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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000927796-03-000428.txt : 20030516
<SEC-HEADER>0000927796-03-000428.hdr.sgml : 20030516
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030505174025
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000927796-03-000428
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030501
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030505
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20030516

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TALBOTS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000912263
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-WOMEN'S CLOTHING STORES [5621]
		IRS NUMBER:				411111318
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0129

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE TALBOTS DRIVE
		CITY:			HINGHAM
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02043
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7817497600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE TALBOTS DRIVE
		CITY:			HINGHAM
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02043

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			AEON USA INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000940056
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12552
		FILM NUMBER:		03682806

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		525 MADISON AVENUE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10022
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2128219100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		525 MADISON AVENUE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10022

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	JUSCO USA INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19950302
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-05-01</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000912263</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TALBOTS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TLB</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000940056</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>AEON USA INC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common Stock, par value$0.01 per share</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-05-01</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>213262</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>28.7</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>D</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>33178344</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeSecurity>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Sale of shares pursuant to The Talbots,Inc. (&quot;Talbots&quot;) Amended Share Repurchase Program whereby Talbots purchases shares of its common stock on the open market and shortly thereafter purchases from AEON (U.S.A&gt;), Inc. a proportionate number of shares at the weighted average price paid for the open market purchases.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Warren J. Casey, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-05-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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