Talbots, Talbots, why don’t you suck so much anymore?
Beautiful but expensive merino jacket at $278.00
We’ve had so much response to our post, “Ann Taylor, Ann Taylor, Why do you suck so much?” that I’ve been searching for another place for working moms to buy decent office clothes.
It’s funny but Talbots looks very much like the old Ann Taylor. Even the layout of the website and the advertising looks similar.
I went there yesterday with a friend who’s just landed a new job (yeah Holly!) and I loved some of the dresses and the work suits.
Talbots seems less cluttered to my eye than Ann Taylor. That could be due to its new policy of stocking less inventory; one reason why the clothing retailer posted a higher-than-expected quarterly profit a few days ago. See news reports Talbots Inc.
Talbots even has a category called To The Office and Beyond. There’s also some nice stuff in Mom on the Move.
Of course, Talbots is more expensive than Ann Taylor (or it seems so), and it doesn’t have the great range of cute little tops on special that always populate the corner of my local store in Friendship Heights, Bethesda.
We also saw some lovely work separates, including the gorgeous jacket above, which Holly rocked, at Eileen Fisher .
It was expensive (nearly $300) but could be worth it if you could wear it throughout winter (and the next one, too).
It felt as light and comfortable as a cardigan while looking like a structured jacket. ( Holly was thinking she could wear it with black pants or a skirt, nearly anything… )
You can see how some working women wear Eileen Fisher’s stuff in a good part of their site called This Working Life. Is it just me or do these gorgeous women look skinny and beautiful ((like my friend Holly who is as tall and skinny as I am short and dumpy) as if anything would look good on them?
Where do you buy work clothes? Do you buy suits? Wear separates? Or just Dockers and a shirt? Do you go for looking well put together? Do you think old-fashioned office suits for women are the way to go?
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Filed Under: Working Moms Resources
About the Author: Julie Power is a writer and editor with experience in both the United States and Australia. After living in the United States for 16 years, she recently returned to live in Sydney with her husband and twin boys (9 years old).
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I’m with you Julie, it seems like the stores I relied on (and I hate to shop) in the not so distant past have totally changed. Talbots used to be uber preppy and frumpy and how they are a bit like Ann Taylor used to be. I found this store called Irresistibles near my town in MA – not sure exactly where all their stores are but they do have a web site. They have some interesting designers like Andrea Lieu and the investment in some of the pieces is worth it. I have a five-yr-old and we’re saving for college so I’m not out there buying a ton of clothes.
@sarahmontague
i am literally laughing out loud right now! my husband and i joke all the time how most working woman look like they shop at Ann Taylor or Talbots and still have thick chunk heels from 2001~ We live outside of DC which is conservative yes, but YIKES- open a magazine every couple months and see what’s new. The best ever was, we went to a huge holiday function at the Corcoran Museum a few years ago and NO JOKE there were 4 ladies there in the same Ann Taylor holiday dress (only reason I knew it was from there was it was in the window at Tysons Galleria when my kids were getting their santa pictures taken)!!!!! I am glad to hear Talbots is stepping it up:)
I shop at Neimans but mostly the sales. Theory is a great brand for separates on the not too expensive side and then i pair them with a great pair of shoes. You can buy great QUALITY pieces and have them for years instead of QUANTITY cheaper stuff that is out in a year! That’s my 2 cents worth…….
Dear Jill, always glad to make people laugh. You are right, DC is horribly, awfully conservative, and there isn’t much choice … I swear all the old brown suits worn by men come here to die.
Whenever I go to NY and my hometown Sydney I am very happy to see women look put together, funky and fresh without going the navy suit route. Of course, I don’t wear anything like that anymore because I work full time but from a home office. I am writing this in the cliche outfit … won’t even tell you …
Please please help us out! Why don’t you put together some suggestions on dressing for the office without looking like a U.S. female senator in the dreaded power red suit or a clone in Ann Taylor.
Julie
Thanks for the comment Sarah. This looks like the place: http://www.irresistibles.com/
How do you dress for the office? Do you wear suits or smart separates? I have to say I am completely over suits and resist buying them but they are handy.
Thank you so much for your comment. I am also looking forward to hearing how your attempts to stop distracted driving go …
Julie
Ok Julie- it’s Wednesday, let’s talk CLOSETS first:
Most of you have the key components in your closet right now probably, a little black or white cardigan, a white oxford … maybe a SBD (simple black dress or solid black skirt), take a suit set (yikes) and put them in opposite sides of your closet- never again let them be friends (we will use the jacket over a tank and we will use the skirt with the oxford BUT NOT TOGETHER) and hopefully a black pair of pants.
Those are the majors, and even if they don’t fit like a dream anymore we still may be able to make them work- if no chance- GO BUY THEM and buy the quality ones- a well made of these will last you a good 10+ years!!!
Brands to look for: Theory, Ralph Lauren, Laundry (find on sale if need be) JCrew, BananaR, but even these items from, do i dare say it: Ann Taylor are good for staples… just staples.
TOMORROW WE TALK ACCESSORIES, SHOES AND BAGS TO MAKE THESE WORK… all this before even stepping into a store – must go start my day although this is much more fun!
Jill, when you mean staples, you don’t mean I should be wearing reams of paper from Staples.com? Bad joke.
Love the advice. I worry about all the old clothes I keep in my wardrobe. Old suits, which may have once fitted and were beautiful. Expensive ones from Australia, in fact, very expensive all your pay check kind of expensive.
[...] So as you may have guessed, I’m a Talbots fan. While many women have considered Talbots a tad too conservative, they’ve stepped it up so much that my friend Julie Power from Moms at Work recently blogged, “Talbots, Why Don’t You Suck So Much Anymore?” [...]
Julie- do not throw out your Australian pieces! I guarantee if they were pricey, they were made well and just need to be reworked! Take the suits and use them separately like i was saying in the last comment: the 2 easiest ways:
1> the slimmest skirt with a crisp white oxford (accessories: BIG statement chocker or bulky necklace for INSIDE the neckline of the shirt, great pair of PRINT heels (ex. leopard) and fab bag (clutch for social and big tote for the office)
2> the jacket from the suit: simply take it and put a “wife beater” tank (white) and lots of long chain style necklaces and your most fab pair of black pants or a great pair of jeans. Kitten heels here in solid, maybe a hot color- clutch again or huge tote
[...] say hello to Talbots, see “Talbots, Talbots, Why don’t you suck so much?” Share this Moms to Work [...]
Jill, so i feel you are a fashion blogger in the making. Care to do a guest post or two on choosing clothes for the office or something like that? You have great advice. Julie