Brands You Love the Most

28 Comments

1. I would rank mine Chicos with Talbots a close second (I love Talbots jeans). This would have been flipped a few years ago. I used to like JJill a lot, but am finding their clothes the last couple of years a little too boxy/limp and the colors in general too dusty. I also would put as faves Athleta. I love Banana Republic, but there are so many clothes out there that I don’t seem to get around to checking them as often, since they closed their local store. Lands End has upped their style game a lot and I’m really loving their tees, which fit well and don’t shrink or fade. Just a couple of alternatives.

2. Thanks so much, Linda. I love to learn this audience’s favorite brands.

3. I’m with Linda in that my favorite is Chico’s, because of their quality and unique pieces, but then it’s JJill for quiet understatement and then Lands End which has good staple pieces for your wardrobe.
   I have found some great casual pieces at Old Navy. My favorites from Old Navy were the fleece lined leggings last winter in a variety of colors. They didn’t pill or stretch out of shape and were so cozy! Also their linen elasticized waist pants are very comfortable and wash and dry like a dream.

4. Thanks for sharing your favorites. Cristie.

5. J Jill is my favorite of the three top retailers. Their petite sizes fit me best and their colors tend to be softer than Talbot’s and Chico’s. Some of their items are too baggy/boxy for me but I find their more tailored offerings fit my body and my style. Lately Chicos’ styles have not hit any of my adjectives and I find almost all their tops too long. I but their jeans and pants because they still carry some petites. I buy very little at Talbot’s because even though I like a lot of their styles I find their colors too cool and/or bright for me. I will also give a thumbs up for Land’s End tee shirts. Their petite v-neck supima tee is the best I’ve found and on sale the price is unbeatable. Good luck with the moving prep.

6. Thanks for sharing, Kathie! Sticking with your adjectives is so important and saves money in the long run.

7. Gotta say, that Talbot’s has always been my favorite place to shop. They tend to have more classic’s that are timeless, which has always been my style. I do shop at Chico’s, love their no iron shirts. J. Crew and Loft are also on my radar, lately.

8. Thanks Jan!

9. Interesting data … it tells me that as a Petite person I am way outside the norm here. Talbots and J Jill are the only retailers on the list that I shop regularly. Most of the others have very limited Petites or do not even carry them. It is kind of a “vicious” circle (sorry can’t think of another word choice), though, because the more you cover certain brands, the more the community shops there. I also regularly shop BR and J Crew (and their outlets) as well as other Petite and climate-friendly retailers –also LLBean — that are covered by other bloggers and address my style preferences. BTW, I was at a nice restaurant yesterday and about half the tables had women wearing leopard prints — so glad I was not one of them LOL.

10. Yes, I definitely love J.Jill, Talbots and Nordie’s. Chico’s runs a close 4th for me, and Lands End remains my go-to for swimsuits. Beyond these, I do love stumbling upon a nice boutique – usually on a summer beach vacation. I have purchased some incredible sweaters, scarves and jewelry over the years, and it doesn’t hurt that between these darling stores are such things as saltwater taffy and carmel corn shops. 🍿🍬

11. Thanks for sharing, Maeve. I will try to remember to add in some LL Bean!

12. I am excited to discover new boutiques in Wedt Texas. My daughter says there are many. I love boutique shopping!

13. I have to say Talbots is my favorite, then JJill. I like their classic style. But also Chicos is a favorite. I do like those outfits you show in the first pictures.

14. Before shrinking an inch I was 6 feet tall. Arms and legs don’t shorten up so I still need tall sizes! Thus, brands that offer most items in tall sizes are my go-to. That means Jjill, Lands End and Eddie Bauer. EB used to offer some great office appropriate and business casual clothes but those days are long gone. Ann Taylor and LLBean offer a smattering of talls. I love Talbots aesthetic but they only offer the occasional tall pant. When I’m tempted to buy non-tall items, I usually regret it.

15. Thanks Paula!

16. Good to know, Jeanette! Thanks for sharing the details!

17. I love Chicos, Landsend and JCP. I always loved LL Bean but they have priced out of my budget. I really need petite sizes now that I’m 5’ 1 1/2” tall. You are right our bodies shrink but our arms are still longer. I buy regular in flannel as it shrinks but petite in most everything else. Talbots waist sizes are way too small for my smaller hip size. Now that I’m living here in the mountains, I wear jeans, tees and or flannel shirts soon. I’m wearing my Brooks Ghost Max shoes but alternate with my Easy Spirit Denise Austin Mel sneakers. I have two pairs of each! They are so comfortable for days I have to be on my feet!

18. Thanks so much, Sydney. I know petite sizing can be a challenge.

19. Talbots is my go to store for two reasons; their customer service online and the fabulous sales help at my local store. Ever since I was reprimanded by a salesgirl at Chicos for not standing in the proper lane to be checked out I have since limited my buying. I’m too old to spend money where I am not appreciated or treated well these days. Talbots checks off all the boxes for me; misses, average size and tailored, traditional. I rely on scarves and jewelry to add pizazz to my outfits. Lands End definitely for bathing suits and tee shirts. I also like their winter vests but I wish they had left off that label on the outside. Maeve gave me a giggle; too many gals jumping on the leopard trend for my liking as well. I purchased the Talbots reversible vest in leopard and got a great deal at 40 off plus my birthday discount but when 3 of my friends also bought it I decided to return mine. I would rather buy a solid color and accent it with a leopard accessory. One of those gals who purchsed the vest showed up at dinner with the long sleeve tee, shoes and (horrors!) socks all in leopard. Not judging and to each their own but personally I tread lightly with trends.

20. I completely understand, Linda…about good customer service! I will be out and about in my leopard vest …but have no leopard socks!!😂

21. I am not saying that Talbots is my favorite ( I struggle with ‘favorite’ since I really want something ‘different’), but I rely on them for almost all my colored jeans and tops. I guess I would call them basics. I used to rely on Talbots for skirts and dresses when I was teaching. I do best with Talbots when they promote my autumn colors. As mentioned, they are often too bright for me. I get excited with a few pieces at Jjill when the catalog arrives, but many times I find the colors dusty, greyed out, which is very suitable for a ‘summer’ , not a deep autumn. I used to love their cardigans and matching tanks as well as linen dresses years ago. They seem to have given those pieces up. I did purchase a cute chocolate sweater recently with my birthday discount. I do find hidden gems. Our Chicos is very small and the colors very bright. The sales ladies could be more helpful. I recently bought a pair of bitter brown jeans. I will see how that goes. I think they might be a bit too stretchy. I love Banana Republic in the ads, but I am losing height and they seem to be styled for tall people. I live a half hour from LLBean, and like Lands End, they have quality clothing. I had fun outfitting my husband there before a trip to London. Unlike Lands End, they don’t have many sales. I wish I had an Ann Taylor and J Crew near by. I have ordered from Quince for a few items, and Kettlewell has the colors if you are a specialty shopper. I wish we had more boutiques. Can’t wait for you to introduce us to your new digs, Pamela!

22. Well said, Deborah! Make sure you read the trend post tomorrow, I have a new color to show you that I love!

23. For online shopping, my favorites would be Talbot’s & Lands End. Talbot’s doesn’t carry women’s petite sizes in store so online is the only way I can get them. I shop in store at JCP & Kohl’s & occasionally Macy’s.

24. Glad to know I’m not alone in my loyalty to JJill! Their tall sizing and recent color selection have found me shopping there about 80% of the time. My local store is great, with long-term staff who know me and are always so helpful. Not so much my local Chico’s options; the two larger stores near me have unhelpful sales staff; the smallest store offers helpful staff but less variety in store. Pam has me shopping at Kohl’s again after a long break, for both my house and wardrobe. My other favs are Chico’s, Nordstrom and WHBM, which I usually shop on-line using Pam’s links. I rely on Lands’ End for swimwear, and also have a weakness for the Peruvian Connection and Sundance catalogs. I enjoy hearing about other readers’ favorites, since we all seem to have somewhat similar takes on fashion.

25. Thanks Becky…I guess it depends on the market where Talbots stores are located. In San Antonio, their stores carry petites.

26. Now you have me wanting to see Peruvian Connection! Thanks Lori!

27. I wish I could shop in store at Talbots and JJill, but the nearest stores are 300 miles from me. Talbots pants never have a long enough inseam for my long legs. I prefer to buy online from stores that have a brick and mortar store me for returns. I have found great tops at Chicos. Our Chicos store is small, so I have to buy a lot online and return what doesn’t work. I appreciate how kind the ladies are about returns. Since Nordstrom offers free shipping and returns, I buy denim and sweaters from them. Dillards just opened in our mall, but I haven’t found anything yet (they did have the EF crinkle dress and sheer “poncho” in a lovely raspberry color, but I have no where to wear it. I will continue to shop there as the staff is so helpful. I have bought a couple of items from Quince and have two more in my cart. There is a Macy’s in our mall and they have some lovely things. We used to have Christopher and Banks, Coldwater Creek, Banana Republic, and Gap, but they have all left. They were replaced by stores aimed at a younger demographic, and the clothes tend to be lesser quality. We are getting a JCrew Factory opening soon. My biggest problem is falling in love with clothes for my fantasy life when my usual wardrobe is jeans or ponte knit pants, a tee or blouse, and a third casual layer.

28. Your last sentence really touched me Kate…I think many of us would agree that we see ourselves wearing certain clothing for a life that is either a fantasy or in our past. Be of good cheer, there are many ways to enjoy a more casual lifestyle. I am headed towards a place where they dress is more casual, so I hope to inspire you to find ways to enjoy your wardrobe during a real, different time of life.

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