QUINCY, Mass. – July 16, 2007— After receiving more than 2,500 original entries from throughout the country, J. Jill today announced the top 10 finalists in its second annual “Nature of Compassion” t-shirt design contest benefiting poor and homeless women. Starting July 16 through July 31, 2007, the public can view the 10 designs and vote for their favorite when visiting any J. Jill store or logging onto www.jjill.com.

Long known for celebrating fashion’s artistic origins, J. Jill established the “Nature of Compassion” contest in 2006 as a way to showcase original works of art, pay homage to nature’s ever changing beauty and help women in need through its Compassion Fund, a donor-advised fund of the Boston Foundation. Each year, entrants are asked to submit original artwork depicting inspirational elements of nature. Here are the 10 finalists in the 2007 “Nature of Compassion” contest:

• Kimberly Bardill – Wilmington, North Carolina


• Susan Handly – St. Helena, California


• Busha Husak – Malden, Massachusetts


• Anita Gildea – Fort Wayne, Indiana


• Paulina Manzo – Niskayuna, New York


• Frances McCloskey – Belmar, New Jersey


• Carrie Ralston – Wanaque, New Jersey


• Jennifer Reagles – Middleton, Wisconsin


• Toby Reed – Newton, Massachusetts


• Jamie Wyant – Salem, Oregon

Once the voting is completed, J. Jill will produce a limited-edition t-shirt featuring the winning design. The long-sleeve cotton tee will retail for $24.50 and J. Jill will donate 100% of the profits to its J. Jill Compassion Fund, which supports community-based organizations helping poor and homeless women become self-sufficient. This exclusive tee will be offered in J. Jill stores, catalog and online at jjill.com starting in November through the '07 holiday season.

The winning designer will receive an artistic getaway for herself and a friend to Artista Creative Safaris for Women in Carmel-By-The-Sea, California. In addition, she will receive a J. Jill shopping spree and her design will be prominently featured in all J. Jill stores, catalogs and online at jjill.com. A J. Jill shopping spree will also be awarded to each of the nine other finalists. For official contest rules, visit www.jjill.com.

About The J. Jill Compassion Fund
The J. Jill Compassion Fund, a donor-advised fund at the Boston Foundation, is committed to providing support to community-based organizations that help poor and homeless women become self-sufficient. J. Jill Compassion Fund grants have supported more than 20 organizations that help women to empower themselves and change their lives. The J. Jill Compassion Fund was established in June 2002 and since its inception, J. Jill has donated more than $1.2 million to the Fund and recommended more than $700,000 in grants.

About J. Jill
Established in 1987 as DM Management, J. Jill is a national specialty retailer, cataloger and e-tailer of women’s clothing and accessories with over 240 stores throughout the U.S. J. Jill became a wholly owned subsidiary of The Talbots, Inc. in May 2006. J. Jill offers clothing service and a serene shopping environment for the 35+ woman who takes care of everyone else. J. Jill stores carry relaxed weekend wear and casual business attire in a spectrum of sizes. The clothes are marked by fluid lines, feel-good fabrics, artful styling details and a cohesive color palette culled from nature. For more information, visit www.thetalbotsinc.com (corporate information) or www.jjill.com (online shopping site).

Contact:

Lauren Cooke, J. Jill

(617) 689-7810

Lauren.Cooke@jjill.com

Lindsey Shumway, For J. Jill

(617) 520-7071

lshumway@webershandwick.com