Whenever I thought of Talbots before, I usually associated the brand with clothes my mom would typically wear. Until a couple of years ago, she used to drag me into their stores to check out their petite collection, but often times, I found many of the styles quite dowdy and boring--just not my cup of tea at all. Once considered an exclusive apparel retailer for upper-middle-class women, Talbots has long struggled, even before the economy tanked, as the classic American brand began to lose its appeal--even among its traditional baby boomer clients--with uninspiring merchandise and aggressive markdowns that attracted bargain shoppers and further tarnished its image.
In the last couple of years, however, Talbots has undergone a major overhaul with a new management team brought in to breath new life into the ailing retailer. With new CEO Trudy Sullivan (former president of Liz Claiborne Inc.) leading the charge, the company has since improved its inventory management, renovated its network of nearly 590 stores and hired an in-house design team to help re-imagine the Talbot brand.
Admittedly, it's been awhile since I last browsed through a Talbots catalog. So, as you might have guessed, I was quite shocked--and even excited--when the company debuted its Fall 2010 Look Book, showcasing its totally revamped style (think Parisian chic makeover!). To my delight, I found many of the pieces to be on-trend, yet also timeless, and more importantly, budget-friendly. Offering women stylish autumn/ winter apparel to rival that of J.Crew, but with price points falling slightly below its preppy competitor, Talbots's new collection just might be the winning answer to help revive sales and hopefully bring about a successful turnaround story.
Click below to see a few of my favorite looks--I seriously can't wait til the new collection hit stores next month! Are you excited, too?
 |
| Leopard Print Coat | $279 Three-quarter Sleeve Sweater (camel) | $79 Boyfriend Jeans (desert wash) | $89 Available starting in September |
 |
| Fur Collar (black) | $89 Shearling Coat (black) | $1,400 Available starting in September |
 |
| Felt Cloche (black) | $49 Double-faced Jacket (red rosette) | $249 Buckle Gloves (black) | $69 Available starting in September |
 |
| Leopard-print Sheath Dress | $179 Available starting in September |
 |
| Double-breasted Leather Jacket (black) | $399 Leopard-print Pencil Skirt | $109 Available starting in September |
 |
| Double-breasted Coat (camel) | $299 Floral-print Silk Blouse | $89 Colored Denim Ankle Pants (chino) | $69.50 Available starting in September |
 |
| Leather Bomber Jacket | $399 Ponte Knit Riding Pants (camel) | $139 Available starting in September |
 |
| Fur Collar (grey) | $89 Wool Jacket (mist heather) | $179 Available starting in October |
 |
| Fur Collar (mist heather) | $89 Ruffled Flannel Blazer (shadow heather) | $199 Lace Pencil Skirt (grey) | $139 Croc-embossed Leather Belt (shadow grey) | $49 Available starting in September |
 |
| Felt Cloche (biscuit) | $49 Bow-collar Coat (shadow heather) | $349 Leather Buckle Gloves (dusty violet) | $69 Available starting in October All Images via Talbots |
No comments:
Post a Comment