Summer sun and Toastie talk! ☀️

[IlovePond]

Hi,
As promised, here is the new thread.

All are welcome to chat about Toastie topics, (and other related things!)

@ShadowViolet and @ScallopShellWalk - also hoping Toast denim stretches. The ecru jeans arrived and they are lovely. I'm a bit worried about how high waisted they are and how fitted at the waist too, but the length is perfect which I don't understand either since the length is also perfect for the models who are 6 inches taller than me. How can that be?

I will try them on again tomorrow and see how I feel then. Still can't decide whether to order the big cotton linen cardigan. Does anyone have it?

@faustina I had been wondering how you had gotten on with the ecru jeans.
I’ve been wearing my new ones. They feel comfier already but will feel even better if I can lose some weight too. 🤣

It's puzzling isn't it @Faustina?! If the models are 6 inches taller than you and Toast trousers fit you fine...it just doesn't make sense! But I'm glad it worked out for you in this case.

They arrived yesterday and I haven't completely made up my mind - the waist is really small - even smaller than the Annie jeans. It fits me but I'm not sure if it might annoy me. I don't usually like things with a fixed waist. They are otherwise perfect though!

You're having a lot of. luck with the reworn section @ScallopShellWalk!

@faustina I do like reworn options, even if it’s old stock. I have sent 3 shirts back recently but I now know the shirts don’t work for me. So that’s good to know. I think I order too much to be honest. I don’t really feel in control 😱 almost dreading the sale. How do you all control yourselves? It’s great they can be sent back though. 2 weeks is enough time to calm down and decide.

Thank you to all who suggested I list my dress on Vinted. I’ve had masses of viewings already which is a marked improvement from eBay (although I’ve previously had great experience with them). I also made an unexpected purchase - the Hal jacket in cream/ecru cord from a few seasons ago and which I regretted not buying at the time. Does anyone have this jacket ? I’m wondering how it wears and whether it keeps its shape.

@ScallopShellWalk I keep things under control by being way more ruthless than I used to be. I also never buy on Vinted unless I've actually tried it on at Toast - the sizing is too variable

@faustina I will need to find a way to be ruthless too. Any tips?

I got a great Tpast jumper on Vinted yesterday, which makes up for my recent bad Vinted purchasing experience. It’s a very dark brown Shetland wool with a very minimal lace stitch on the yoke and a high neck. From maybe 4ish years ago. Brand new and perfect for winter….except it is ridiculously itchy. It will need an under layer and hopefully will then be ok.

@ScallopShellWalk I have this dress from 2023, it is lovely and the drawstring is, indeed, just for effect. In deeper winter I have worn it with a very thin knit striped knit from Me and Em. I think it would look great with one of Toast’s versions of this knit. It looks good with DMs or brogues and tights, or ankle socks if you dare!

Thank you @ToastCosILoveIt for your thoughts on the drawstring dress. I like what you have to say a lot. I def think a knit or some other long sleeved top under would be good in the colder days. Plus tights for sure. I may even see how trousers or something will work. I’m glad you still thought of it as lovely after all this time. That’s encouraging.

@ScottishMouse I have found that I get used to scratchy wool jumpers after wearing them for a bit. In fact it adds to the winter experience. Maybe you might too. Your jumper sounds nice.

@ScallopShellWalk re, ‘controlling yourself’, for me it helps to have some sort of plan for what I actually need/ want most and keep that in the back of my mind. So at the moment, when I look at the Toast website 90% of my focus is on knitwear, because that’s top of my list. It doesn’t mean I don’t occasionally get distracted by other things, but it’d have to be something pretty special to tempt me. I also set myself a monthly budget and stick to it, which helps to focus the mind.

I’m not someone who enjoys browsing the shops though. I imagine if you do, it’s all a lot harder

@ShadowViolet thank you. I only browse shops very occasionally. Mainly because I don’t see anything I like. So when I see something it’s fine to get it. With toast I have found things I like and perhaps too often I buy it, especially if in reworn or on a sale. However, I’ve got plenty enough now of nice clothes so there’s no reason to still be looking and if I never bought another thing for a long while, I’d be fine. I really enjoy wearing the nice clothes, it brightens up my days. As you say, a plan of what I’d like to have and or a budget would be most helpful. Thank you. I’m going to think this over, work it out and rethink the way I shop. Now I know there’s no shortage and I can just as easily get something anytime in the future.

@ScallopShellWalk and @ToastCosILoveIt - I absolutely love that drawstring dress. It was definitely ´one that got away’ at the time and I regret not keeping it after ordering it in the sale!

Glad you got one - I agree it would look lovely with a thin jumper or top underneath!

@ScallopShellWalk I’ve got the drawstring collar dress too. I also tend to wear mine with stripes underneath. I think it may have been styled with a striped top when it was new in and it really does work well that way. I’ve got a few long sleeve striped cotton tops and a couple of Toast striped wool thin layer tops plus a lightweight knit that I wear under it depending on how chilly it is. It’s also very comfy to wear which is a bonus. Enjoy ☺️

It was @AmethystMoonShine - I remember it so well. I tried the combo from the website on at home and it was DH who didn’t like it. Why did I listen? He does NOT understand Toast 😿

I just received the Orla jumper in Corallite. I really wasn't sure if this was a colour that'd work for me, as pinks and I don't generally get on. But it's a little warmer and muted than 'the average pink', so it doesn't wash me out like so many pinks do. Some (i.e. DH) claim it brings out the colour of my eyes...

I reckon this colour is going to look great with denim, as well as my new brown cord trousers. Definite keeper.

@AmethystMoonShine I had the drawstring dress on this morning with long toast socks. It was very easy to pull out the wardrobe first thing and didn’t take too much thought. It feels really great on. I think this might become a habit. I just need to be aware of the hanging drawstrings as I am looking after my pets first thing, rabbit and dogs mainly. I’ll look forward to wearing it also in winter with a second layer and possibly trousers.

@ShadowViolet I’m glad your jumper is a success, it is rather nice. I think it’ll go great with your jeans and cords.
I also like the other pinkish jumper.

Is it just me or are there no new reviews on the site now?

@ScallopShellWalk - about controlling over-buying: I have bought so many beautiful Toast pieces in the past without really considering them on me, with my other clothes, if you see what I mean. Quite a few of them ended up in my wardrobe and occasionally I'd get them out, think 'this is so beautiful' try them on, then take them off again, and six months or so later, send them off to a new home via Vinted. So now I'm much stricter about buying things I know will work for my life, with my other clothes and that I'll actually wear. I don't always manage it but that's my aim. It helps quite a lot that Toast is no longer available at John Lewis in the sale for 25p but obviously Reworn is very tempting!

Thank you @faustina I do understand this. I am trying only to add clothes that I really like and want to wear. There is one pair of too small, lightweight trousers in a mix of colours that is not me at all but seemed cheap, as you say, and I thought might be nice in summer to lounge in. I don’t even put them on to say no. But I like this assessment that you refer to and I’m going to employ that in choosing and buying what currently would work, not some future or dream. I remember @ScottishMouse mentioning buying out of season has its flaws. I think this can be true for me too. If I were to consider what currently works and wear it now, I believe it’ll have at least some chance of fitting it. Then if next time the season comes around and it no longer fits, then at least it’s had some wear. I feel unhappy about moving clothes on that have never even been on. But keeping them is a mistake for me too, seeing my bad choices looking back at me.

Glad you’re enjoying the dress @ScallopShellWalk. Mine is in autumn/winter clothes storage but will be out soon. All this talk means that I am now impatient to wear it 😃

@AmethystMoonShine thats great isn’t it, that your impatient to wear it again? We could have discussions about older items again. Create a similar feeling about the clothes that we got from them when they were new.

Similarly to @faustina I am much more mindful of what I buy from TOAST now having bought lovely things in the past that hang on my clothes rail to be admired….and then eventually sold on Vinted.

Looking at the rail now, I can see that the items that I’ve had for years are the denim dresses / pinafores, linen dresses and jumpers. All really easy to wear, staple items which fit into my lifestyle.

I really try the one in, one out system which lessens the guilt!

I have also got better at distinguishing between things that I love and things I will actually my wear in my life. The second category is really quite small, and if there are pieces in my wardrobe that work well for me, I really don’t need that many. My life doesn’t usually include occasions that require me to dress up, I tend to wear the same things to work and in my free time, and might put on some jewellery or a slightly nicer top to go out for dinner/drinks, but I am a casual girl at heart and pretending otherwise just leaves me with beautiful but unworn items that make me feel guilty.
A few months ago, I did an unplanned experiment which taught me something. I was away for a conference for 6 days in a UK city, and for complicated logistical reasons, I could only bring a very small bag. So I packed exceptionally light for me - 2 bottoms, 2 sweaters, 2 jersey tops, 1 pair of shoes, 1 bag, 1 jacket, 1 scarf and the jewellery I wear every day. Most of this I was wearing when I travelled. I picked my most favourite and crucially, most worn, items (often when I go away I pack my favourite newest items but end up wishing I had brought the old reliables). I wore the same outfits with little variation, and nothing terrible happened. In fact, because the choice was taken out of my hands, it felt almost freeing. This taught me that I really don’t need much in my wardrobe, I just need pieces that make me feel good. Later this month I’m going to try this again when I go to Denmark for 3 days with just a small under-seat backpack.