Talbots Shoppers---just awful

[sandramaac]

OMG, has anyone gotten their new catalog. I know the company was having financial issues, and was not doing that great. And I know they were going to update thier image. But it is ashame because their merchandise now is just crapola. All the beautiful classic well made clothing is now just like all the others. What 50 something womenwears t-shirts that are made from what looks like paper thin tissue paper, or an orange skirt with tiny petals hanging from it, or parachute sateen material dresses.

 

[kirstenb1]

I've been a customer for years, but I just pitched their recent catalog. Nothing really grabbed me.

 

[ilovejack02]

It has happened with Ann Taylor Loft too. While they are a step down from Ann Taylor they still had decent quality items. I wore a sparkly twin set at Christmas this year that I have had prob 6 years. Still looks great. Now I only shop clearance at the Loft and consider it disposable clothing. Just threw away a pair of jeans bought in the winter for about 15.00 . They were cute while they lasted , but faded to a horrible color even though I wash cold and hang to dry. I used to only wear their tees in the summer, now too thin for me to consider buying . SO SAD.

Just looked at the Talbots site, that is a new look for sure. The long time customers are not going to be happy. Honestly looks a lot like what Loft has.

 

[dis-happy]

We're a family that has purchased a ton of Talbot's clothing every year (and still grieving the demise of the Talbots for Kids line). The latest batch of tops I bought is driving my crazy because the material is so thin you can see through it, so I hear you on that one. I did find some cute things in the store; the catalog, not so much.

 

[Liberty Belle]

I'll have to take a look - I love thin fabric!

 

[Liberty Belle]

Is this what you're talking about:

http://www.talbots.com/online/ecatalog/catalog.jsp?sku=2011SprLookBookNP&catheader=Spring+Look+Book

If so, I like quite a lot of it! Love that charcoal dress. Oops - I see it's dark blue.

 

[VAfamily1998]

Is this what you're talking about:

http://www.talbots.com/online/ecatalog/catalog.jsp?sku=2011SprLookBookNP&catheader=Spring+Look+Book

If so, I like quite a lot of it!

Me too!

 

[Embel]

For those of you that like the items in the catalog, do you like them enough to buy them at full price? How about multiple items?

Talbots had a very loyal core customer base that was very willing to pay full price for it's classic clothing. In fact, they used to hold 4 sales a year, only at the end of each season.

I'm very curious to see if the new Talbots customer will shop the same way.

 

[Liberty Belle]

For those of you that like the items in the catalog, do you like them enough to buy them at full price? How about multiple items?

Talbots had a very loyal core customer base that was very willing to pay full price for it's classic clothing. In fact, they used to hold 4 sales a year, only at the end of each season.

I'm very curious to see if the new Talbots customer will shop the same way.

I'm not sure I get what you're asking or inferring. I've bought pieces of clothing from Talbots before and I'm sure I will again - like I said, I like a lot of what's in that catalog.

I'd buy something from there at full price if I loved it, yes, just as I would have before. I'm a bargain shopper, typically, though, so I tend to buy things on sale.

 

[Embel]

Not infering anything. Just wondering if Talbot's customers are loving the clothes or just liking them. Hoping Talbots is on the upswing.

 

[Aimeedyan]

Talbots recently did a huge revamping of their style to try and reach a younger audience, while attempting to keep the target audience that was already in place. For me, I absolutely love almost all the stuff I saw in their newest catalog but I'm the "new" audience they are reaching - I really didn't like their stuff even just a couple of years ago.

The problem, IMO, is that their style is now similar to ATL, which I shop almost exclusively at, but is twice the pricepoint. Their pricing is still aimed at their original target audience but the clothes are more similar to a crowd that probably won't be as willing to pay that much.

I know I won't. I can go to ATL and find something similar for half the price, esp since ATL has tons of sales. I find the quality to be similar between the brands as well (not great anymore, for sure).

It'll be interesting to see if they can maintain the new look at the old pricepoint and still keep those faithful shoppers they've always had.

 

[Liberty Belle]

Not infering anything. Just wondering if Talbot's customers are loving the clothes or just liking them. Hoping Talbots is on the upswing.

 

[ilovejack02]

Talbots recently did a huge revamping of their style to try and reach a younger audience, while attempting to keep the target audience that was already in place. For me, I absolutely love almost all the stuff I saw in their newest catalog but I'm the "new" audience they are reaching - I really didn't like their stuff even just a couple of years ago.

The problem, IMO, is that their style is now similar to ATL, which I shop almost exclusively at, but is twice the pricepoint. Their pricing is still aimed at their original target audience but the clothes are more similar to a crowd that probably won't be as willing to pay that much.

I know I won't. I can go to ATL and find something similar for half the price, esp since ATL has tons of sales. I find the quality to be similar between the brands as well (not great anymore, for sure).

It'll be interesting to see if they can maintain the new look at the old pricepoint and still keep those faithful shoppers they've always had.

My hope is that while it looks like ATL now, maybe the quality is a bit better. I have really been unhappy lately with how ATL clothing holds up in the long run recently, but it hasn't been a huge issue because of the crazy sales they run. It is annoying though not to be able to carry things over the next season, but at the price I catch things on clearance , as I said earlier I consider it disposable clothing .

I know several loyal Talbot shoppers , my Mom being one. She keeps her clothing for years ( much to my dismay sometimes lol ) she doesn't mind trendy stuff, but thin cotton tees and cargo capris aren't going to be her thing, as it won't be for the rest of the older ladies I know .

If the quality is better than ATL , I don't mind paying higher prices if the items hold up. I planned on doing a little shopping this week, guess Ill run into to Talbots and check it out. They may have new customer.

 

[Snoozan]

I totally agree with the OP. I think the "new" Talbot's is just awful. My mom shopped there for years for herself and her 4 daughters, but now, I can't find anything to use up my $60 in credit I have there. They have definitely lost their "core" customers who liked the classic styles. I have purchased several pairs of pants there in the past, but the new styles are just awful! They are cut for someone in their teens, not middle-agers. And do they think the younger customers want to pay those inflated prices - I doubt it.

 

[eliza61]

For those of you that like the items in the catalog, do you like them enough to buy them at full price? How about multiple items?

Talbots had a very loyal core customer base that was very willing to pay full price for it's classic clothing. In fact, they used to hold 4 sales a year, only at the end of each season.

I'm very curious to see if the new Talbots customer will shop the same way.

I did. I purchased 3 dresses for my trip to Paris in May.

I picked up the Bardot dress (it looks great, because you can dress it up or down. a pair of flats and it's great for spring walks)
http://www.talbots.com/online/brows...m=0&addFacet=SRCH%3Abardot+dress&removeFacet=

the Gouache floral dress and a sweater.

http://www.talbots.com/online/brows...t&section=Regular&conceptIdUnderSale=cat70008


The Oxford dress.
http://www.talbots.com/online/browse/product_details.jsp?id=prdi26346



I read that talbots is trying to add a more youthful look that is not "youngish" looking. for example I like straight leg pants but don't like low rise pants. Talbots pants are still cut for me but now they are more up to date.

 

[eliza61]

Talbots recently did a huge revamping of their style to try and reach a younger audience, while attempting to keep the target audience that was already in place. For me, I absolutely love almost all the stuff I saw in their newest catalog but I'm the "new" audience they are reaching - I really didn't like their stuff even just a couple of years ago.

The problem, IMO, is that their style is now similar to ATL, which I shop almost exclusively at, but is twice the pricepoint. Their pricing is still aimed at their original target audience but the clothes are more similar to a crowd that probably won't be as willing to pay that much.

I know I won't. I can go to ATL and find something similar for half the price, esp since ATL has tons of sales. I find the quality to be similar between the brands as well (not great anymore, for sure).

It'll be interesting to see if they can maintain the new look at the old pricepoint and still keep those faithful shoppers they've always had.

It's funny because I don't think it's like ATL. I use to love ATL but I got sick of all the beige and black. How many pair of kahakis/beige pants do I need? and lately on its web site the dresses are to young.

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

there is still plenty there that I like!

I only occasionally pay full price: for staples like cardigans or a special occasion dress.

Today I hit the jackpot - got 12 items for the original price of one of the trench coats I bought!!! The outlet was at 75% off and I got some really great stuff!!!
Now that is how I prefer to shop there!

 

[snarlingcoyote]

Oooh! I liked the link Liberty Belle posted quite a lot.

I haven't shopped in Talbots in years; for the pricepoint, for things that aren't made for women with curves, I might as well shop at Brooks Brothers. For the pricepoint, for things that look like I'm going thru menopause but lived through the 70's, I might as well shop at Chicos.

But while those pants would look horrible on me, I really like the dresses. OTOH, I bet they're not cut for a size medium but with 36DD's. . .

(eliza61, I am sooooo jealous. First because you're going to Paris and second because that Bardot dress will look lovely in Paris!)

 

[Pigeon]

Ick. I used to buy a lot of my work clothes there. Classic, well-made, and professional. There's nothing in that catalog I would wear to work.

 

[SaraJayne]

Blech. Where's the color? Spring is about COLOR, not black, beige and gray!!

Methinks they need some new buyers.