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

[IlovePond]

Here’s a new thread!

@hattymattie - apologies for the delay and the terrible photo (and the mirror which needs cleaning). I almost didn't post it because I'm not sure how much help it will be, but hopefully a bit. It's nicely weighty and surprisingly warm. I wore it with just a t-shirt underneath today (and Alixes) and it was fine

Faustina - love it - I definitely want one now. Thank you so much for the photo.

There’s been a big reworn restock folks.

@ScottishMouse yes I spotted that too, alas, not anything I wanted.

Me neither @mizu. Just as well really as I bought a couple of things yesterday. Non-Toast things, I am finding myself shopping more elsewhere this year, nothing much at Toast is grabbing me. My favourite Toast purchase this year was a sweater on Vinted from years ago.

Thanks for the heads up @ScottishMouse . I always seem to be out when they do a drop. Probably as well.

Has anyone seen the information about that new packaging ?

I saw the info about the packaging briefly - I re-use the regular packaging all the time, doesn't everyone?

I found a pair of trousers on the reworn which I already have but have worn so much I can't really leave the house when wearing them so I am very pleased (so long as they are in good condition)

@ScottishMouse I've been meaning to ask you, did you like the new shorter Ivy tshirts that you bought? I've been thinking about getting one

@faustina, I haven’t actually worn them yet. I really only wear t-shirts in summer, and it hasn’t been warm enough here yet. They seem like a good shape and good quality though, so hopefully will get a lot of wear soon.

Well I had a look at the reworn restock yesterday ( just out of curiosity, as you do 🤣) and the ‘excellent condition with no visible flaws or marks’ golden sands reversible cotton / wool coat may just have jumped into my basket. I’m hoping it’s the one from last season that I thought about for too long and went out of stock in my size. Golden sands outer cotton, lined in grey wool or vice versa. I can’t recall it ever being reduced in the sale and the full price was £400+ if I remember correctly. Reworn cost £238, so I’m hoping I’ve nabbed a bargain. If not, it will just be returned. How do these expensive, current items end up on reworn though? The frugsl side of me would have been trying to sell it on 🤣

@Sunnydaysarehereonceagain that was the only thing I saved as a possible, oh and the blue and green space tank. Both too expensive at the moment so a no. Hope the coat fits, it’s so lovely.

Thank you @mizu 😊. The coat has been despatched, so fingers crossed

@Sunnydaysarehereonceagain - when I went to a Kindred event last year at which senior staff were present, it was mentioned that very little is being ‘donated’ to Reworn by customers.

I have my theories about where most of it is coming from- I think the unworn shoes tend to come from photoshoots, for example. As for the rest... I have edited my original post as I don’t want to cause any trouble!

I bought a dress from Reworn last year and it was new with tags. I am concerned, however, that Toast are slamming up the prices, which I think is very cheeky.

Having said that, the coat is lovely and I hope it fits you - I am still annoyed at missing out on the brown duffle from a year or two ago!

@IlovePond I did see your original post a short while ago, but didn’t pause to reply at the time. I think I can see where the coat has (probably) come from now, so thank you. It was definitely ‘one that got away’ for me so when it appeared in my size yesterday I felt compelled to buy it 🤣 I had actually been considering it at full price a few months back, so does seem to be a bit of a bargain now. Just hope it’s a keeper 😊

Fingers crossed for you @Sunnydaysarehereonceagain ! It’s a lovely coat!

@IlovePond - I missed your unedited post and so am very intrigued as to what it said! My trousers have been despatched (not yet to the actual post office I think). I've had a couple of misses from reworn - two things which were so worn I returned them straightaway, then one which didn't fit, and then a dress, and now these trousers which I had been looking for everywhere - the dress because I'd bought it in a size too big, and the trousers because mine are almost dead and show my non-skill in sewing the seams around the bum so many times. I'll be very happy if they're as good as new (or new!) wherever they came from. They were relatively pricey so I expect them to be in good condition!

Do you think maybe from the sample sale?

Hi @faustina - not from the sample sales - all sample stock is marked with an indelible dot on the label and sizes, shapes, materials, care labels are often missing. However, I do think some items are from photoshoots.

Put it this way: Toast can do whatever they like with Circle Exchange items that we have handed over to them after six months have passed, according to the t&cs. They are entitled to sell them, if that’s what they are doing. (Not saying they are…)

However, big restocks on Reworn often coincide with the Exchange events, (could be coincidence, of course).

I don’t have a problem with people buying from Reworn - I have done so myself.

However, it’s the lack of transparency - if Toast are recycling Exchange items via the Reworn initiative - and the big recent price hikes for Reworn items that bothers me a bit.

I agree @IlovePond I think some maybe photoshoots but I wonder if they reclaim the ‘uniforms’ staff have and have started using some of those. The very old stuff also may well be from circle events and isn’t there some very old stuff in that?

I would rather see the prices slightly higher than people buying them to resell on eBay which I am sure is happening.

I like reworn and have got a few things the best bargain being the over dyed Kantha jacket. I had admired it on line but never would have felt justified paying the full price whereas on reworn is was £70. As it is current it might have been used for a photograph but doesn’t seem to be any I’ve seen as all are different.

I like it better than eBay as you can try and return if unsuitable.

www.toa.st/products/overdyed-repurposed-kantha-jacket-provence-blue

Thanks @IlovePond - I don't mind paying a reasonable price for something that's barely worn - or just worn for a photo shoot,, even if it's more expensive than you'd find on Ebay or Vinted - also, as Countmeout says, the ability to return is brilliant, especially if you're kindred as it's free! I really love that kantha jacket!

@Countmeout - I have often wondered how much the staff have to pay for their clothes - it’s entirely possible that some of those are being recycled to Reworn.

@faustina - some of the stuff at Exchange events I’ve attended has been a bit tatty/very old and I have been surprised at its acceptance. However, I have also seen beautiful, practically new coats, jackets and dresses, (which I can never access because I tend to only take in the odd top to swap!)

However, I was pleasantly surprised last time I went, because the staff assessed my rather simple cotton tunic as a ‘green’ item, which allowed me to swap for a rather nice jacket.

@IlovePond . I was told by a member of staff they get 50% discount on purchases. (I think that was the amount I was quite flabbergasted and mentally calculating how much the silk dressing gown would be - she had bought it for a friend)
When my daughter worked as a student in Laura Ashley she got 40% which was remarkably generous. Marks and Spencer is 20%. Next is 25% ( that may have changed but I think I saw it was still the same)
Non uniform shops usually give a number of pieces of clothing I think the amount being dependent on the hours worked. That certainly was true for LA and Next.
They may have started reclaiming the uniform pieces.

I will never donate items back to Toast , I prefer to take to charity or sell on EBay.
On the other hand I’m very happy to buy Reworn , double standards ?
The recent buy of a Chambray swing shirt from current collex was listed as showing wear , I’d decided it would be fine under a tank , but when it arrived it looked more or less perfect.
The other buy was a pair of Bostons , look new to me but described as slight signs of wear .
Maybe returns that don’t pass muster as in perfect condition for resale?

I have found Reworn to her very hit and miss. I bought a pinafore, a dressing gown, and a neat cashmere sweater which all looked in perfect condition, but then I subsequently bought a sweater which arrived in terrible condition - bobbly and out of shape. So who knows 🤷‍♀️
I have found the swap events to be full of quite old items in pretty worn condition, and have only done one swap as a result. I would definitely not be going to these now that they want you to hand over your items at the door. Luckily my local store has a permanent swap rail, but even so I have never seen much that looks worth it.

Morning everyone, can I pick your brains? I'm going to be passing through Edinburgh tomorrow and intend to stop for the briefest visit to Toast for a quick try on, I desperately need some new clothes. Does anyone know if there is any on street parking fairly close that isn't permit only? If you name streets I will know where they are, I lived in Northumberland St. Northwest Lane when my daughter was a baby about a hundred years ago! Back then the only vehicle I took to Stockbridge was the pram.
Many, many thanks.

Thanks for the info @Countmeout - I wish I worked for Toast at those discounts!

@ScottishMouse - I have found Reworn hit and miss too. The dress I got was NWT but the linen jumper I tried was stiff and smelt chemically - as if it had been soaked in moth killer or something. (I have never returned something so quickly!)

I had a look at the permanent Exchange rail at the Bath store a couple of weeks ago - everything on there looked very nice and in good condition. Most of it was of higher colour ticket items.

From my own experience re: condition. When I have been to Exchange events in London, most stuff has looked like new! There was one VERY bobbly jumble sale type jumper there last time, but that was very much the exception.

@oddandelsewhere there is lots of non-permit on street parking where you pay & display near Toast in Edinburgh. Some on royal circus place right across the road from toast, on st Stephen st (around the corner), pockets around royal circus, some further down into Stockbridge on raeburn place, and much more.
Have a lovely wee browse. If you want any other shopping reca for places near Toast, let me know.