Talbot's Madison Trench - YouLookFab Forum

Pardon the glowing demon eyes in my pics...

My first "dressy work trench" contender was waiting for me when I came home today - sooner than expected. I hurriedly unboxed it and threw it on over my work pants.

The color is very pretty and really does remind me of grenadine, its namesake. I noticed the nice, heavy-ish buttons and buckles straight away. The button holes are all very solid, stitching is nice. The fabric feels fairly luxurious - it is softer than the Madewell I tried, without the paper-like quality. The shoulders and back are nicely slimmed for a more sleek look. The sleeves are lined in silky fabric for comfort over long sleeves. It definitely feels more luxurious than either the Madewell or the Scottvest (winner of my travel trench challenge) because of the fabric, construction, and "hardware."

I did notice a couple of drawbacks. Although the sleeves are lined, the rest of the body is not. Once you zip out the quilted liner, you are up against the shell fabric. Talbots has also decided where everyone's waist ought to be and put a horizontal seam there, which makes the coat feel a little high-waisted and small, even though I have plenty of room in the body, shoulders, hips, etc (and I sized down based on Parsley's review of this coat). Since this coat hits mid-thigh on the model, I thought it would surely be longer on an almost-petite like me, but it actually falls shorter than my Scottvest by about an inch, maybe a bit more. It would also need to be waterproofed.

Although I love the color, the clean shaping of the back, and the zip-out liner, the short length and high waist mean it does not feel dressy enough to keep. Parsley actually called this one dead on when I PMed her, predicting that it would fit a lot like my Scottvest trench - it does! But that means it's not different enough to earn a place in ye olde closet.

The dressy coat search should continue tomorrow (fingers crossed... it's only coming from San Francisco!), with the arrival of the J. Crew Icon in Burnt Caramel.

ETA: comparison photo of the Talbots vs. the "secret agent" coat (waving at Rita).

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12 years ago

Beth Ann

Veteran

Hear you with the high waist, Rae. I've had great difficulty finding a coat for this season, too. Of course, it looks like we're basically leap-frogging to Summer here!

Anonymous

Why does the belt look higher on petite you than the model? Maybe she's wearing a Tall? Weird. I wonder if short trenches in general need a high waist to preserve correct-looking proportions?

I do LOVE the color and the hardware. FWIW it looks really good on you and makes your legs look a mile long. However, if it's too short to be practical, or it's uncomfortabIe that's a deal breaker. I hope the J. Crew one is better for you.

Jaime

(website)

Wow, I understand your concerns but this color looks great on you. And I actually I like the fit, but am no trench expert.

modgrl

Not super exciting! I like your secret agent coat better!

rae

Beth Ann, I wondered that, too, before I ordered... but there is no tall! In fact, I would have gotten the tall if they'd had it.

Claire, I do love that hardware. Maybe I should look for some nice buckles for the Scottvest when I get back from vaycay.

ironkurtin

The other coats fit better, I think. The color is great on you, but something is off on how this is sitting. Plus you're getting a Scarlett O'Hara effect down below the waist.

Diana

This is nice, but too similar to the secret agent coat to be worth keeping.

fashionista

The color and the fit looks great.

Meghan R

Active Member

This looks good on you and I'm sure you could make it work, but it doesn't seem fabulous enough for you. I'm anxious to know how the Icon trench fits -- I've had my eye on it for a while, but I want to make sure it's worth the investment.

Good assesment Rae. I think it looks great but is not filling the "wardrobe hole" per say. You need to be looking at something knee length, not mid tight. The added length will give you the "formality" you are looking for.

Thanks for backing me up!

Zap, good point about the length... maybe it is not the right time to find a knee length trench, since everything seems to look about the same length. I have my eye on this one, if the J. Crew doesn't work. It *looks* longer, but there is no measurement provided.

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Sunita

Great trench, but not right for your specific needs (dressy). Hope your other options work out better!

I love that trench. I saw it in the catalog and thought it was such a lovely color and nice style.

Angie

Fashion Stylist

What happened to the citron trench coat, Rae?

(Looks like this one is going back and I am not sad about that. MUCH prefer the Madewell one to the Talbots trench! And the paprika is fab too, of course).

Angie, the citron Gallery trench went back. I just felt like I was swimming in it, even with a blazer layered under. It was a tough decision, but I am trying to be pickier.

The J. Crew looks a lot like the Madewell, but with a better lining and a rustier color... tracking says the post office just finished sorting it, so it should get to me at the office today. I feel another bathroom fitting session coming on!

Great update! Thanks. And I want you to be picky

Vicki

I agree with the reviews here and I'm laughing at your "bathroom fitting session" that's "coming on." Too funny. LOL. Yes, find that perfect one, Rae, and you'll be happier with it.

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