The Talbots, Inc. Announces Key Senior Leadership Promotions

Company Continues to Make Progress with Organizational
Restructuring Process
HINGHAM, Mass.--(Business Wire)--
As part of its organizational restructuring process, The Talbots,
Inc. (NYSE: TLB) today announced key senior leadership promotions
including John Fiske, Julie Lorigan and Carol Stone.

Mr. Fiske has been named Executive Vice President of Human
Resources and Administration, responsible for Business Development,
Corporate Services and Loss Prevention in addition to his existing HR
responsibilities. Mr. Fiske previously served as Senior Vice
President, Human Resources for the Talbots and J. Jill brands. He
joined Talbots as a result of the Company's acquisition of J. Jill
Group, Inc. in May of 2006, having served as the Senior Vice President
of Human Resources for J. Jill Group. Mr. Fiske will report directly
to Trudy F. Sullivan, President and Chief Executive Officer of the
Talbots, Inc.

Ms. Lorigan, who joined Talbots in 1999 as the Director of
Investor Relations, and has served as Vice President of Investor
Relations since 2001, has been named Senior Vice President of Investor
and Media Relations. In her new role, Ms. Lorigan will now be
responsible for the Company's financial and business Media Relations,
while continuing to oversee the Company's Investor Relations
activities. Prior to joining Talbots, Ms. Lorigan served as the
Director of Investor Relations for Open Market, Inc. Ms. Lorigan will
report directly to Ed Larsen, Senior Vice President of Finance and
Chief Financial Officer of the Talbots, Inc. and will also work
closely with Trudy F. Sullivan.

Carol Stone, a 22-year Talbots veteran, has been named Senior Vice
President of Finance. Ms. Stone joined Talbots in 1985 and has held
several positions within the organization, including Vice President,
Corporate Controller for the Talbots, Inc., a role she has held for
the past 10 years. In her new role, Ms. Stone is responsible for
Corporate Accounting, the Company's Credit operations, External
Financial Reporting and the financial systems for both brands. Ms.
Stone will report directly to Ed Larsen.

"The promotion of John, Julie and Carol further evolves our senior
leadership team as part of our overall organizational restructuring
process," said Ms. Sullivan. "Each of them has demonstrated strong
leadership skills in key areas that are critical to Talbots growth and
success, and I am confident they will remain invaluable assets as we
continue to execute on our three-year strategic plan. With a strong,
seasoned executive team now fully in place, and operational
initiatives successfully underway, we are well-positioned to drive
profitable growth, deliver shareholder value and build on our legacy
as the retail destination for the 35+ customer."

The Talbots, Inc. is a leading specialty retailer and direct
marketer of women's apparel, shoes and accessories. The Company
currently operates stores in 871 locations in 47 states, the District
of Columbia, and Canada, with 595 locations under the Talbots brand
name and 276 locations under the J. Jill brand name. Both brands
target the age 35 plus customer population. Talbots brand on-line
shopping site is located at www.talbots.com and the J. Jill brand
on-line shopping site is located at www.jjill.com.

The foregoing contains forward-looking information within the
meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These
statements may be identified by such forward-looking terminology as
"expect," "achieve," "plan," "look," "believe," "anticipate,"
"outlook," "will," "would," "guidance," or similar statements or
variations of such terms. All of the information concerning our
financial outlook (including future profitability, future comparable
stores sales, future earnings and other future financial performance
or operating measures), future credit facilities, future merchandise
purchases, future cash needs, and other future financial performance
or financial position constitutes forward-looking information.

Our forward-looking statements are based on a series of
expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections about our Company
which involve substantial risks and uncertainty, including assumptions
and projections concerning our internal plan including our budget for
regular-price and markdown selling and operating cash flow for forward
periods. All of our forward-looking statements are as of the date of
this release only. The Company can give no assurance that such
expectations or forward-looking statements will prove to be correct.
Actual results may differ materially from our forward-looking
statements. The Company does not undertake or plan to update or revise
any such forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changes
in plans, assumptions, estimates or projections, or other
circumstances occurring after the date of this release, even if such
results, changes or circumstances make it clear that any
forward-looking information will not be realized.

Any public statements or disclosures by us following this release
which modify or impact any of the forward-looking statements contained
in or accompanying this release will be deemed to modify or supersede
such statements in or accompanying this release.

Our forward-looking statements involve substantial known and
unknown risks and uncertainties as to future events which may or may
not occur, including the following risks: the impact of the continued
deterioration in the U.S. economic environment, including continued
negative impact on consumer discretionary spending, the disruption and
significant tightening in the U.S. credit and lending markets,
recessionary and inflationary pressures, high energy prices, and
declining value of the U.S. dollar; our ability to accurately estimate
and forecast future regular-price and markdown selling and operating
cash flow; achieving the Company's sales plan for the year for each of
the Talbots and J. Jill brands; achieving the Company's operating cash
flow plan for the year; successfully executing the Company's strategic
initiatives, including anticipated lower inventory levels, expected
operating expense and other cost reductions, the success of the new
promotional cadence for the Talbots brand, reduced markdown exposure
and improved gross margins, the successful closing of the Talbots Kids
and Talbots Mens business concepts and closing of other
underperforming stores; continued ability to purchase merchandise on
open account purchase terms at expected levels; obtaining letter of
credit facilities for merchandise purchases from vendors who require
such facilities; the Company's ability to obtain any necessary
increases in its credit facilities as may be needed from time to time;
the Company's ability to reduce spending as needed; and the Company's
ability to continue to satisfy its financial covenants under its
existing debt agreements. In each case, actual results may differ
materially from such forward-looking information.

Certain other factors that may cause actual results to differ from
such forward-looking statements are included in the Company's periodic
reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and
available on the Talbots website at www.thetalbotsinc.com under
"Investor Relations" and you are urged to carefully consider all such
factors.

The Talbots, Inc.
Julie Lorigan, 781-741-7775
Senior Vice President, Investor and Media Relations
or
Berns Communications Group
Investor/Media Relations
Stacy Berns/Melissa Jaffin
212-994-4660 or 212-871-8701

Copyright Business Wire 2008