Talbots--quality? - YouLookFab Forum

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Talbots--quality?

BethT

So I stepped foot in a Talbots last night for the first time in decades and wow! Not what I expected! I always thought it was all old lady clothes, which it probably still is, but I've just aged into them. LOL!

I have a new job and have gone from crappy jeans and T shirts (I worked in a lab and ruined clothes often) to still very casual, but I'm trying to be more adult and less sloppy (I don't like adulting). So a lot of the styles at Talbots were perfect...cardigans, casual jackets, etc. Tops I can wear with jeans, skinny pants, maxi skirts, etc. I really felt great in a lot of the pieces I tried on (and they had amazing lighting in their dressing room that made my skin glow--ha!)

My question is about quality. I've been reading on how Talbots has switched up their style and quality over the years, but wanted some real world experience with their clothing. I hit the extra 60% off clearance rack, so I got some great deals. If the clothes hold up for 2-3 seasons, I figure I got my money's worth. But I would be willing to buy before the clothes hit the clearance racks if it would be worth the cash.

Any one have any input on the quality of Talbot's clothing?

Shopping

20 replies

Latest reply was from

abc

Veteran

Hopefully thistle will chime in. I know she is a Talbots shopper at least sometimes.

Elly

Veteran

I've been plesantly surprised with their pieces-- although they are always duds and nothing is the quality things were when everything was wool and double knit poly.

I think it depends on which pieces you are talking about-- knit tops are probably not going to make it more than 3 seasons! I'm not saying that you are doing this, but I know when I switched from a more gear-centered job where I wore through cheap clothes fast because of work damage I had really bizarre expectations about how long good clothes last. I rarely got 2-3 seasons out of work clothes, but my good clothes lasted a long time because I never wore them. There is some sort of bizarre brain effect that afflicts people-- the SO, who wears a uniform 4 days a week, has casual clothes and tee shirts that are 5 years old and he was lamenting women's clothing and the quality the other day (not saying that isn't part of the problem). I had to point out that I got more wear from my clothing in 6 months than he probably did in 3 or 5 years (wears it 3 days a week versus 7, fewer washes, has a larger wardrobe).

Thirkellgirl

Veteran

I used to be a big Talbots fan, and they lost me (along with a lot of other people) when they moved away from preppy clothes several years ago. The quality of their clothes a decade ago was wonderful, and my general impression is that they aren't what they used to be. You might take a look at LL Bean. They have some surprisingly great pieces, especially in their Signature line, and they wear like iron. It's not all high-waisted pleated khakis and polos anymore.

Linda

I have always liked Talbots. There are times when I think that they really miss the mark when it comes to style, but lately not so much. As far as quality, I think that they are far superior to Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, and Nordstrom's Halogen brand. I shop there frequently and am always impressed by their quality. Their sales are unbeatable!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Talbots is always worth a look, and the quality can be very good. I find that my extra curvy clients and plus sized clients do particularly well there.

Unlike Linda, I find BR quality - especially since Marissa Webb took over the design team a year ago - superior to Talbots. Much more fashionable too. Ann Taylor is all over the place at the moment, but it used to have very good quality pieces.

Nebraskim

Veteran

I like Talbots and find their clothing to be of good quality. Their t-shirts are substantial and don't stretch out of shape. I did have to thrift one pair of pants last year as the high tencel content made them bag horribly for me. But for the most part, I like their items and style zeitgeist.

Dana

(website)

Veteran

I think their quality is pretty decent. I find their styles really vary from season to season.

LucyRose

(website)

I have a couple random Talbots items (a silk skirt and a pair of dress pants) which I bought second hand and swear by. That means they have survived two owners and are still classy and useful. Go Talbots!

BethT

Thanks for all the feedback! Sounds like a place I will definitely have to visit again. They seemed to have a good variety of styles for such a small place. I live in a small town and my shopping options are limited, so I'm glad I've discovered another place to shop.

Gaylene

Veteran

In my experience, Talbots has actually been MORE consistant than many other chain stores in maintaining their quality standards over the decades. Most of their clothing doesn't work for my IT shape, but anything I've found there has always held up quite nicely. Talbots' linen sweaters, T-shirts, woven shirts, and silk blouses are often better quality than many of the lower-priced "designer" lines which cost three times as much.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

I agree with everyone, I've never had quality problems with Talbots items and they've always lasted me a good long time, including things that I've bought fairly recently. The thin knits pill and fade just like all brands do, but their wovens are really well made. My mom has worn Talbots for literally decades and relies on them for a good portion of her wardrobe. (I haven't bought much from BR recently but I would agree that Talbots is more consistent in quality than AT has been the last couple years.)

calmwave

I've bought jackets from Talbots and they are well made and wear like iron. The only time I had an issue with quality was with a sleeveless cross-dyed linen shirt, where the linen was thinned to a point of having a hole. The customer service was outstanding. I agree with Laura that the linen knits do pill.

Daria

I'm not a Talbots shopper, but happened to buy a few tops there last year. They seem to be extremely good quality and very substantial.
You might want to look into Lands End and LLBean for classic good quality pieces that are on the casual side.

Thistle

Veteran

I LOVE Talbots. I am very curvy, and have been in plus sized pants since having babies. Even before babies, I was a solid 14/16. Talbots has roughly half my closet and 3/4 of my pants come from them. Why? Because their stuff fits well, feels nice, they have a lot of machine washable pieces, and they are appropriate for work.

Their trousers are amazing (except for their new jeans. They used to make jeans without control panels. I still have some from that era, and I scour eBay for them). They have a bunch of different fits depending on your body shape, curvy, signature for a straighter shape, heritage, etc.

They also carry skirts of sufficient length (sorry, but you are never going to convince me that skirts that don't at least touch the top of the knee are okay for work in my part of the country), both fit and flare and pencil.

Given how much I buy from them, I have had very few duds. Yes, I have had a few, but given how much I buy from them, I honestly can't remember the last issue I had that was a Talbot's quality issue (I have 2 small children, and sticky hands don't do well with cashmere . . . )

On that note, my Talbot's cashmere is some of the best I own. Their sweaters have held up for a couple years with only a little pilling. Other cashmere sweaters from Nordies were pill factors after a year. Only cashmere I have found better didn't come from a mall brand.

I also like that they carry sweaters, real sweaters, warm sweaters appropriate to my Wisconsin winter.

Ann Taylor and I are on hiatus as their quality has been spurious and so has their styling. It used to be a favorite of mine.

Banana Republic and I are also on hiatus. The new design team has been rather unfriendly to by body shape.

Nordstrom has been hit or miss. Their Sejour house brand has been really quite good, Vince Camuto I have had trouble with shrinking, broken zippers and the like. Halogen has been awful and I now avoid it unless I only plan to keep the piece for a season.

Thistle

Veteran

They also have fab Blazers and have started stocking more sweater jackets. I snapped one up last year with silver threads. Non itchy, warm, and still looks new even after getting solid wear.

Talbot's carries classics with a few trends and some, well, dowdy stuff. I ignore the lobster sweaters or those with hearts, and stick to the classics. My trendier pieces tend to come from Nordies. But a nice pair of boot cut dress trousers? Or straight legs? I buy those, and they're machine washable, at Talbot's.

BethT

Wow! Thanks, Thistle. I am very happy with the few pieces I bought, so I'll see how they wear. I laugh at your "lobster sweater" because one of the pieces I bought was the "Island Birds Charming Cardigan". A very loud, pink and blue cardigan sweater with birds on it! The colors looked great on me and I kinda fell in love with the whimsy of it. I have a soft spot for modified versions of what I like to call "old-lady-from-Florida-patterns".

tulle

Veteran

Talbots usually run a little conservative for me, but I've never found fault with their quality. I have a vintage Talbots jacket (thrifted) that is more exquisitely made than some of the best designer pieces available today. I just tried it on during a closet clean-out, and fell in love with the lustrous wool/silk fabric and straight, simple lines all over again. Their handbags can be wonderful quality, too.

Beth

Veteran

I find their quality to be quite good and very consistent.

In fact, I was getting a skirt altered recently, and my tailor asked if it was Talbots due to the good quality. It was actually an older piece from Ann Taylor, and we were both lamenting the decreased quality of AT and similar stores.

Talbots styles have varied widely over the last years, but it's definitely a place to consider, especially for basics. Interestingly, I once heard that their top performing store was in my hometown, Don't know how true it was but I wouldn't be surprised. This is a very preppy place.

Jen W

I've also just "aged into" being a Talbots customer in the last few years. Their platinum line of tees, the washable silk pieces, and their linen pieces are wonderful. I've had a pair of their navy linen pants last for 2 summers with frequent (almost weekly) wear and a wool blend knit maxi skirt that is on it's third year with no piling. I tend to find my essentials there and go elsewhere for things that have a little more edge. If you do become a regular customer, register online and they send you coupons for 25-40% off in the mail and through email.

Anonymous

I have had bad luck with Talbot's quality, at least in knits. They lost shape and pilled badly in a season. That was about 3-4 years ago. I've not been there since. That is also due to poor fit on me. I fall between petites and regular sizes and probably don't have the curves needed.