What is the target audience of Talbots clothes?

HesitantBride

Sometimes I get seduced by Talbots ad campaigns, but when I go into the actual store, I am shopping amongst 60 year olds (no offense to them).  What do you think of Talbots?  What is their target audience?

doobeedoo

I don't know but I share the same experience.  The clothes are very high quality and some are very cute and appeal to my preppier side.  But the tops fit kind of funny (they're short somehow) and the pants look like they mostly have high waists. 

babubhatt

i think it is for the 40+ professional.

however, my cw got the cutest dresss there in the summer and i went online and saw that they have EXCELLENT (but expensive, and that's OK) suiting.  so maybe i have overlooked it for no good reason in the past? 

i haven't goten around to going thre and actually tring on anything - but i intend to eventually.

 

jilybeans4

I've wondered that same thing. That and Chicos both have super cute clothes on the women in magazines, but in person they seem like old lady stores. I'm not quite 30 so I feel like even though I like pieces there, I am not supposed to shop there. I'm curious what others think!

Susie Derkins

I have a dress from there that I like, but other than that, most stuff doesn't fit the way I like to wear my clothes.  (Pants are too high-waisted, etc.)

mrsbecky07

I think it's women in their late 30s and 40s....just past J.Crew maybe....I think that's the "target" but I think in reality their audience is more women in their 60s.

My mom wears Talbot's but she has for 20 years (she's 60) so what might happen is women get sucked in around 40 and stick around for a few decades haha.

lmspharmd

I think they have great pieces that are classic.  Most people that are into the classic look are older, so that causes them to carry some frumpy items.  I love their dresses.

kris216

I love Talbots, but I like classic styles. I do feel like a young lass when I shop there, but it's better than feeling like an old lady, which is how I feel in many other stores.  I also like that they have the customer service of more expensive stores, but are more reasonably priced.

But if you like the clothes, it doesn't really matter who else buys them.  It's not like they sell pink velour sweatsuits with kitties on them.  The clothes are classic and well-made.  You can style them as old or as young as you like.

rcgreen

My mom is 61 and she loves it. Their pieces are realyl high quality and classic, but the fits are definitely geared towards an older crowd.

brideymcbriderson

Talbots definitely has some fuddy duddy clothes, but they have a lot of great basics.  I think they skew older simply because they're a bit on the pricey side.

tosababy

They now have some really cute dresses and other clothes that also appeal to young professional women.  I think they're trying to bring in younger customers, but the gray hair in your store might just mean that they haven't been successful (due to some fit issues, etc.).  They have some good stuff, though.

SSM&JLM

I think their target audience is 35-60 career women who also want to look good at brunch on the weeknds.

My boss loves their clothes and she just turned 50.

I actually have a couple cute dresses and skirts from their outlet in Hingham, MA.

mssaint

They are also doing a big re-branding right now and seem to have made their clothes a bit more fashionable. In past years they always seemed very boxy and preppy, but now there seem to be more things that are wearable.

I am in my mid 30s though, so I might just be aging into their demographic.

Catlawdy_____

I think what they carry depends on the location.  Some of the stores I've been in seem to be more/less frumpy than others.  But generally, I think of it as a place to buy preppier clothing.

katieranck2202

I think Talbots have been around so long that the customers are so loyal, that they are aging with the store. It has great quality clothes and great customer service (not to mention their semi-annual sales)

is_it_over_yet?

Earlier this year, the WSJ had an article about Talbots trying to modernize its fashion after taking a survey among 60-something women and learning they felt Talbots was too old for them. Ha!

I used to buy the occasional sheath dress there but always had to have the hell tailored out of it in order for it to fit me properly.

prop_tart

I believe that Talbot's has been trying to re-brand to read 'younger' and target the under 35 crowd. 

kris216

mssaint:

They are also doing a big re-branding right now and seem to have made their clothes a bit more fashionable. In past years they always seemed very boxy and preppy, but now there seem to be more things that are wearable

I agree that they have some more fashionable clothes.  My favorite skinny jeans are from there.  I don't think they've always offered such current styles.  But even those jeans aren't super-tight like so many skinny jeans I've tried on - they're styled so that they look current, but are still flattering.  It's like fashion lite.  lol.

BonsoirLune

I think they're trying to revamp their image and are starting to market to a younger professional crowd (30s +).  I popped into one while shopping with my mom in the spring and was shocked that I found a couple cute jackets for work.  Since then, I've stocked up on some work basics, cardigans, skirts, jackets.  The quality seems pretty good and they almost always seem to have some sort of coupon/free shipping deal. 

kcpokergal

I like Talbots a lot. Them and Nordstroms are the only places I've found in KC that carry nice looking, plus sized professional clothing. It is over priced though--the seam in my $130 skirt fell out the first time I wore it. Thankfully I fixed it and have no problems since.

UDShoeGal92306

Ditto others on them starting to rebrand and appeal to a younger professional woman.  I haven't bought anything from there but I have seen some sheath dresses that look like they would be really good for work on their website.  Some of their stuff definitely skews older.  My mom shopped there for years so I always swore I'd never buy anything there as it was for old people.

karenttrouble

35+ according to their corporate website.

volenti

You are all inspiring me to walk into a Talbot's for the first time in a decade.  My impression has been that they sell clothes for Republican baby boomers.  But since I'm in the market for suits, I will go in with fresh eyes.

Spenjamins

Basically me. 40s, dresses a bit conservatively, likes well-made clothes, etc.

But I have always loved their dresses- classic, tend to be well-made.

chardonnay24

My mom won't even shop there and she is 49 - she feels too young.

NormaRaisin

Their catalog seems pretty updated this season.  Too bad none of their stuff ever fits me though, oh well!

musepuppy

Over 40.  Maybe even older than that.

If they're rebranding, they haven't convinced me.

MrsBlissful

mssaint:

They are also doing a big re-branding right now and seem to have made their clothes a bit more fashionable. In past years they always seemed very boxy and preppy, but now there seem to be more things that are wearable.

I am in my mid 30s though, so I might just be aging into their demographic.

This.  It reminds me of what Ann Taylor did 7-8 years ago?  I guess since the fashion gap between generations keeps shrinking, pretty soon every store will be making clothes for 30 year olds.  I noticed Mrs. Obama wearing a dress from there this past spring that was cute and their fall clothes are even better.  I can't speak to fit though, I still haven't gone inside yet.

tosababy

musepuppy:

If they're rebranding, they haven't convinced me.

Here's a link to their dresses this season.  I'd wear those if I could!

Also, I like their suiting.

A lot of the chic secretary skirts are cute too.

Maybe I just dress like an old lady.

CollegeGrrl219

It's for seniors.

Kaiene

I think they have nice stuff, but the only people I know who shop there are my grandmothers and people around their age.