Toasties springing into Spring 🌼

[IlovePond]

Hi,

As promised, here is the new thread. All are welcome to chat about all things Toast, znd any related topics!

I know what you mean @ScottishMouse Not exactly in the same league as the brands you mentioned, but I tried on a high street brand skirt the other day on a whim and immediately thought: ‘Ooh, that will do’ no thought or effort required - it just fitted and looked nice and was under £35 in the sale!

I wanted to say on the survey that they shouldn’t chuck people out of Kindred, but forgot 🙀

Did anyone on here go to this weekend’s sample sale? I am still miffed it wasn’t at KC!

Oh good point @IlovePond, I forgot to say that too about Kindred. Just in comparison, my shopping yesterday was at a local boutique. They have a loyalty system where £s spent earn you points, and then points can be used to get £s off your next purchase. It’s a good system - easy, makes you feel like you are getting a discount almost every time, and importantly, fair and transparent.
My shopping yesterday was a real splurge, but I also had a similar experience with an Arket top not long ago. I put it on and it just felt spot on. I have been shopping at Toast for a long time, and almost exclusively there for some years now. But lately when I have a wardrobe gap to fill, I find myself trawling that section on the Toast website looking to force something there to fit the bill, wondering if I can overlook a colour or a fabric or a cut that isn’t 100% what I’m after, as if Toast is the only shop that exists. And then I order and end up returning because the item just isn’t quite right. I also feel that Toast pieces in recent times are just trying too hard, I didn’t always feel that, and my favourite pieces are mostly the ones from years ago (most of which sadly don’t fit anymore 😢). Maybe I should have said all this in the survey 🤣🤣

@IlovePond was tempted but had promised my mum lunch out yesterday. And it’s a bit too far. Shepton Mallet is 1.5 hours but I know and quite enjoy the route. I’m still miffed it wasn’t at KC and hoping this is not a permanent change!

I agree @ScottishMouse - some things recently have been over-priced, quite odd and not very good quality. Meanwhile I love my Pond dress and my first ever Toast jumper!

Me too @mizu. I am hoping the hordes descend on Llandeillo today and the staff say ‘never again’!

If they had announced it in a timely manner, I would have had a week away end of March, then probably managed to persuade DH that three nights in Wales was a good idea. As it was, we only came back from our dreadful trip to Cornwall on Wednesday. (Car broke down - literally stuck amongst fields without transport for four days 😿)

Oh @IlovePond don't wish them not to have sales at Llandeilo, it's about an hour away for me and a lot more convenient than Kilver Court!

Having said that I haven't been to this one, a combination of being a bit out of love with the new styles and colours and having to finish decorating the utility room.

I bought some Bronwen twill trousers in the sale, which I kept despite thinking they were a bit ordinary at first. I really like them now, they are very comfortable and if you tumble dry them on low heat they don't need ironing.

@ScottishMouse would you mind telling me which boutique you bought your lovely sounding new things from? I always spend the last week in April/beginning of May in Scotland catching up with my old friends and I need to do some serious clothes shopping!

I still need an outfit for my son's wedding, which my daughter is coming with me to help buy, but I need everyday things as well now I no longer but much from Toast

@Scotiasdarling Dicks in Edinburgh - happens to be next door to Toast! Prices are high, some so eye watering I cannot imagine who buys them (coats for £1000, trousers for £700, that kind of thing 😱). But there are also more reasonable brands - Harley, Labo Art, Vetra, etc. - that are similar to Toast prices or less. It is small but so well curated.

@ScottishMouse I pondered going in there on my recent trip to Edinburgh. Looks like some beautiful stuff but I had run out of steam.

I’m pondering buying the bolster stripe linen culottes for summer travels although they are so spendy. I note a poster has tried the linen barrel trousers and found them thin. Has anyone had eyes on the blue linen barrel trousers to be able to comment on whether they are navy or purple?

Our local Russell and Bromley is in the final throes of closing, which is so sad as I’ve been buying there for 45 years! I bought two pairs of very reduced fracap style sandals yesterday, probably my final R&B purchase. One black pair, the other gold.

Llandeilo was busy at first though it was thinning out as I left. Mostly smaller sizes which is obvious I suppose because it is a sample sale. I only bought one item - a shadow print blouse - and would have bought a pair of Annie style linen trousers except I realised I have four pairs of navy summer weight trousers already. My husband bought a beautiful Donegal waistcoat. There were amazing bargains - a space dyed wrap skirt was £80 in an 8. Not much homeware. Lots of happy Welsh shoppers of all ages. I am very fond of the Llandeilo store and am lucky enough to pass by fairly regularly. I rarely leave the outlet side of the shop empty handed. You never get the snootiness people mention relating to some other stores. The staff are all genuinely friendly and helpful.

Thanks for the report @alliscalm I agree that the LLandeilo staff are very nice.

Has anyone seen the short video, initially on instagram but now I see it on the live area of the website, showing the wrap skirt and matching top?

I love the look of it. Has anyone bought/tried the skirt and can comment on the wrap - is it secure? If I go out in a wind will it reveal all?
It is appallingly expensive.

https://www.toa.st/pages/toast-live

@Bimblesalong I have tried the blueberry linen barrel trousers and I really liked them. The colour is quite blueberry, I’d say more blue with a purple hint. The lady in the shop commented that she thought the colour catches the light.

@Bimblesalong I have the dress that matches these. It is described as blueberry too. I think in a Toast shop the lighting might bring out the blueberry ness of the colour but to me it is quite navy. Nice material though.

Thank you @ScallopShellWalk and @Countmeout I may switch from white to blue and give them a try by post. I’m not in London for a few weeks and there may well be a nice browse in one of the stores then too.

I’ve come on to ask about ordering from Bleu de Chauffe directly - it’s been mentioned here before but I can’t remember whether it was good or bad. I’m looking for a small belt bag that I know Toast stocked before (but now sold out), and I can’t seem to find anyone else that stocks it locally.

I ordered a cartridge bag @CakeAndJazz but I am in NI and treated as being still in the EU sort of. We don’t pay duty as far as I can determine . I have since ordered from Vive La difference as well (I bought one of their bags bag from Toast previously) and didn’t pay any duty.
I think there is an amount under which duty is not due in the UK but I am not sure. Maybe someone else will be along that has done it.

@CakeAndJazz I bought a bag directly from Bleu de chauffe. It was on sale and was cheaper than from toast. I don’t recall any duty, it possibly was because it was under the duty threshold. I’d buy directly again.

@ScottishMouse thank you for the mention of pas de Calais. After you mentioned your jacket and culottes, I took a look online only to see a shop 5 mins from where I’m currently visiting that had a lovely ivory linen/cotton jacket on sale, so I popped in and bought it. I’m home tomorrow. There’s a toast reworn jacket waiting for me.
I think I’m fairly sorted with clothes now. Not sure I’ll be buying much more.

Ooh lovely @ScallopShellWalk! Where’s the shop? It seems like a brand not stocked very many places.

@ScottishMouse ooo that’s interesting that there’s not many places that stock them. I’ve just now been looking over their items and I like quite a few things. I’m in Santander, a lady has a shop, Percha, that stocks them amongst lots of lovely things.

Thanks @Countmeout and @ScallopShellWalk - the lack of duties is a relief. I’ve reached out on the Facebook group in case anyone has one they’d like to sell. But if I’m not lucky on there, I’ll get it from them directly. I’ve not found anything similar/as nice sold locally.

Please don't shoot me for this, but I bought a fantastic pair of barrel leg 100% cotton trousers, pleated front, in Primark. They are actually lovely. They come in Khaki or a dark red. Elasticated waist and just perfect.

I have an evening dress I bought there around 20 years ago and still wear it, so some things have longevity . . .

I agree @PrincessofWells - sometimes there are really good quality items to be found in unexpected places.

I am really enjoying wearing my long denim skirt bought in the sale at WS recently. It is a much better fit on me than Toast denim skirts, looks lovely and cost £35.

@PrincessofWells and @IlovePond , I also think you can find something good almost anywhere, I have been looking at Damson Madder recently (not quite Primark, but still better prices than Toast) as they have some lovely things.

I am posting quite a few bits on the Facebook sales page at the moment. So far, all have sold but I will be loading more today/tomorrow - most things a size 12 or medium. I have to fund any new purchases! I am looking at the fig leaf dress and skirt with lust, also the red striped skirt (but have too many skirts), the alder tee shirts, the contrast smocked top, the green sorbet striped top and the open stitched polo. Re the polo, I got a lovely green button up polo via Jaegar at M and S.

M and S has certainly upped its game, really recommend the palazzo cotton cropped trousers in black or in sandstone. I ordered with a Sparks offer and got them for £30.40p, not too far off of Primark prices.