-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 PuG5dnNs7YmCIBm0zNzeQgPApXdG14K2ASBJ2hufwLhhxMbjnqQYpidT4XKh7IJ0
 ER1wimePsM9/bZiZU6Zw0g==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001214659-06-001047.txt : 20060510
<SEC-HEADER>0001214659-06-001047.hdr.sgml : 20060510
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060510164133
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001214659-06-001047
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060508
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060510
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060510

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Kowalczyk Philip H
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001307353

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12552
		FILM NUMBER:		06826775

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(781) 749-7600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O THE TALBOTS, INC.
		STREET 2:		ONE TALBOTS DRIVE
		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>m51061f4_ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-05-08</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001307353</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Kowalczyk Philip H</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>Pres. J. Jill Group, Inc.</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Commom Stock, par value $0.01  per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-05-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.01</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>25000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>25000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Executive Stock Options (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>25.57</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-05-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-05-08</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>15000</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 performance goals. If not earlier vested,
 PARS will vest on March 3, 2011, subject to continued employment.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">PARS subject to vesting as follows: if the Company's average RONA 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 performance goals. If not earlier vested, PARS will vest on March 3, 2011, subject to continued employment.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">PARS subject to vesting as follows: if the Company's average RONA 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 performance goals. If not earlier vested, PARS will vest on March 11, 2010, subject to continued employment.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Granted as non-qualified options pursuant to The Talbots, Inc. 2003 Executive Stock Based Incentive Plan, which is a Rule
 16b-3 plan. Options are exercisable in one-third increments on May 8, 2007, May 8, 2008, and May 8, 2009.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Warren J. Casey, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-05-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----