Talbots’ Unbelievable Transformation Featuring Linda Evangelista
Holy shit. I’m at a complete loss of words. I just had to share this with you when I saw this image on my newsfeed. Supermodel (as in the TRUE supermodel) Linda Evangelista (shot by Mert & Marcus) is the star of Talbots ad campaign.
I’m very, very, very curious how Talbots customers would react to the image change. This is a major and I mean MAJOR overhaul. Talbots is renowned for no nonsense “REAL American” womenswear. We’re talking about real real as in real real South Dakota or Wyoming or Idaho or something like that.
Can you imagine? This is probably the equivalent of snatching away a Midwesterner fashionista’s People Stylewatch and shoving an issue of Vogue Paris down her throat instead.
Click click click to see what I mean about Talbots’ stellar transformation!
I am familiar of the brand because we have their catalogs lying around the house. I think my mom bought shit there when I was a child. Here are some catalogs from 1996. Yep, that’s right… NINETEEN NINETY SIX! That’s like fourteen years ago. Don’t ask why we still have it. I don’t want to know.
What say you? Amazing eh?
As a devoted Talbots shopper for over 30 years, the new direction doesn’t work for me. Athough it’s all about capturing the market, Talbots has abandoned it’s roots. If it works financially for them, great, but old customers who like a selction of classic, high quality clothes now need to look elsewhere. Oh well. Nothing lasts forever.
just bought that coat! thanks for the heads up on their new stuff
I agree with what Maggie said… Talbot’s brand image is evolving lately, with their clothes and accessories becoming more similar to the design philosophy of my favorite brand J Crew, including the textile quality…perhaps this new strategic marketing direction is in the hope of tapping the preppy market segment which has always been dominated by J Crew.
HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA Your poor mom
I’m also curious how Talbots’ customers will react. Are they also overhauling their clothes too?
But this whole thing reminds me of what Ann Taylor did. They had more “normal” models and were less about trends. Then they got Christy Turlington and they definitely stepped up their game with the clothes (a bit J. Crew-like).
im excited for this talbots transformation. i remember my mom shopping there in the 90′s too, and they seem to have gone really downhill since then because they haven’t changed with the times. good for them for trying something new! finally.
xx
http://youareashootingstar.blogspot.com/
Linda looks AMAZING!!!! Congrats Talbots!!
I had never heard of Talbots but I am impressed by how the new cover design compares with the old one. I also like the idea of shoving an issue of Vogue Paris down the throat of a mid-western housewife. It would probably do her a lot of good.
Interesting also: the Evangelista generation of supermodels (the Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer etc.) has not really been replaced. There are famous models, but apart from one here or there (Laetitia Casta ? Giselle Bundchen ?), none has really captured the imagination of the next generations…
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Linda looks GOOD!
I wonder how much money they dished out
Huge love and respect for Linda who is still rocking the modelling world in her 40s. The old catalogues made me LOL. Wonder what this means for Talbots in general?
I think the 1996coveris pretty chic and current (comparitively to others), very vanessa in gossip girl. MIchelle obama not too long ago was seen wearing a talbots blouse. Lving the new change.
Linda overkill. The spread is too fierce to be all american. love love her especially her Vogue Italia Urban Decay spread. Now that spread was really OVERKILL.
That’s a major overhaul from Talbots
I cannot believe this is Talbots. I need to see more ads. Linda is a Goddess.
This is amazing – I am the head of Public Relations for Talbots and I love your blog and your blog entry about Talbots’ transformation. We are excited to hear and see what our customers have to say about Linda!