Talbots Rediscovers Boomers
We all know the frustration of trying to shop after 40. Where do you go? What do you buy when it seems like there’s nothing out there but 0 sized trendy teen clothes or boring and dowdy mature fashions?
Shopping used to be fun. Now it’s like hunting for the wooly mammoth!
Boomers are being left high and dry. Now a recent U.S.A. Today article called Clothing Stores rediscover boomers says stores are waking up to the fact that we want to look hip, modern and fashionable and we do have the money to spend. (What took them so long?)
Bloomingdales started the trend.
Now, Talbots, is trying to modernize their line. We’ll see what happens. I (Deb) have had good luck with their summer sandals, but everything I’ve ever tried on is too conservative and hugely cut to be fashionable for me. JoJami bought a jacket there before because it was fantastic color, but it was very boxy and she had to have it taken in.
We went on line to see if there was anything interesting on their site since having read the this article. As soon as the site popped up we were oohing and awing at their home page. The cute and colorful doublebreasted pea coats looked exciting and fun.
Next, we clicked onto accessories and again, were impressed. Looked like a few things we wouldn’t mind checking out like the croc embossed clutch or the hair calf flats or cute brown ankle boots.
But when we got to the clothes, we’ve got to admit, we were disappointed. Nice classic stuff but so classic and plain it was boring. We like classic, but give us classic with a modern twist. We did, however, give them points for this top from the plus size department which we thought was fresh and slimming for curvy glam gals.
Maybe they haven’t got their new clothes on line yet? JoJami has a client next week and she is going to take her shopping, so will test the waters.
Where do you shop? What lines do you buy? Tommorow we’ll talk about what is working for JoJami and me.
Finally, a reason for me to comment! I am a youthful 53 and cannot remember the last time I enjoyed shopping. I seem to be doing more of it but coming home empty handed or worse yet with clothing for which I had to settle. My shopping is complicated by the fact that I am a (fit!) pear shape. I look forward to more on this subject – where is a boomer to shop for what she wants? One more comment – none of the Talbot’s choices suggested here appealed to me.
I loved the accessories shown, but I really am anxious to see what stores you come back with next week – that misses/plus size edge is difficult as well. I know I agree with lattedah – I come up disappointed and empty handed more often than not. Argh!
I will be 49 in 2 weeks…I am a curvy (hour glass) gal…size 8, working on getting back into shape after an illness(and getting back into my closetful of size 6′s!). I am an Interior Decorator/public speaker so I need to look professional and up to date!
I shop regularly at Ann Taylor & Ann Taylor Loft. I find that the nice variety of cuts in their pants especially helpful…they have really gotten it that we are not all stick figures! They actually have a curvy cut and it’s not that “boxy butt” that you’ll find at some shops. The styles they carry are classic but with a modern twist, well made for the price-point and usually a nice selection of merchandise and sizes.
!)
I have noticed that different areas carry different inventories but they do have online shopping as well. Their cashmere is wonderful!
On top of that their customer service is usually very good and they wrap all your purchases in tissue with a logo seal…it’s like opening a present when you get home! They have great sales and special offers and I’ve never had a problem the couple of times I needed to return something.Whenever they’ve not had something in my size they have offered to find it for me and ship it at no charge!
Does it get any better?! (no, I don’t work for them
I second the motion for Ann Taylor! Everything about that company is great! Being 5’8″, a fit, “pearish” 52yo who isn’t rich and who wears a size 11 shoe, I have learned to dress from the bottom up–when I find hip shoes I buy them (DSW!)–and build from there up. I find some things at Marshalls, Macy’s (I.N.C.!), and Dillards (sales on designer items), but I shop only twice a year, with a list, and get everything at once. I have learned to live with less items but better quality (and I love & wear everything I own!) Ann Taylor is my default, with a touch of Banana Republic (on sale only), and some accessories form NY&Co just to stay in touch with Now. I stick with black and tan on the bottom, colors on top, and everything coordinates. Simple and chic and elegant. Finding a shopping ‘home’ was difficult, but keeping current is a breeze (and affordable!) with Ann Taylor.
The problem seems to be that there is no where to shop, and even if one boomer chain popped up there’s no way it is going to appeal to all boomers.
Women over 40 are a diverse group. We have different lifestyles and personalities. You can’t clump us together into one department.
For example, Talbots…. They have always sold classic clothes, but now they are trying to inject a more modern, hip flare into their classic styles. Still, at their core they will always be classic. Lots of women love classic and it works well for the boomer body.
If that is not your personality, or lifestyle then you are not going to like Talbots no matter how much they update their clothes.
There needs to be a variety of boomer stores, each with its own personality… some selling more dramatic and high fashion clothing, some selling more more laid back and casual things, some selling more creative clothes, so boomer women have more choice.
No matter what style of clothing the store is selling, the common demonimator needs to be that the clothes are are hip, modern, comfortable, a good fit for a 40+ body and pared down a little from what you would see a twenty-something wearing.
Can’t believe a whole slew of differnt boomer stores aren’t rolling out all over the place. I guess it is because designers are not clueing in that this is a huge market?
As for Ann Talylor they are trying to make their classic clothes more boomer friendly and yes, they’ve got some nice things rolling out. But again, they’re very conservative.
They’re not for everybody. One problem we’ve found in the past is that most fo their clothing is quite business oriented and there are a lot of women who are not in the corporate world anymore and want more casual clothes.
We find the hardest thing is to find great boomer weekend clothes-casual, but not too casual.
WOW! We have really hit a hot button with this issue!
We hear your voice ladies!!
Where to shop is a real dilemma. One thing we know for sure, that the chain stores are a lousy place to start. We love boutique shopping, because if you go to the right one, they are will have off beat designers and the newest trends.
Read the article in the post, it is helpful. But bottom line is, at this point, its an art to dress well at our age. We are here to help!
However, Robin, you mentioned that it is hard to find casual clothes.YES…our newsletter will address that! (sign up now, its free!)
At 40 I share the frustration of being bombarded with clothes that are either too childish or too matronly.
Though I haven’t purchased anything at Talbots recently their window does catch my eye whenever I walk by.
This is what I’ve been saying all along. Not all women over 40 are interested in the classic style. Some are funky, some are more trendy, because each of us is an individual. Also, not all women over 40 are boomers. Generation X turned 40 in 2004. I’m a Gen X. The other problem is the boomer label in general. When I hear boomer I hear old hippie, someone 50 years old or more and I can just imagine the frumpy old clothes. Who wants to be associated with that?
My solution has been to cross shop. I like classic foundation pieces, slacks, shifts, cardigans but I love trendy accessories and tops. I’m single, in my early forties, and am often mistaken for late-twenties to thirty-something. I don’t feel old and I don’t want to look old. I also don’t want to feel restricted in what I should wear by society’s notion that “mature” women should dress drably.
Another problem I feel is that clothes for adults shouldn’t be sold to an age demographic. It would be better to distinguish clothes by style and size, period. In my mind it’s about body appropriate rather than age appropriate. That’s the way it should be.
Yes, we agree. Everybody has a different style personality be it Romantic, classic, natural, funky, dramatic, creative. Usually you are a combination of a couple. We’re a little more on the classic side, with a bit of dramatic and creative thrown in, but there are women out there in their 40′s and beyond who are very artsy/funky and can still pull it off and look fabulous. Stores trying to sell to the 40+ crowd have to remember this and sell a variety of looks to suit the different personalities. At the same time these styles need to be age appropriate. What the heck does that mean? It sounds restrictive- We think of it as a little toned down from what you’d see on a twenty-something so you look classy, not trashy. Better fabrics, better cuts, better fit, not going overboard with trendy details. JoJami’s mom is a great example….wow..you should she how HIP she dresses!
Hi 40plusGenX,
LOVE your suggestions.. we will try to keep up with you and add more fun suggestions.
My (JoJami’s) 72 year old mother is a case in point. Be on the look out for some of her age appropriate but hip and cool ideas, as well as more fashion forward ones for you younger gals!!
I’m a first time commenter who really looks forward to more on this topic. Yep I am an Ann Taylor fan for their signature wool, twill and cotton sateen pants in long sizes.Brands I like – Theory,Max Azria, Michael Kors and Tracy Reese for her feminine dresses. Classic with a twist, punched up with bold colors and accessories describes my style.
I’d love to find fitted jackets like Jojami’s mom, hot straight legged or even skinny jeans and a more hip casual style accented with funky accessories.
Looking forward to more posts….