Autumn leaves, colder days and Toasty talk!

[IlovePond]

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

@IlovePond I don't think my orders would have been posted if I hadn't emailed either. Both were ordered on Thursday, one was despatched on Saturday and one on Monday after a slightly snippy email from me.

The Saturday one arrived on Monday (too big and went straight back) The Monday one arrived today and I will keep it. It's the half placket indigo top which I think wi!l be useful with a thermal underneath.

I'm sure that all the messing around with despatch etc. is just to make more of us pay for next day delivery. It would presumably save a lot of money for them not to have to give free postage, not to mention the lack of kindred gifts....

I'm still less in love with Toast than I used to be, and wouldn't buy trousers from them again after the ones I bought in the summer with the zip 5 cms. nearer one side seam than the other. In fairness they did refund those in the end, but not before suggesting that the problem could be solved by moving the button! Things taking a week to arrive only adds to my irritation.

But of course I'll be looking at the new drop tomorrow.

My second parcel is arriving today! I ordered on Thursday so I really don’t think that’s slow - its less than a week. I can’t complain about that, especially for a flash sale, they must have been snowed under.

As I’ve said, I’m keeping three items and sending three back, but can’t get to the PO until Friday, which is longer than I’d normally wait, especially during a sale, but I keep reminding myself that I do have 14 days so its fine.

Didn’t know there was going to be a drop tomorrow. I was looking at the new stuff last night and really like the boiled wool button back top reverse-waistcoat thing… but I think its too expensive for what it is, what does everyone else think?

@BankfieldForever I thought there was a drop tomorrow because an assistant in a shop said it was 'the week after the sale' but I suppose that could mean next week?

Or it could be like the kindred gift which never materialised!

@oddandelsewhere The only Kindred gift I’ve ever had was a pair of socks (when I bought a very, very expensive coat - I don’t think that was a coincidence, somehow!) and I’ve been a member for more years than I can guess, so I can’t get too excited about them!

A new drop would be nice, I’m feeling a bit underwhelmed with the curent offering. I’ve given up on trousers apart from Annie Jeans and there seem to be a lot of them this time.

My parcel arrived - finally!

Of course, it turned up during the one hour I was out and RM blithely messaged to say it had been left in my ‘safe place’, (which was interesting as I have never designated one!)

This turned out to be on the drive, in full view of the street 🙀

Anyway…the size 38 green Novestas were too big, (the toe box was particularly massive and gave me clown feet), whilst the size 37s in brown were teeny tiny. I should have ordered two in the same colour; there is a lot of size variation between the different colours so I’m reasonably sure that size 38 in the brown would have fitted.

Meanwhile, the FM sandals in indigo - which I have been stalking for months - are also going back. When I tried the brick version in-store they fitted perfectly. Today I just couldn’t get the straps adjusted to my satisfaction - they were either too tight or too loose, no matter what I tried. For £50 I would have risked it, as they are so soft underfoot, but at £135 I wasn’t going to keep them if they weren’t perfect.

The sleeveless tee in a sort of cinnamon brown, (£20), was too shapeless in M, (I already have the black colourway from the Llandeilo sample sale in S). I also didn’t like the colour, which is weird as brown tones usually really suit me, but not this time.

That left the linen trousers in Pear.

I had zero hope for these at this point, but it turns out they are the same style as the black coffee ones I already have from years ago. They must be from the same season, because I have had no luck with all the other Toast linen trousers I have tried before or since.

Although my black linen trousers have not worn well, I am keeping the Pear colourway because they look nice, and will be useful. (Shame it’s now 1/10, but spring will come round quickly enough!)

So, relatively speaking, quite a cheap sale for me at one pair of trousers. I am now wishing I had ordered a couple of other trousers and a jumpsuit to try, but I was absolutely sure I would be keeping the FM sandals. I am a bit disappointed, but it’s not like I needed them in autumn!

Sorry to veer off Toast talk for a moment with this posting but I’ve been aware of the on/off grumblings over the last months/years about the alleged large mark-ups put on clothes by Plumo. I remember at least one member on this thread boycotting the company for this reason. I recently looked at the Harris Tweed Jacket retailing for £789 on Plumo but it wasn’t right for me and I sent it back. While browsing for a different item of clothing, I discovered a remarkably similar, if not identical jacket by the same designer on a different website for £639. I investigated further. Same with the Sigrun coat - £898 on Plumo. Remarkably similar, if not identical coat £715 (different colour/name, same designer) on another website, all seemingly with same fabric compositions. How can they justify this ! Plumo may try to justify it by stating they are a small company, but these other websites who didn’t charge hefty mark ups are also small companies. It doesn’t add up.

It is shocking @PeonyBlush10 - it’s whatever they think they can get away with I suppose.

Other companies do it too, but if it’s cheaper items and ‘only’ a few quid more, then it doesn’t seem as bad! With Plumo and similar, prices are sky high already so it seems much worse.

That was me @PeonyBlush10. I think it’s outrageous. Another example I spotted recently is what they are calling the Brahem scarf - £269. It is by Aiayu and they call it the Adelina scarf - €230 direct from Aiayu in Denmark, £199 at a boutique local to me in Edinburgh. That is a markup of over 25%!
(I should add that I have not bought the scarf and I’m not interested in it, but I just happened to notice it on Plumo having seen it in person recently).
I find the markups really wrong, but equally wrong it seems to me is not giving the brand names.

@ScottishMouse and @IlovePond
There is bound to be some price variation between companies but this is excessive. I know the scarf you mean - it’s lovely and I was interested in it momentarily so I did some
sleuthing and discovered it in the shop in Edinburgh too - Epitome I think, the same shop that offered the much more reasonably priced coat I mention above.

@ScottishMouse and yes, I agree it is off not mentioning the brand name. I asked directly by phone call whether the coat was by Hannoh Wessel - the red stitching in the buttons is quite distinctive. I was told yes and that the coat was specially made by HW for
Plumo, in other words an exclusive. I’ve seen it on two other websites since…

Well that is just blatant lies then @PeonyBlush10. It’s a pretty underhand way to treat customers, and I don’t like it one bit. I have actually never bought anything from Plumo, I just using it for window shopping.

There are some new things popping up on the website. I’m intrigued by these quilted trousers, which look very cosy, but surely wouldn’t drape at all well?
www.toa.st/products/quilted-cotton-barrel-leg-trousers-indigo-blue

Good grief @ScottishMouse - those trousers remind me of the delightful outfit I had to wear when I attempted to go whale watching in Iceland! (No actual whales turned up, btw - just me in huge quilted orange trousers 😹)

I am sure they’d look ok on someone extremely tall and very thin, but not on me with my short legs!

The material looks super-cozy, though.

This is a great image @IlovePond! But yes, it seems an odd choice of fabric for anything other than a jacket or maybe a dressing gown (although I tried one of the quilted dressing gowns last year and it was very stiff and cumbersome). I think the cream ones would look particularly awful on me. And there is a shirt too! 🤷‍♀️
On the other hand, I love the green wrap coat and the navy wool coat - classics that I would wear for many years (providing menopause weight gain levels off at some point 🫣), but even with some birthday vouchers they are super spendy.
I’m not seeing much else. I was hoping for some lovely knits, but it is mostly the Orla Donegal sweater in new colours (someone was asking about this recently but I can’t remember who). Will see what else tomorrow brings.

@IlovePond sorry to hear your sales items were underwhelming but think of all the money you’ve saved for something truly special. You’ve made me laugh twice today - postman leaving parcel in ‘safe place’ and orange quilted trousers/whales/Iceland. Thanks for adding a bit of cheer to the day !

Someone on another thread was a bit rude about us Toasties, describing us as ‘evangelical’ I disagree, I think it’s a lovely thread of like minded people with a common interest in all things Toast, who don’t take the hobby too seriously.

Thanks @PeonyBlush10 I am eyeing up a new jumper instead, perhaps.

How interesting that we’re being mentioned elsewhere - we must be getting famous! I prefer to think of us all as interested consumers who are more than willing to constructively criticise Toast when required😹 rather than blind worshippers at the altar of all things Toasty! (Although perhaps best not to mention that time I got DH to drive from Thirsk to the Kilver Court sample sale and then home to the SE, all in one day🙈)

@ScottishMouse - I do really like Toast’s coats and still regret letting last year’s orange/black coat get away. I am looking forward to wearing my new Toast hooded coat - from the Easter sample sale - when it gets colder.

@Brillenbar47 thank you!

@PeonyBlush10 ooh where is this thread?

@IlovePond
I think the drive to Kilver Court was mentioned as a prime example of Toastie evangelicalism now you mention it 😆

Ooh don’t even mention a sample sale - I’m actually on first names terms with a couple of people who I see at KC each time, no idea who they are in real life! - I’m hoping for one around the end of October.
@IlovePond sorry the sandals did not suit, you never know, you might find a pair at the next sample.

Oh no @PeonyBlush10 😹😹😹 how strange! I’m a bit taken aback by the idea of someone lurking on the threads only to then go and ‘gossip’ about us elsewhere!

I am unashamedly a huge fan of the Toast sample sales and will always try to get to them if possible! However, @mizu - if there is one in October, then I will miss it, because I am going abroad for the first time since before COVID, (and I think even I would balk at a day trip to Shepton Mallet from Seoul😹)

@IlovePond 😁 and wow to Seoul! Who knows if there will be one, they are usually quite last minute.

I’m out of practice travelling @mizu - so wish me luck!

Yes, there was a June sale at Kilver Court last year, but this summer’s was in August in LLandeilo - which really threw me.

Fortunately it was quiet - at least when I went on the first morning - it’s a small shop and they wouldn’t have coped if Kilver Court numbers had turned up!

Have been enjoying reading about all your sale purchases - I didn’t buy anything this time, which is very unlike me.

From long ago - I have kept the cord apron dress and worn it 3 or 4 times already - it’s really comfortable and versatile and I’m glad I kept it.

Re crinkle cotton - also from long ago - the macro gingham dress - I find that crinkle cotton shrinks when it is washed (and relaxes when it is ironed/steamed) so if too big simple don’t iron and win win.

Glad I’m not the only one to come back from a whale watching trip in Iceland not having seen any whales!
i tried on the gorgeous Frankie vibrant check coat. It is the most beautiful quality. I loved the shape, the deep pockets and the colours, but when I was mulling it over afterwards I couldn’t shake the image of Sherlock Holmes from mind. I think it might be my hair-style and colour which isn’t helping and I’m thinking I should have gone for last year’s model with the different colour-way. When I told my DH about Sherlock Holmes he said ‘And is that bad?’