERY long journey for us as is and I'm not sure it would be reasonable or if I can face a detour ! even for toast

My final sale purchase arrived and yay its a keeper.
The Dobby stitch skirt-beautiful soft warm double faced cotton, super long, just above the ankle and although it's the same wrap shape as the denim skirt, the drape of the fabric makes it work.
I'm quite hippy with a small waist and this is just such a nice fit, the waist band so nice in a flattering waistband kind of way!

I like that skirt too @Poplinskirt - I am wearing my olive crinkle one today - I like the pockets!

Ordinarily I would say the Toast sample sales are worth a long journey, (although I don’t need anything, either), but having travelled the length of the country to get to the October wash out, I am a bit more reticent in my recommendation!

I will report on the day in case that’s any good to anyone in the vicinity.

I must not buy any more tee shirts or nightwear or woolly hats or scarves or baubles!

I would however like a coat, and could make a case for ‘needing’ one. Apparently I just missed a sample of the orange/black one from last winter in the October sale. (Should I have found it, I would have been pleased with the sale!)

I’m also not averse to the prospect of another jumper or a tank or some linen trousers. (However, I found a nice pair of linen trousers in the June sale that fitted only to realise that they made me look like a barrage balloon, so I’m not terribly hopeful on that front!)

I have the olive crinkle one @IlovePond

I would call this the winter version.
It's thicker and exceptionally soft in a comforting way.
If you are tall I would look out for this in future sales .
I'm a 10/12 and the small is a lovely fit.

Thanks @Poplinskirt - I will look at for a sample version! I’m only 5’4” with short legs so the skirt is very long on me, but I like it.

I’ve just finished working out what to keep and return of my sale purchases.
I’ve kept the jumpers on the basis I wear them for a good 8-9 months of the year, especially in our ancient freezing house. I kept the Rowan wool, the orange hand dyed and the navy cashmere/wool one. I also kept the orange/purple (? It’s ecru) striped wool long sleeve top as a good match for a base layer for the orangey jumpers.
I returned the dobby jacket as together with the trousers I looked like I was wearing a judo suit. I have kept the trousers though as they are a fabulous fit and will be excellent lounging wear.
Also returned some socks as the colour was meh.
Nearly forgot I also kept the black crinkle v neck dress. I’d ordered in two sizes but the S was ample so the M went straight back.
I spent more than I thought I would. Also still disappointed at the homeware in this sale. I usually find something lovely in most sales for around the house. My favourite recently was the mango wood trio of tiny pinch pots. They now offer some form of control to my discarded earrings, rings and necklaces at the end of the day.

I’m also very pleased with the Dobby skirt and trousers. Bought the M in the sale to replace the L out of which I am rapidly shrinking. I’m 5’7” and both are a good length. Nice not to have stupid cold ankle trousers for once.

And a pair of wool wide legs, tho dry clean is annoying.

Got another sheepskin hot water bottle cover too because I love them, but that was the only thing in homeware that tempted me.

Also tried various jackets, pinafores, but didn’t love them.

@AmethystMoonShinelove that you are using the pinch pots as jewellery holders!

@AmethystMoonShine Yes that mauve orange is a mystery ,surprised by how lovely it is .