Toast - what's the attraction?

[MaggieW]

I've just been sent the Toast catalogue for the first time and don't think I've ever seen such a collection of bland, shapeless, unflattering and overpriced clothes in one place. I clearly don't get it, can someone help me see the light?

Oh.

I didn't notice this was in style and beauty. I came bustling in to rave about hot melty butter and marmite.

I will go and have a look at the Toast website and be back with something more relavent to add...

Hot buttered toast [yum]
and marmite as well
I like looking at the Toast catalogue, and then not buying anything
Admittedly I have some lovely sandals from Toast
look here

I seem to be on the Toast mailing list, no idea why as I am about as far from a Toasty-person as it's possible to be.

It all looks as if it's lost colour in the wash to me.

I just got the catalogue today and wondered the same thing.

I also wondered how they got my address, has Johnnie Boden been selling our details? My other suspect was Plumo (generally overpriced boho tat too).

I think it sells a mood, a muted and far-too-serious mood.

I was almost sucked in by the 'elegantly floating through moroccan souk whilst staring dreamily into the middle distance' vibe from the catalogue a few years back...

unfortunately without the willowy model and the exotic backdrop the clothes were more 'frumpy hippy in crumpled, wash-out cheesecloth' in the grey reality of London.

And the PRICES! [grumpy old lady emoticon]

people pay for the label.

Lovely friendly Welsh staff, but overpriced and dull clothes. Appeals to the bit of me that's living in a lovely vicarage in Dorset and needs not to upset the horses. No offence if you do live in a lovely vicarage in Dorset, please accept my jealousy!

I've never bought anything from Toast that I've not sent back.

A friend of mine loves it - says it is the perfect mix of schoolgirl and old lady. Why this is a good thing is totally beyond me, but different strokes and all that (for the record, my friend rarely looks what I would term 'good', although I feel horrible even thinking that, much less typing it )

They do the occasional nice item hidden among lots of French navy artistically knotted sacks and sludge coloured hessian sundress type things at socking prices. I quite enjoy looking for the non-fugly garment myself. I have bought the same sandals as Darrel (lovely) but nowt else...

Shocking not socking

Did someone say marmite? Yum

Toast - sometimes the catalogue looks great and other times a bit dodgy but never actually bought anything.

Their catalogue this season is particularlly bad, sometimes they have really nice stuff

Exactly, Tootiredforgodtyping - it is usually much nicer than this season - the winter catalogue had amazing bright merino sweaters and cord skirts - I wanted some in the sale but they were sold out.It is expensive but you can always get a good price for it on ebay when you decide you have had enough of it. I buy Brora and Toast without worrying too much about the price as I can sell and get quite a lot back after 2 years.

I like it. I think this season is a bit hit-and-miss, although there are some things I like more now than when I first saw them.

I have bought a couple of things from Toast in previous seasons that have been fabulous, but like the others here have been uninspired this season.

The bedding is really nice though, I have the ticking duvet set and it is really nice and heavyweight and good quality.

I liked the tea towels in the home section but not enough to order just them!!!

this season is dullsville. There's one nice dress and a cardi I quite like and that's IT.

Sale stuff was amazing - but that was aided by very good prices. normally I'd not want to buy anything because as everyone seems to agree, it is incredibly overpriced.

Roll on the next archive sale.

The quality of their clothes are good but the prices are just far too high.

I got some sheepskin boots in the sale which are lovely but their shoe sizing errs on the small side.

I just got the catalogue as well - obviously they are on a marketing binge. I honestly can't understand it. Are the clothes actually made in Wales? Looked like cheap Indian made stuff of the kind you would get in 'trendy' (at the time) hippy places in the 70s, only with all the bright colours removed. Librarian hippy. Only thing that looked nice were the sandals but they were ridiculously expensive.

it sounds so hip and young

then you see the clothes

Bellisima - the clothes aren't made in Wales! Toast is owned by French Connection so it is just an image they are selling. Clothes are probably made in a sweat shop somewhere!

They say that French Connection leaves them to do what they want to do, but I'd rather they backed up their ethical credentials with something more official - i.e. they could be part of Made Byn like Jackpot.

dexter - thanks - that explains it (and I'm sure you are right).

their website says "All our suppliers are required to comply with our code of conduct which lays down minimum standards for environmental. Work and health and safety issues. We will not place work in regions or with suppliers where working practice is known to be below acceptable standards."

which is good, but I think they need to get some sort of outside confirmation of that.