Autumn leaves, colder days and Toasty talk!

[IlovePond]

I have started a new thread for all things Toast related !

Thanks for the Billy info @faustina and @AmethystMoonShine. I ordered two sizes so will have a try and see when they arrive.
The new wide leg herringbone trousers arrived. They are really a lovely shape, but….the (elasticated) waist is tiny and doesn’t have much give. Measuring it against the elastic waist of the barrel legs, it is much smaller. I will see if I can try a bigger size in store, but I imagine they might be too big everywhere else. Such as shame as they would otherwise get a lot of use in my wardrobe.

Have you tried the Foldline, oddandelsewhere? They have the Homer + Howell Cissy dress pattern which looks very similar to the Freya. Can’t vouch for how well the patterns work whereas Merchant and Mills are usually easy to follow and extremely clear.

I’ve been to look at the new drop in store, first time in about 2 years I’ve been to a toast shop. I was disappointed, nothing I wanted, although the tea cosy looked lovely.
I did buy the blue quilted shirt from the previous drop, although I’m not sure why it’s so expensive. I’m now wishing I’d tried the trousers as well, although I imagine my credit card is relieved.

@ScottishMouse Yes the coats are lovely , but I invested heavily with Toast coats 2 years ago.

I went to Toast to try boots today ( hopeless) and went to Soeur which is opposite, they have the most fab jackets in pale stone and camel , a bit more ££ but real modern classic Frenchie style.

@oddandelsewhere Honestly, there are so many Freya type patterns out there. Merchant and Mills are of course famous for their likeness to Toast designs but even as a trained pattern cutter I find that the patterns can be far more complex than they need to be, although they do go together beautifully in the end.

If you want to try Merchant&Mills I’d go with either the ‘Florence’ (lengthen the sleeves, leave out the back placket and perhaps straighten up the waist seam) or the ‘Hattie & Ellis’ pattern (although that one has darts around the neckline which I don’t really like), Both easy and don’t require you to mess about with or purchase extra patterns like the boat neck adaptation for the Factory dress.

The Horizon Day Dress by the Matchy Matchy sewing company was the Foldline’s pick as a dupe for the Toast Freya. Its a lovely easy pattern and really fits the bill, once you get past their ‘fun’ patchwork aesthetic.

Anyone noticed the ‘Try at home…’ Harper button? Looks like you can send stuff back within 5 days and not be charged. Sounds good!

That sounded handy @Stoic123 . I am quite good at a quick turnaround if I need to return. It would mean different sizes could be tried without the outlay. Sometimes I order a size and wish I had been bc able to compare sizes.

Just read the details of try before you buy. Not available in NI . 🫤

@Snowyowl78 - that is a scheme MADE for Toast clothes with their inexplicable sizing. What a brilliant idea! I hope it's not just a London thing. Off to look

Sorry @Snowyowl78 i tagged the wrong person.

@faustina i think it sounds great, I think it’s a free service. The concierge also sounds good, not sure id be willing to spend £15 on it though.
on another note did anyone buy the denim linen lined waistcoat in the sale? If so how did you find the sizing? It’s marginally too small and I am considering asking Toast to send me the next size up (14) but I’m not sure if it gives a bit, or indeed shrinks in the wash! It says dry clean but I’ll probably disregard this.

I just read the FAQ. The concierge part is London only and I think if someone were actually waiting outside tapping their foot it might be a bit stressful, but I will definitely place my next order using the 5 day option. How fabulous not to have to pay loads when you know you'll only keep one or two things. I bet it will save them a lot in admin as they won't need to do so many refunds.

I was offered the try before you but thing recently when I bought two blazers from Me + Em as I wasn't sure which size I'd need. I checked out as I was ordering in a hurry and needed next day delivery but it did look good.

I tried on some of the new knitwear this morning. Not that I intended to pay the crazy prices, but I figured I could put them on my wish list for sale time. None of them are going on my list though. I think the quality of the knitwear has taken a bit of a nosedive. The charcoal ribbed cashmere wool sweater is £295 but it hung limply and looked like one wear and it would be out of shape. The high neck alpaca sweater is £315 but already looked bobbly, like it had been worn for some time. The alpaca cropped cardi m, a bargain at £245, also didn’t seem as good as the version I have from a few years back, not sure if it was the shape or what, but it did not feel wow at all.
I also tried on the larger size of the herringbone trousers I ordered, but although the waist fitted on those, they were too big elsewhere. So those sadly had to go back.
I did however love the new velvet hot water bottle covers, and will be putting one on my Christmas wish list.
Then I went to Finisterre and saw two coats which I loved, and would be a much better use of my money than extortionately priced knits.

I’ve used the Harper concierge service before for Me+Em. It’s really useful for trying multiple sizes of things!

Each time, I’ve invited them in (although you can tell them to come back in an hour or so) and actually found it handy to have someone there giving you their opinion. It’s just like having an attentive shop employee hanging around by the changing room, really. There was no pressure to buy anything at the end. It does cost £15, yes, but I’d spend more than that going into town to try things on, so I quite enjoy doing it every now and again.

That’s handy to know that Toast are now offering it as well. I have been told before that if I wanted to order from a couple of different retailers that offer the service, to check out with Harper for each one, and then contact them and they can combine the appointments so that you get everything in one go and only pay the one charge.

@ScottishMouse I sent my sis a link to the new water bottles covers last night, good to know they are as lovely in real life.

I do have a hot water bottle cover that is TOAST from many years ago so do not need one but…….

Well I eventually used my discount to try the Chie. Mihara black boots which I’ve liked for ages and hoped would make a sale. I’m chary of the fit as the reviews say they are roomy and I’ve narrow ankles, but I’ll always regret not trying.
Threw in a pair of socks and the quilted navy trousers.

Maybe this has been discussed before : I noticed that my account no longer itemises with photos and individual prices, just the total of each sale. So no longer possible to see which sizes were bought , or at what price,
Super annoying if this is more than a glitch. I noticed it when I was in France with poor WiFi, but now back in the uk it’s all blank !!!

My Sideline Billy trousers arrived. @faustina and @AmethystMoonShine do you remember what size you had, compared to your Toast trouser size? I ordered xs and s, I am definitely not xs, usually s in Toast trousers, and lately m in some. Both fit, but I wonder if the s is what they are supposed to look like, or if I would be better keeping the xs as they are quite a lot neater. They are a little like a baggier Alix (or like my Alix used to fit me a few years ago 😆).

I think I had an S and am usually a 12, very occasionally a 14 in Toast trousers. I am sure they fitted properly, I just found the amount of fabric in the bum and legs too much for me. I need no help looking larger than I am 😂

@ScottishMouse - they are a bit like the Alix, except not so tapered in the leg. Mine were XS and one of the reasons I rehomed them was that although really comfortable, the waist didn't really do a good job of keeping them up. I think they were too big - also the leg, as Amethyst says, was too flappy

Thanks @faustina & @AmethystMoonShine. I also need no help looking bigger than I am, so will definitely return the s and will try the xs on again later in some better light.

@ScottishMouse I’m so disappointed on the report back of the knitwear - I like the look of the ribbed charcoal sweater as it looks so cozy and something I’d wear as loungewear at home and then out and about too. Would have been a sale purchase anyway…

I wonder what the thoughts are on here about people selling brand new current season Toast items on resale platforms. The items seem new, but am I missing something obvious?

@CakeAndJazz I would take a look yourself at the knitwear, and don’t rely on my damning opinion. I am very fussy about knitwear (I mean, everyone should be at those prices!), and perhaps what I disliked won’t be an issue for others. I am wearing my Donegal cardigan today and loving it, so it’s not all bad.

does anyone know if it’s possible to take the gabi trousers in on the bum area? I have a few pairs which are fine on the waist, thigh etc, but the bum area is really baggy! It’s a shame as they are perfect otherwise and puts me off wearing them with shorter tops. Would a tailor be able to do something like this?

There's a lot of stuff on reworn - just gone for the huge check wrap I dithered over last year. Since it's turned cold I've regretted it not being in my life.

Thanks to @PeonyBlush10 who sung it's praises earlier in the year. My house is bloody freezing, pence per wear could be my best investment.