Toast – Women’s February Collection
Review for LikeMe
With the January blues now behind us and Spring just on the horizon, you’re probably yearning for a fashion revamp. I’m definitely tired of being swamped under heaps of knitwear, layers of thermals and pilling fleeces – while every hint of sun gets you craving for warmer days, silky threads and bright colours. The Toast February collection – out this week online and in store – is ideal for working through that slightly awkward transition between the seasons. Synonymous for down to earth comfort – Toast combine muted luxury with a relaxed but polished look.
Soothing palettes
The February collection is cast in a soft and relaxing palette of dusky pinks and earthy, woody greens. With nudes being a perennial Spring favourite, a crisp cotton blouse in creamy pink or a relaxed blush-coloured draped sweater are both guaranteed to be season staples – perfect for work and play.
Nudes can often become cloying and babyish – but the great use of texture and subtle hints of colour keep the collection feeling decidedly grown up. I love the raw, rustic feel of a string of unglazed clay beads – or the delicate glamour of a pale green silk foulard – perfect for playing dress-up, à la Audrey Hepburn.
Classics with a twist
You can rely on Toast for staples you love year in, year out, without getting bored or dated. Their take on each season always leaves you feeling refreshed – without looking too trendy. The February collection has some perfect staples worth investing in – the classic ballet slipper, the classic Breton jumper, and dresses and tunics that can be easily dressed up or down.
While the Olivia heels look a little mumsy, footwear at Toast is usually pretty reliable, and I love the Porselli flats that Toast have brought in for this collection. Ballet flats are notoriously hard to get right – so getting in the Italian dance experts is a great move. Both Audrey Hepburn and Bridget Bardot loved Porselli ballerina flats – and if that isn’t enough to sell you on them, the soft, supple leather, versatile colour range and firm but comfortable fit – should win you over.
New silhouettes
The collection is more than a group of ho-hum basics – a few subtle touches – with texture, shape and detail – keep the collection feeling contemporary and modern. The clay bracelet and necklace fall somewhere in between artisanal rustic and a faintly sci-fi look – the pale collection of beads on the bracelet look a little like a string of miniature polished, rounded moons. The double collar blouse makes a neat addition to a work wardrobe – sleek and minimal enough for even the most sober of offices, but with enough of a style tweak to keep it feeling extraordinary.
I’m not really a blouse girl though, so for me, the must have item from the collection is their Martha dress. Draped in soft viscose with a relaxed cocoon shape and a hand-printed look to the fabric, it’s cosy enough for weekend brunches but instantly lends itself to an elegant, feminine look with the right heels and jewels.