Draped in Houndstooth

Toast is Toast

It was with regret that I learned that Toast is suspending its men's collection until further notice. From women's clothes and home and furniture, Toast branched out into men's clothes four years ago; and this has continued since the brand was acquired by French Connection a couple of years ago from the couple who started Toast in 1997, former archeologists Jamie and Jessica Seaton.

Toast helped to bring the heritage names behind classic men's clothes to the high street. If you wanted a bench-made Northamptonshire shoe in white nubuck or a three-piece suit in Harris tweed in the style of Gabriel Oak they wouldn't disappoint.

As a memento mori — in case this is the end of the road — I picked up this Toast own-label raglan-sleeved overcoat. The coat is made in England in a large houndstooth tweed from great friends Abraham Moon. The coat is bloody warm with my fur scarf; and has excellent deep pockets for carrying bags of peppermints, hip flasks and a copy of High Windows.

And the coat is a good winter length to boot. Why are so many clothes too short for purpose at the moment. Who decided that?

If you are near a Toast, they may still have something on the men's rail, but when it's gone it really is gone.