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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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 gQ3LPhalDen1/rXLtUp4Jw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000927796-04-000027.txt : 20040114
<SEC-HEADER>0000927796-04-000027.hdr.sgml : 20040114
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040114170528
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000927796-04-000027
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040112
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040114

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SODERHOLM BRUCE C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001197831

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12552
		FILM NUMBER:		04525496

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O THE TALBOTS INC
		STREET 2:		ONE TALBOTS DR
		CITY:			HINGHAM
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02043

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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>soderholm-form4_ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!-- - EDGAR Ease Plus 1.0                                   07/25/03  TT    -->
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
   <periodOfReport>2004-01-12</periodOfReport>
   <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000912263</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TALBOTS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TLB</issuerTradingSymbol>
   </issuer>
   <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001197831</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SODERHOLM BRUCE C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O THE TALBOTS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>ONE TALBOTS DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HINGHAM</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02043</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
         <isDirector>0</isDirector>
         <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
         <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
         <isOther>0</isOther>
         <officerTitle>SVP, Operations</officerTitle>
      </reportingOwnerRelationship>
   </reportingOwner>
 <nonDerivativeTable>
   <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2004-01-12</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>41400</value>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionPricePerShare>
           <value>12.4688</value>
         </transactionPricePerShare>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>A</value>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>41400</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <value>D</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeTransaction>
   <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2004-01-12</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>41400</value>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionPricePerShare>
           <value>30.15</value>
         </transactionPricePerShare>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>D</value>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>0</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <value>D</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeTransaction>
   <nonDerivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>12500</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <value>D</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeHolding>
   <nonDerivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>100</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <value>I</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
         <natureOfOwnership>
            <value>Spouse</value>
         </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeHolding>
 </nonDerivativeTable>
 <derivativeTable>
   <derivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Executive Stock Options (Right to Buy)</value>
            <footnoteId id="F2"/>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
         <value>12.4688</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2004-01-12</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>41400</value>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionPricePerShare>
           <value>0.00</value>
         </transactionPricePerShare>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>D</value>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
         <value>2000-10-27</value>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
         <value>2007-10-27</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
         <underlyingSecurityTitle>
           <value>Common Stock</value>
         </underlyingSecurityTitle>
         <underlyingSecurityShares>
           <value>41400</value>
         </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>0</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
           <value>D</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeTransaction>
 </derivativeTable>
   <footnotes>
      <footnote id="F1"> Performance Accelerated Restricted Stock (&quot;PARS&quot;) subject to vesting as follows:  if the Company's average return on net assets (&quot;RONA&quot;) over three years as compared to RONA of a peer group of retail companies exceeds certain levels, all or part of the PARS would vest at that time based on the level of achievement against the perfomance goals.  In all events, if not earlier vested, PARS will vest on March 13, 2008.</footnote>

      <footnote id="F2"> Granted as non-qualified options pursuant to The Talbots, Inc. 1993 Executive Stock Based Incentive Plan, which is a Rule 16b-3 plan.  The options are fully vested.</footnote>
   </footnotes>
   <ownerSignature>
      <signatureName>Warren J. Casey, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
      <signatureDate>2004-01-14</signatureDate>
   </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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