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A New Year and a new Toast thread 🎊

989 replies

IlovePond · 01/01/2026 09:49

Welcome to the Toast thread where we talk about what we love, (and what drives us mad 😹), about all things Toast.

As usual, pictures are welcomed, as are comments, questions and info about Toastie topics.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
62
Theteapotsbrokenspout · 06/01/2026 18:36

My order from the 31st has been dispatched.
I've only been to two Toast shops, most recently Cambridge where I found the staff helpful. Mayfair, a couple of years ago, weren't particularly friendly and I remember feeling a bit of an inconvenience when I asked for different sizes.

faustina · 06/01/2026 18:43

I loved being able to order from JL and collect it the next day in my local Waitrose, also the sales where the prices were so amazingly low. I do still wear a lot of Toast but I'm shopping generally much less and I'm much more aware of what I feel happy in.

I think I've over-rationalised by winter coat collection. Not quite sure what I need, but maybe something very warm that doesn't make me resemble a Michelin man - that's currently my only option for weather like this

Where are the restocks for today?

Leftsidefacing · 06/01/2026 19:03

I loved Toast at John Lewis too. Great quality useful pieces that lasted and lasted (I believe the JL stock was exclusive to them even though it didn’t say JL on them), and easy to choose, try on and buy.

I’m not intimidated by Toast shops, I don’t mind asking for sizes, the problem is they never have my size available to try on because they’re selling what little they have - (perhaps they should stop selling from the shops and just have them as fully stocked showrooms?) I just won’t be spoken to like that again.

CandidCrow · 06/01/2026 19:08

Leftsidefacing · 06/01/2026 15:43

I’ve bought very little this year as I just have too many clothes already and can feel my style and needs changing as I come up to 55.

My biggest successes of the past year have been Scottish knitwear companies and Marks and Spencer for stuff I’d normally have bought from Toast, like jumpers, jersey tops, canvas trousers and cords and House of Valerie (a boutique in Nantwich, Cheshire) for more unusual, expensive stuff. I love the drop crotch velvet Rundholz trousers I just got there (£245) and think I’ll be moving towards an edgier style in that vein as I get older, as until now my style has been quite romantic and is starting to look a bit ‘baby Jane’ on me now!

hello. Do you mind describing the jumpers you got from M&S and liked? I too, have had a lot of success with m&s this year, with long sleeved tshirts and a pair a cord trousers I prefer over my toast ones! I have not tried any knitwear from them yet

Brackenfield · 06/01/2026 19:21

Leftsidefacing · 06/01/2026 15:44

I take it nobody here has the cream cotton/silk Kantha top then?

I've ordered, but no sign of dispatch yet. I'm getting married later this year so I'm hoping it will work as a low key hen do top (and other wears of course) because a white mini dress is very much not my vibe 😅

ToastCosILoveIt · 06/01/2026 19:38

I too remain a Toast devotee, like others I am not sure what would wear if I didn’t have Toast. I have one of my several Bryn dresses on today and earlier wore a bracelet sleeved mohair mushroom cardigan from Toast around 8 years ago. I have to say, I rarely have a day when something isn’t Toast, whether it is a dress, top, trousers, jumper, bag, coat, pair of shoes, bag, nightee (bedding!), I have them all.

I don’t understand why the gathered silk blouse hasn’t sold out. I paid full price for the navy one and snapped up the gold one when it was reduced, it is a lovely and easy blouse.

A (pleasant) surprise for me was the shadow still print cotton silk dress. It is expensive yes, even in the sale, but i took a gamble on it and it is a keeper, a really special and lovely dress. I wonder if i could have sized down (got a 12, my usual size) but couldn’t be asked with the faff of a further return and another purchase, and the drawstrings at the side and back also you to pull it in. I am debating adding the matching scarf but not sure if I can be bothered with another order. I paid for speedy delivery for it (not next day) and it and the space dyed skirt arrived in under 24 hours. I have reordered the wool mohair round cardigan (now sold out) in the large, sizing up as many of the reviews said, but it still hasn’t been dispatched (from 2 Jan). It’s a bit annoying as I sent the small/medium back as it felt like the buttons would pull and all reviews said to size up for a much better look. I hope I am not going to end up with nothing if they tell me they can’t fulfil my order.

Oh the halcyon days of JL stocking Toast, so many bargains and such ease in ordering and returning.

I use mainly the London stores if I am shopping in-store: Hampstead have always been delightful, as have Marylebone with the exception of one cold assistant who made very little effort and had nothing to say about the stock she bought out. I have been in and out of other London branches, all fine, but they are my main two.

Gathered Neck Cotton Silk Shirt | Old Gold

Gathered Neck Cotton Silk Shirt | Old Gold

Cotton silk shirt with rouleaux neck tie and gathered cuffs. Available in Old Gold.

https://www.toa.st/products/gathered-neck-cotton-silk-shirt-old-gold

Snowyowl78 · 06/01/2026 19:54

@ToastCosILoveIt re. the silk blouse, how did you find the sizing? I’m torn between M and L. Usuallly a Toast 12, although lately Large in some top or sweaters. Is it smartish worn untucked? Thanks!

Snowyowl78 · 06/01/2026 19:57

@ToastCosILoveIt also do you dry clean it or wash it?

ToastCosILoveIt · 06/01/2026 20:06

Snowyowl78 · 06/01/2026 19:54

@ToastCosILoveIt re. the silk blouse, how did you find the sizing? I’m torn between M and L. Usuallly a Toast 12, although lately Large in some top or sweaters. Is it smartish worn untucked? Thanks!

I got the 12 and it is plenty roomy enough. I would say it would be good for a 12/14 shape. I haven’t washed the navy one yet, it is down in Cornwall (where I work) and i have only worn it twice with a silk shortsleeved vest underneath so it hasn’t touched skin largely. I wont dare try to wash it though as I would hate to damage it.

ToastCosILoveIt · 06/01/2026 20:07

Yes, it is super smart untucked, have worn it with wide trousers and a narrow but long skirt.

ToastCosILoveIt · 06/01/2026 20:07

It would look great with jeans too.

Snowyowl78 · 06/01/2026 20:09

@ToastCosILoveIt thank you! Do you mean the Medium?
also interested to know what silk vests you wear!

Leftsidefacing · 06/01/2026 20:11

CandidCrow · 06/01/2026 19:08

hello. Do you mind describing the jumpers you got from M&S and liked? I too, have had a lot of success with m&s this year, with long sleeved tshirts and a pair a cord trousers I prefer over my toast ones! I have not tried any knitwear from them yet

Edited

I didn’t get jumpers from M&S, just trousers, tops, thermals and a couple of nice jackets. I found them particularly good for trousers, having not shopped there for years after their cords stopped fitting me.

Being in Scotland and not being sensitive to wool I stay local for jumpers and get them from Eribe, Bosie, House of Bruar and knitted a couple of my own.

Stoic123 · 06/01/2026 20:14

'New Styles Added' sales order arrived today and they are all keepers.

Wool cashmere roll neck jumper is lovely and looks exactly how I hoped on. Nishiguchi merino gloves are well made and a colour match for the roll neck. Finally, Guernsey Stitch socks will form part of a friend's birthday present.

Total sales haul so far includes these 3 items plus a wood block printing kit (another gift) and the blue A line cotton linen canvas coat. If I stop now it will feel like a goldilocks sale for me.

I'm not waiting on any returns but might be tempted by the blue marbled pitcher if price drops further. Not needed but I keep envisioning it with bunch of delphs or tulips come Spring.

ToastCosILoveIt · 06/01/2026 20:16

Snowyowl78 · 06/01/2026 20:09

@ToastCosILoveIt thank you! Do you mean the Medium?
also interested to know what silk vests you wear!

Yes, @Snowyowl78 , I mean a Medium, I am a 12 or Medium in Toast normally, occasionally a 10 (but more in the old sizing they had).

It’s an old Hanro vest i got in the sale a few years ago, something like this but round neck and in black.

Pure Silk - Short-Sleeved Top

This short sleeved top is part of the Pure Silk range that features delicate 100% silk fine rib fabric for natural temperature balance, enhanced with elegant elastic silk edging, super soft touch and seamless construction for the ultimate in comfort. T...

https://www.hanro.co.uk/products/pure-silk-short-sleeved-top-pale-cream

Leftsidefacing · 06/01/2026 20:25

@CandidCrow House of Bruar still have a fab Donegal jumper that has worn much better than my very similar Toast one. Half the price too. Sorry @IlovePond if its inappropriate to post this here but I’m not Loyal to Toast and am not above getting the Toast look from other less ‘stylish’ places if I see them.

Donegal jumper

Ladies Donegal Roll Edge Crew Neck

The ladies green Donegal roll edge crew neck is a timeless piece crafted with elegance in mind. Buy online at The House of Bruar.

https://www.houseofbruar.com/l-donegal-roll-edg-tt14168moss/?_gl=1*jq1l39*_up*MQ..*_gs*MQ..&gclid=Cj0KCQiAgvPKBhCxARIsAOlK_Er7P4sVXgTbwiAlUQ7LgVQnM4De6AZVdBUdvBlE9egvtQxRl_cY3SYaAqy1EALw_wcB&gbraid=0AAAAAC8kpAqxbgnmg3dbWaW-NoS1NiZXj

Stoic123 · 06/01/2026 20:37

Another one here who wouldn't be without Toast. I walked round Anthropologie the other day and everything looked horribly cheap.

Abdnshireoutdoorsy · 06/01/2026 21:08

Thanks for all the updates re orders still unfulfilled - I placed mine on the 2nd and would be wondering if something had gone wrong if I didn’t know we were all waiting.

Like @Leftsidefacing I’m snowed in so it’s probably a good thing for me to wait. We’ve had no post or deliveries yet this year and the shops keep running out of milk and bread as the delivery lorries are not getting through.

I also don’t buy knitwear at Toast though as there’s so many great British makers - Johnstons of Elgin, Harley of Scotland (who make for Plumo), Elwin studio, Oubas Knitwear - I really need to stop buying jumpers!

Leftsidefacing · 06/01/2026 22:15

@Abdnshireoutdoorsy I must be very near you, I’m in N/E Aberdeenshire and like you no postal service, local shops empty and can’t get the car out to check the town 5 miles away. Just heard we’re supposed to get another six to eight inches tomorrow.

I don’t mind as long as it doesn’t get windy as that always takes our power out - it was off for eleven days with Storm Arwen back in 2021, we had to move into a hotel and field rats set up home in my cooker hood!

IlovePond · 07/01/2026 00:00

Go for it @Leftsidefacing - most, if not everyone on here also likes to hear about Toast-similar/alternative products- particularly if they are bargainous! I miss the days of a couple of years ago when people just used to pop on for a bit of a chat, so the busier the thread, the better, as far as I am concerned.

The JL stuff was the same stock as sold in Toast - just a smaller range. My DSIS was probably their biggest customer at the time and she would bombard me with pictures! I bought my blue jacquard jumper from Toast - sent it back as I wasn’t feeling like it was ‘worth’ full price. DSis then bought it from JL in the sale on my behalf but by that time I had gone off it. (Big mistake 🙈 but all good in the end as I later picked up a brand new one on eBay for half the price!)

I think Toast very much disliked JL deeply discounting their clothes so much. My DSis would try on clothes full price in Toast and then trot over to JL and pick them up ridiculously reduced in the bargain sales that always seemed to be on at JL - 2019-2021. Happy days!

I finally got round to returning the skirts today, but there’s still no sign of my last order.

On a non-Toast note: I have just binge-watched three episodes of Culinary Class Wars Season Two on Netflix. I heartily recommend it, if only to learn 101 uses for the carrot!

OP posts:
mizu · 07/01/2026 06:59

@IlovePond is this the blue jacquard jumper you mean? My favourite jumper EVER.

A New Year and a new Toast thread 🎊
CandidCrow · 07/01/2026 07:29

Leftsidefacing · 06/01/2026 20:25

@CandidCrow House of Bruar still have a fab Donegal jumper that has worn much better than my very similar Toast one. Half the price too. Sorry @IlovePond if its inappropriate to post this here but I’m not Loyal to Toast and am not above getting the Toast look from other less ‘stylish’ places if I see them.

Donegal jumper

Thank you! I have got some really good knitwear suggestions now, off to have a look!

ScallopShellWalk · 07/01/2026 10:09

@IlovePond
I like it when the thread is a bit of a chat too.
I haven’t heard of “culinary class wars” will go have a look. I started watching the salt path yesterday. Having read the book, the news on her embezzlement and being left with feelings of deception, I’m actually enjoying the film more than I thought. Embedding all that I know into it, it’s actually more interesting than her written story. I thoroughly enjoyed the NM threads on that but I could never catch up.

I got a refund today from a return on Saturday. So it’s perhaps moving a bit faster as last refund took a week.

I wish my sales parcels would arrive from Fri, Sat and Mon but I haven’t even had a dispatch notice. I now too am blowing cold about the order. Still excited about the merino wrap but less so about the organza skirt that I admired for so long. Perhaps because I feel a bit guilty and not sure it’ll get used much.

Has anyone got this organza skirt?

ScottishMouse · 07/01/2026 10:25

Well I am still waiting for a refund for an item sent back on the 27th @ScallopShellWalk so it seems a bit random. I may have to chase it if I don’t get anything today.

ScallopShellWalk · 07/01/2026 10:43

@ScottishMouse that is quite long to wait. Fingers crossed today is the day of refunds.