Talbots Fall Try-On Haul: Easy Outfits for Women Over 50

Talbots is one of those stores I can walk into and almost always find something that works with clothes I already own. I’ve shopped there for years, so I have a pretty good feel for their sizing, fabrics, and which styles tend to work best for me.

This latest collection really caught my attention because it sits right in that tricky little space between summer and fall. You know the one. It may still be hotter than blue blazes outside, but mentally I’ve already moved on to suede, denim, and anything that looks good with a cup of coffee. Lol!

I tried several pieces that can be worn right now and then layered as the temperatures start dropping. Since I’m 5’6″ and typically between a medium and large in tops and an 8 and 10 in bottoms, I’ll also point out what I noticed about the proportions and fit as we go.

An Easy Blue Top and Jeans Outfit

This blue V-Neck Sweatshirt is gorgeous, but what caught my attention first was actually the shape of the top. It has the comfort of a sweatshirt without looking like something I would wear to clean out a closet. The V-neckline is flattering, and the puffed short sleeves give it a little more personality than a basic tee.

I also like where the hem hits. It gives you some definition without being cropped, and the slightly relaxed fit works nicely with a wider-leg jean.

These Classic Jean Trousers are a good example of how denim has changed. They have the familiar feel of jeans, but the trouser-style leg makes them look a little more polished. If you’ve been wearing straight-leg jeans for several years and want to update your denim without jumping into an enormous wide leg, this is an easy way to do it.

And yes, I’m barefoot in the dressing-room photo. Shoes apparently became optional somewhere along the way. With these jeans, I’d normally add a loafer, sneaker, wedge, or platform depending on the length.

A Pretty Printed Top With Denim

There are days when I want a top that does most of the work for me, and this is one of those pieces. I love the colors and the style of this cute Voile Ruffle Shell.

The print has plenty going on, but the navy background keeps it wearable. I especially like the small ruffle detail around the shoulders because it adds shape without creating a huge sleeve. That can be an important distinction if you’re broader through the shoulders or simply don’t want extra volume there.

The neckline also gives you a little breathing room around the face, which I tend to prefer over something buttoned all the way to my chin.

With the trouser jeans, this is an easy lunch, church, shopping, or casual dinner outfit. Later, you could layer a cardigan or jacket over it and let the print peek through.

The Striped Tee That Goes With Practically Everything

A navy and white striped tee is hardly groundbreaking, but I keep buying them because I KEEP WEARING THEM. There’s a lesson in there somewhere. Lol!

This one has a scoop neckline rather than a crewneck, which gives a little more open space around the face. I also like the narrower stripe because it makes the tee easy to layer.

On its own with these Classic Jean Trousers, it’s a simple everyday outfit. Add a jacket, and suddenly it looks completely different.

That is exactly the kind of clothing I want more of in my closet. I don’t need twelve pieces that only work one way. Give me one good top that I can wear three or four ways instead.

The Jeans That Can Replace Dress Pants

Here’s another version of Talbots’ Classic Jean Trousers, this time in the Belmont Wash.

I’m seeing more women gravitate toward this style because it solves a very real wardrobe problem. Sometimes we want something nicer than our everyday jeans, but we don’t necessarily want dress pants. That is where trouser jeans come in.

The wider leg gives them a cleaner line, especially with a blouse, sweater, or blazer, but you can still wear them with a plain T-shirt and sneakers. I’d pay particular attention to inseam when ordering. Wide-leg jeans look much better when the length works with the shoes you actually plan to wear.

Adding Faux Suede for Fall

Now we’re talking fall. The Faux Suede Blazer completely changes the striped tee and trouser jeans. It adds warmth and texture, but you aren’t dealing with the weight, care, or price of real suede.

I especially like this camel shade with navy denim. It is also one of those colors that works with cream, ivory, chocolate brown, olive, burgundy, black, and even soft blue, so you aren’t buying a jacket that requires an entirely new wardrobe underneath it.

The longer blazer length also balances the wider jeans nicely. If you’re someone who says, “Blazers are too dressy for my life,” try wearing one exactly like this, with a tee and jeans. You still look casual. You just look a little more polished.

A Paisley Blouse That Can Go Casual or Dressy

This paisley button-up top immediately caught my eye because the colors make it easy to wear with denim and neutrals. The print is detailed, but it doesn’t overwhelm me. I also like the border placement around the neckline, down the front, and along the hem because it gives the blouse some definition instead of looking like one large all-over print.

Worn loose with trouser jeans, it has that relaxed blouse look I like. You could also do a small front tuck if you want a little more waist definition. This would be especially pretty with the dark-wash jeans and loafers once fall arrives.

Going All-In on Faux Suede

Then I decided to try the full faux-suede look. I know some of you just looked at this and thought, “Tania, that is A LOT of suede.” But I wanted to see it together because that is the whole point of a dressing-room try-on. Sometimes you need to put something on before deciding.

The Faux Suede Blazer and Pull-On Pants create a long column of color, which I like, and the paisley blouse keeps the outfit from looking flat. You could absolutely separate these pieces, though, and I suspect that is how most women would get the most wear from them.

The blazer would work with denim, and the pants could be worn with an ivory sweater, striped tee, denim shirt, or simple navy top. That versatility matters to me much more than having a perfectly matched outfit.

A Softer Neutral Outfit

After all the denim and darker fall colors, I tried this lighter neutral outfit. The Dreamy Leopard Tank is a very subtle way to wear animal print. The contrast is soft, so it doesn’t feel loud, and from a distance it almost reads like texture rather than traditional leopard.

The AirKnit Stretch Wide Leg Pants are the kind of pants I can see women reaching for when comfort is the priority but leggings or sweatpants aren’t appropriate. The wide leg drapes nicely rather than clinging, and the front seam helps create a longer vertical line.

This is also a good color combination for transitional weather. Wear it now with sandals, then add a cardigan, denim jacket, or the faux suede blazer when temperatures cool down.

What I Look for During a Talbots Try-On

After years of doing dressing-room try-ons, I’ve learned that liking something on the hanger isn’t enough. I pay attention to how a garment hangs when I move, where the waistband hits, how much room I have through the hips and bust, and what happens when I sit down.

I also ask myself a very practical question: Where would I actually wear this?

If I can picture wearing something to church, lunch, dinner, running errands, or traveling, I know it has a better chance of earning its place in my closet.

I’m also trying to be more selective about pieces that only work with one specific outfit. A pretty top is even better when it works with three pairs of pants I already own.

My Take on This Talbots Collection

I think Talbots did an especially good job with this transitional collection.

The denim feels current without being extreme, the tops are interesting enough to wear on their own, and the faux suede pieces give you that fall look long before you’re ready for a heavy jacket.

For women over 50 who want to update their wardrobes without completely changing their style, that is a pretty good combination.

My strongest takeaway from this try-on is probably the trouser-style denim. It gives familiar jeans a more updated shape, and you can make them as casual or as polished as you want depending on your shoes and top.

I also think the Faux Suede Blazer has a lot of potential because I was able to wear it with two completely different tops during one quick dressing-room session. That usually tells me a piece will be useful at home, too.

You don’t need every trend that comes along. Frankly, my closet couldn’t hold them all even if I wanted them. 😂 But adding one updated jean shape, a pretty blouse, or a versatile fall layer can make the clothes you already own feel fresh again.

Which outfit would you wear first? I’m curious to see if everyone chooses the same one I did.

To see a roundup of these items, click here!

Here are more of my picks from the New Arrivals

Did you find something helpful in today’s post? Share it with a friend or save it to Pinterest so you can find it again later. That simple click also helps more women over 50 discover our little corner of the internet, and I truly appreciate it.

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Romans 6:5 (NIV)
⁵ For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.