Toasties enjoying the sale and the sunshine!

[IlovePond]

Hi,

Here’s a new thread!

Good to know @BettinaInDenmark - my DSIS is the same, but my washing machine - aka the destroyer - can’t be trusted 😹

There was a message on another thread about buying directly from suppliers from brands such as Toast, Plumo and I can’t find it anywhere. Does anyone remember the names/supplier sources where you can buy direct and save a fortune?

I’m perhaps being a bit thick here but what do you mean by ‘suppliers’ and ‘direct’?

I’ve seen and bought new with tags (wrapped in plastic, perhaps seconds or deadstock) past season Toast and other brands from businesses on eBay that have a small number of such items each season, could that be what you mean?

I wonder if you mean when people were talking about how Plumo often sell different brands with a much higher price than if you went to that brand's website? Eg: Paisie makes the jumpers called 'Jack' by Plumo but they're much cheaper if you go to Paisie's website.

I don't think we've ever found the exact same piece by Toast but we have talked about suppliers eg some Scottish knitwear designers (I forget which) and we have also discussed items similar to Toast eg Donegal Knitwear makes a jumper which is similar to the Toast ones, but it's not the same.

Thank you both for responding, yes that’s what I was thinking of!

I think there was also talk about some companies in India supplying pieces for Toast at a fraction of the cost but it wasn’t possible to order from them. I suppose this is the way with most businesses that benefit from much cheaper labour/materials from abroad.

I’m off to look at the Donegal range and the brands at Plumo.

@AnnaBalfour @faustina, Aah yes, see what you mean. There are a few Scottish knitwear brands near me that make (or used to make) things for Cabbages and Roses, Toast and Brora but sell very similar items themselves for half the price.

Now that C&R have gone and I’m looking to spend a bit less than Toast and Brora for knits I’ve been looking at manufacturers Harley of Scotland, The Crofthouse and Bosie. Not exactly the same designs but clearly the same garments as supplied to those shops.

I also live near Johnstons of Elgin - they have a lovely factory shop and cafe but the clothes are way out of my price range.

Whatever you do, don’t buy directly from Bleu de Chauffe - I got seriously stung by customs charges doing that! I have actually just found the yellow velevet kimono that I liked from Plumo on One Hundred Stars - it is around 30gbp (recently had a new keyboard put on my laptop and apparently I no longer have a pound sign…) cheaper.

I thought I saw the 'stork' dress on a site - maybe Plumo - and it's the '100 Stars' print and style.

I was wondering whether anyone might have a recommendation for a knitwear mist/spray? Just something to give it a gentle clean/refresh through the next few months, so I don’t have to wash my knitwear regularly. Any specific brands I can look out for?

Put the knitwear in the freezer for 24 - 48 hours or hang it outside in the sun on a very cold day. This will kill the bacteria that cause wool to smell less than fresh.

You’re right that knitwear worn properly with a base layer only needs washing once a year or so but I wouldn’t use a scented spray, even a natural one as a perfume won’t refresh or cover anything, it will just add to any smell, may cause damage to the fibres and attract dirt and/or pests, depending what it is.

@ToastCosILoveIt i want all of those half sleeve jumpers! I was considering going for the XL even though I’m normally a Toast size 12. I don’t want it in any way tight, Although I am wondering if the shoulders will be too wide. Is the shouldn’t size much different between the M and the L?

@CakeAndJazz I have Another Day byMatter. But I don’t use it that much. I just do the freezer thing or, to be honest, often nothing!

@chelseadetectivethe freezer advice sounds interesting. I will definitely give it a go.

TOAST jumpers have come out of hiding this weekend as I make a few changes clothes wise.

I have a rail in the attic and a rail in my bedroom and keeping myself busy today as I took DD2 back up to uni yesterday (hideous journey on the M6) and DD1 left for her year abroad 3 weeks ago. For some reason I am feeling a bit bereft whereas I was ok last year…….

@ChelseaDetective this is excellent advice. @CakeAndJazz i have a spray but can no longer read the label as it has rubbed off, I hardly use it though, I mostly just hang outside in a good Scottish breeze.
Does anyone else find Toast dresses - in particular, the Freya dress - to be quite restrictive on upper arms/across back? I just bought the cotton cashmere one, had tried it in my normal 12 previously but it was too neat for comfort, so sized up to the 14 and was too hasty with my try on because I put it on to wear today and immediately took it off again because it just felt a bit too snug (not tight exactly, but I can feel it pull on my arms when I lift them). I really don’t think I am a 14, and am definitely not a 16 (not that numbers matter obvs), and otherwise am finding Toast sizing to be pretty reliable at the moment. Does anyone else find this with dresses (and shirts too quite often)? Maybe I just prefer more ease of movement/stretch for my upper body and it isn’t that these are actually too small. Anyway, it’s sadly going back and I am not going to try the 16 as I think that would be too big overall.

@ScottishMouse yes, I’ve had that problem with some toast dresses. I think that was the problem with the Franca sale dress this summer. I have narrow shoulders and a big bust, so sizing is always difficult and it’s annoying when things fit my shoulders well and then pull when I lift my arms.

I felt the same @mizu ❤️ but then both mine moved back in - 😹

Try to enjoy the freedom x

@ScottishMouse yes, I have to size up for space for arm/shoulder/upper body movement and rest of dress therefore a bit big.

Thanks @ShrankLastWinter and @Theteapotsbrokenspout. I guess the Freya is just not for me then.

Thanks everyone re the jumper spray advice - I won’t bother, but will be air drying in the sun when the opportunity presents itself.

I went to my local store’s exchange event today. I had two tickets (from before) and left empty-handed. I wasn’t impressed with what was on the rails, but I did arrive 20 minutes after starting. I’m sure the good bits would have been gone by then, and I hung around a bit and a few bits did come in whilst I was there. I’ve really not had much luck with exchange events, and I wouldn’t bother again.

Agree re exchange events @CakeAndJazz. I have been quite taken aback by the state of what some people think is acceptable to bring in. My local store has a permanent exchange rail, which I always browse, and have found a couple of things there in the past, but it’s generally disappointing.

Thanks @IlovePond I feel better already today - think it was the terrible journey that made me feel so tired and wobbly this morning.

Re the exchange events, I too am disappointed. Went to one a couple of weeks ago and there was nothing apart from some very tired looking clothes that were super small and not much else. I really like the idea of a clothes swap but not if it’s not a proper swap.

I have 3 tickets from previous swap events so might have to venture out to the next one in November.

Hi Snowy, I am not sure if this is going to help you: there is a bit of difference between he medium and the large. I wouldn't necessarily say it is in the shoulders, more overall and definitely in length I think. In retrospect, I am not sure if the medium for me would have been better than the large. My small version is in Cornwall (where I work) and I am in London but I am travelling down there tomorrow and I will take the red one and measure them both up for size and let you know.

This is really helpful, thank you. I've just bought the rollneck charcoal cashmere sweater and was stressing about caring for it.

I did have a spray from M&S - their laundry and cleaning range - and it was absolutely awful. I like perfumes and perfumed things but this was…horrendous.

I’ve never had any luck with Toast events either. I’m not very confident ‘claiming’ things and when dealing with sales people so they’re not my idea of a good time, as well as being generally disappointing.

I’ve not bought any Toast for months, I’m feeling a bit tired of a lot of the designs and some of the dresses are nice but too patterned and distinctive to be long term prospects. If I’m paying £200 - £400 for a garment I don’t want to be tired of it by mid season.

I spent today shortening a couple of dresses from last year’s Spring sales (I’m 5 foot nothing) - one Toast, one C&R, so I’ll have something ‘new’ to wear when the weather turns properly. I’m absolutely dreading the Northern Scottish winter this year. Perhaps I’m just getting old!

@VivienneDelacroix I’ve just saved that roll neck sweater, it’s got good reviews but at £200, it needs a long think 🤔

A lot of winter dread here too. Nice winter clothes are about the only thing that cheers it up at all