More Talbots

So the other day I ended up having a "fashion afternoon out" with my daughter instead of a fashion night out by myself. I went midtown and it was actually fun to see the stores getting ready for the big event (some stores where having catwalk "rehearsals") without the crowd.

I took advantage of my daughter falling asleep in stroller to hit a few stores, including Talbots. I hadn't seen the fall collection yet and I was curious to checkout some of the most talked-about pieces. I could only try a few items on as they were sold-out of my size in almost everything and also the store was kind of difficult to navigate with a stroller (you know, steps instead of ramps).

The first item that I tried on is the Double-faced wool pencil skirt. I had already tried on the 2 regular and here I am trying the 2P:




It didn't flow nicely on my hips. Maybe it's the fabric but I definitively prefer the fit of the JCrew pencil skirts and I find this one in particular a little bit overpriced.

I almost ordered the Belted leopard-print sheat dress and I am happy that I didn't before seeing it IRL. In the pictures it looks very Demi Moore but I think that Demi couldn't be caught dead wearing this. The fabric looks a little bit cheap IMO (the description says cotton but I am almost sure that it's not 100% cotton) and it was very stiff. The fit of the 2P is off on me, too wide at the midsection, even if it's supposed to be belted:




They didn't have the pencil skirt in the same print (and, I suppose, the same fabric) but I guess it would have been a pass too.

Finally I tried the Lace sheat, in the same fabric than the lace shell that I had ordered and returned.
This one was definitively the best of the bunch even if not for me. I would consider it if I had a formal occasion but I have nowhere to go in it and it's a bit too serious to ring as "party dress" for the holidays. Again, I didn't fill the midsection and the lining was bulging a little bit around the thighs (on the model too):




Now, I had almost given up on the Leopard-print velvet coat, the one that Linda Evangelista wears in the ad campaign and that had been the reason why I started to turn to Talbots in the first place since spotting it last spring in a WSJ article on Talbots. The coat came out when I was on vacation and immediately sold-out in the 2P, which is the smallest size for coats at Talbots. I saw it in store but because there were only big sizes left (8P and up) I couldn't tell how it would look on me (it seemed to run big). Then I found a 20% off code on the Talbots Facebook page and I became determined to find one in my size if I could use the coupon towards the purchase on the phone. I used the "Find it in a store" feature on the website and started with the NY state (no results), until I found one in a store in NJ. I called yesterday morning and I had an excellent experience. The whole thing took 5 minutes, no wait on the phone and the SA happily applied the 20% off and added a free lipstick as a bonus. Best of all, the shipping was only $6 (hello JCrew!) so I won't be upset if it doesn't work and I have to return it. They are going to ship it on Monday, so I will review it when it arrives.

Have you tried one of these items? Do you own or have you seen the leopard-print coat?

Apply code "Lipstick2010" at checkout for 20% off one single FP item (valid until 9/30). Enjoy!

PS
Speaking of Demi Moore, on the plane I watched a movie with Demi Moore that I really reccomend, The Joneses. The story is really original plus, I don't know you but I always enjoy a movie with David Duchovnic at his best. I think he's one of the sexiest men in the world and also a decent actor, even if he is often underestimated.