Ann Taylor

I like the fact that Ann Taylor and Loft keep up with the latest styles and trends. They have a great selection of petites, which is helpful when I shop. Their clothes hold up the same as any other label out there these days. Pant cuffs occassionally need to be re-hemmed, buttons sometimes need to be reattached. I've encountered this across the board with any clothing found in comparable stores and departments stores like Macy's, Nordstroms, Express, New York & Co, etc.. I like the fact that you can get some basic pieces and accessories to update your wardrobe at reasonable prices for work clothes. Overall, I've been happy with the customer service at the downtown Silver Spring, MD Loft, and the Ann Taylor at Montgomery Mall, Bethesda, MD. Likewise, I have had no issues with online purchases. Both stores have been willing to accept returns when an online purchase did not work out, no questions asked (other than to inquire if there was anything defective about the piece). I am a Caucasian, size 8-10 petite (depending upon the cut) professional woman, in my mid-30s. I'm pretty sure I fit their exact target demographic. I have been shopping at Ann Taylor stores since 2004. I cannot comment on how the store treats employees or minority shoppers.

Having recently begun a teaching job, I needed some clothes that were classic but not boring, comfortable but not frumpy, authoritative yet feminine. I used to think AT was too conservative or girly; but I like the new look more. Today there was a good sale and so I spent some time in Boston (Prudential Center) shop.

Many, many positives. The sales team was unusually good and on top of things. What kind of things? Well, the 'stylist' had good ideas for accessories/shoes that made the most of my favorite items and showed them in their best light (grey shoes, eggplant dress; nice call!) . Another staff member patiently tracked down my size in items not on the floor (calling 4 other stores). Lots of things turned out to be on sale... then on top of that...a 'teacher's discount'. (Which I'd never heard of...but wow!)
Everybody working there was engaging, smart, friendly and efficient.

Anyway, I made a rather large haul of classic dresses and shoes; for a fairly moderate investment. Great experience and will return!

Finally, no-one's paying me to say this...though I admit the discounts were so large I feel I've been bribed just a little.

SL

I was a very loyal customer until this week. I ordered a dress online at full price and used a 20% discount coupon from Ann Taylor when checking out. I found the dress advertised a few days later online for over 1/2 off the original price. I requested a price adjustment via the website(the only way to do it with an online purchase). They denied any adjustment because I had used the coupon against the original price. I then called customer service to have them check my AT MC usage and verify that I am a very loyal customer and wasn't there any additional discount they could give me? They were rude and just kept repeating their "policy" and how I had used the 20% discount so I was not eligible for a price adjustment????? I promptly cancelled my account, and they were very rude as well. Could have cared less...unfortunately, I have to find somewhere else to shop now!

Speaking to the people who have worked for Ann Taylor, did you witness or hear of any applicant discrimination because of an applicant's weight? I applied recently to a Loft outlet store and recieved a call about an interview, but I am nervous because of my size. I am overweight(and trying to lose!)but I do not fit into their pants and I'm not sure about their shirts. Do you have any advice

I bought two identical suits at Ann Taylor for interviewing....one black and one charcoal gray. They both came back from the dry cleaners and the black one smelled like it had just been dyed. I tried to wear it but it smelled so bad it gave me a headache. I took it to an upscale dry cleaners thinking maybe I needed to spend more money and it still came back wreaking. I contacted Ann Taylor and they treated me with no respect and offered up no customer service. Basically, they told me I must have ruined the suit and there was nothing they could do. Then they emailed me a "We Appreciate You" 30% off coupon. Are you kidding?? NEVER AGAIN will I buy from Ann Taylor.

I just got fired from Ann Taylor for one reason - I bought my mom a gift card and I got a discount on it because employees get discounts on gift cards and used it while I took her out for a shopping spree. And of course when I used the gift card(100 bucks) I got another discount on all the stuff she bought because I used my employee discount. I HAD NO IDEA that I was NOT SUPPOE TO use my employee discount on my discounted gift card. They did NOT give me a week, not even offered rest of the week, to find another job and the person who called from the corporate, was NOT NICE and just fired me through the phone. I worked there for almost 9 months, worked my ass off, brought in so much money for them. And with one mistake, they fired me. They treat their associates like crap, they say ASSOCIATES FIRST, but its all a lie. They dont care about us, or now them, they only care about the money they make. I will never work for this company again. I worked my ass off to get to a sales lead position and I was a damn good worker too but they want to be assholes, go ahead. They are terrible.

I shop at Loft online and in store all the time. Never have had a major problem with the service or clothing, and I love how they have revamped the entire look of the clothes. Some people have a problem with that,but you have to keep up with the times as far as I am concerned. And I do not understand why people think the quality has gone down, in my opinion the quality has improved. The only store I have a little bit of a problem with is the Poydras St store, the employees there are not the friendliest,or helpful for that matter. I prefer the Lakeside Loft,better service and selection all around. Oh, and if anyone is wondering, my location is New Orleans.

I also worked for ANN TAYLOR as a store manager for almost 3 years, when I first started with the company it was all about associate engagement and creating a great environment for the client and the associates, well that only lasted one year and then they got rid-of the regional manager that had been with the company over 15 years replacing her with some one that did not care one bit about the associates or the culture the company represented, then they restructured districts from 8 stores to 18 giving so much work to district managers that unfortunately great district managers like the one I had quit after 10+years, on the store level they got rid of positions, benefits, and payroll with out concern for the associates or the stores. One day they send a message where it said that stores where going to received phone calls letting them know who was going to loose their jobs (all day long every manager was so stressed not knowing if they were going to have a job or not, it was like waiting to be executed) next thing you know the district manager goes in and with out letting me know she terminated my co-manager. I do not know how a company goes from having such a great heritage and so much respect to the associates and clients, to a company that only concern is profit at any cost, have u heard the term slave driver?? well that should be Ann Taylor new slogan, and please do not get me started on how the quality of the product has change for the worst. I finally woke up one morning and realized I was no longer engage with the company and I could not be there one more second and I quit w/o notice, now I'm happy but I can't help it every time I see an Ann Taylor I suffer from post traumatic stress disorder. LOL

Thank you, thank you, thank you. After reading many of your reviews today, I knew I was not crazy. I used to shop at Ann Taylor and Express. On several recent pricey purchases, the item I bought wrinkled very badly almost before getting it out of the bag. This happened with a $200 suit I bought at Express so I returned it. I then spent many hours shopping for a GOOD QUALITY material suit and thought I had found it at Ann Taylor. I specifically asked the sales person if it was going to wrinkle. She looked at the tag, said it was lightweight wool so it would NOT wrinkle. The suit was $300 but because they got me to sign up for their credit card, I got it for $200. I did not mind paying that for good quality.
WRONG. It wrinkled even WORSE than the one from Express. I started thinking maybe it was me, but after reading your reviews about the quality of clothing now, I marched right back into Ann Taylor and returned yet another suit.

Both of the above-mentioned stores used to have good quality clothes even though they were pricey. I will still buy pants and certain shirts at Express but NOTHING ELSE. I will be very, very careful from now on when I buy any clothes at all.

One should never work for this company!!!! They treat employees like rats! Management is incompetent and unethical. they even ask ILLEGAL INTERVIEW questions about religion and familial status! managers show up hours late , clock in on time, and clock everyone who was on time in at the time that the manager arrived! change schedules at the last min. and claim your late even though you were never told! WTF

The LOFT store located at the Promenade in Coconut Creek, FL, is absolutely the worst store that I have ever been to. This store is closing because of poor store management (who discriminate against people of color) and poor quality clothing; MAINLY POOR MANAGEMENT. I believe they are trying to follow the likes of J. Crew and Banana Republic, but they have obviously failed to even imitate the quality of these stores. In your Florida stores, please hire managers with people skills and business sense (perhaps individuals with college degrees), not someone who only wants to stand there and fold clothes and then gently move around the store, barely mingling with customers, and laying all responsibility on the sales associates to meet your financial goals; GET OFF YOUR HIGH HORSE and actually work - it takes teamwork to meet these goals.



P.S. STOP PUSHING CREDIT CARDS WITH EXTREMELY HIGH APRs, this is the reason many people in THIS RECESSION ARE IN THE POSITIONS THAT THEY ARE IN....STOP CONTRIBUTING TO THE PROBLEM!!!!!!!!!!!

I have been a devoted customer of the store for many years until these past year. I use to have no problem paying a little extra for their products because of their fine quality and classic styles. Their petite line fits me perfectly and Ann Taylor pants were the only pants that I worn. This past year I noticed their styles have changed to too "trendy" and definitly the quality of the material has gone way way down. At the same time, their prices remained high with very few discounts or promotions, even for card memebers. I also noticed that some of their petite tops that use to fit me perfactly, are now cut bigger and looser with sleeve slightly longer. Needless to say, I am shopping more with the other competitor now (the one that starts with "B"). At lease they offer deeper discounts and rewards program for their card memebers as well as pieces that are worth paying a little extra for. I wish there is an effective way to communicate our feedback to the store and let them know they are going down the wrong path.

My friends and I have been loyal Ann Taylor customers for years. In particular we love their Margo & Linsay pants and tops. Then they decided to target a younger customer base and did away with all their staples (like Margo & Lindsay pants). Now they're neither here nor there. The shop no longer appeals to me and my friends nor our daughters. They should have kept some of their old standbys while introducing the 'new look'. We tried to provide feedback to the corporation, but they sure made it difficult. There are no email addresses provided on the company's website and the switchboard operator was totally uncooperative. To not care what your customers think when you're in retail is a huge mistake! We predict Ann Taylor will likely go under if it stays on it's current path, which will be a real shame because it was one of our favorite stores for many years.

I worked for LOFT for 5 years as a STORE MANAGER, was promoted twice and given the opportunity to travel so frequently I was given a corporate credit card. After 5 years of working my fingers to the bone, I am now considered below expectations. Loft doesn’t like reality, in a client service based environment they cut their client service almost in half by drastically cutting the amount of payroll given to stores. I understand that in a tough economy cuts must be made, however they've taken it to a new level. Any feedback that you give is taken as an excuse.

I have no work,life balance and I am fearful of losing my job on a daily basis. I used to love this company but in the last year our new president Mr. Gary Muto has made it clear that many of the more tenured associates no longer fit the Brand image. As a store manager I have been told to have conversations with my associates about how they're dressed, even if they're in dress code they must still appeal to our prospect client. Our prospect client is a client that shops at Urban Outfitters NOT Ann Taylor Loft. They have turned their back on their loyal clients and loyal associates. Good bye twin set, hello skinny jeans! Nothing is ever good enough at Loft, they suck the life out of you. If you are showing positive results, rather than hearing "good job" or "nice work" you hear "why are you only up 2%, we need you to be up 10%" In the last year the pressure that home office has pushed down onto the field has made Loft a HORRIBLE place to work. I am compensated extremely well, but sometimes money isn't everything!!

On one final note, the company Ann Taylor Loft is obsessed with talent. If you do not dress a certain way, or look a certain way, that reflects on you as not being talented and not being a right fit for the brand. I smell a law suit! Also along the lines of talent, my current District Manager is the WORST DM I've ever had in my 14 years of retail. She is unintelligent, incompetent, unprofessional and rude.

ANN TAYLOR LOFT, now known as LOFT has extremly high turnover and it continues to increase. Turnover is a common thing in the world of retail however, I have seen some very high caliber, very talented
Managers, District Managers and associates leave Loft (including myself) due not only to unrealistic expectations but a negative, miserable working environment.

Absolutely horrible customer service.

I was so angry with their customer service. I called their 1800 number, and I complained to them. I was so disgusted with them over the phone, so I cancelled my credit card with them.

Absolutely poor customer service. Clothes are good. Just get their clothes, and try them on before u buy them. Don't bother talking to any of their sales rep or customer service. Do not get the AT master card--USELESS!!
Just get the clothing u like from the store, try it on, and get out.

Shopped in the water tower shop in Chicago. I needed a business classic black suit like dress for work, I walked in and asked the young sales girl if she had anything like this she said yes . We walked over and she showed me the dress . She looked me up and down and said what size do you need I said 8 please . She said ok but I think this is the only dress in the store like this one in your size. I was like what ??? So, I said I thought this store was just for shorter women - she said nothing and walked away. Not even offering to walk me to the direction to the dressing room.
I am not fat but I looked at her and though oh ok she's chubby and needing to feel good about herself. I went to try on the dress - As I thought it fits .
I walk oot and find another on sort of like it on another wall that was cheaper so, I went back into the dressing room to try it on. I went back in and tryed it on I tryed on the other size 8 dress and it fit as well. I walked back out and saw that they were closing . I thought I can't afford both dresses so I put back the last one I just put on. I went over to the counter to pay and the young sales chick goes -So did it fit ? I was like yes, I am buying it right ?? She yells all right and starts clapping.. it was so rude .. Plus I don't get it .. I am curvy but far from fat looking
why is this chick worried I can't fit into an 8 ? An 8 is an average size it's not like I was asking to buy a size 2 dress. Plus I noticed there sizes go up to a 12 -14 - she acted like I needed to find a lane byrant or something . What a stupid bit%&%*h

I was thinking to buy a $8 shirt when I was at the store with my baby daughter in her stroller and she was starting to get fussy. I saw some people in line and hung the garment back, but when the line was getting smaller fast, I decided to take that shirt up to the registry. The lady at the registry was about to leave and saw me coming ( i must have stopped her from taking her lunch break), so she stayed and before she rang me up, she said sarcastically:"wow, that's a big purchase. are you sure you want to buy that?"
I answered "hm, I'm not too sure, let me think about it again". She then said: " I was just joking"

I wasn't struggling about the price, but I was thinking of my daughter's wellbeing.
Besides that, it seemed to me like she was annoyed by me buying a "cheap" garment and not letting her go on her break.

Very inappropriate behavior!

Service could be improved

Regardless of whether I'm purchasing in the store or online. I have to BEG to spend money. They ignore you in the store, and they are rude over the phone. The website doesn't function most of the time, and FORGET returns and exchanges. The service sucks.

What is it like working for Ann Taylor?
I am a sales lead (manager) for Ann Taylor, and I must say it is the best company to work for. It is busy (so you wont get bored). So since no one has given a detailed answer on the work expirence for the company...here it goes! Our main focus is the client. It is our job to ensure that each client knows the promotions. If she has an item in her hand then we have to start a wardrobing room for her. At times this can get a little hecktic if you have several clients in the store. Many of our clients trust us, so we have to put together outfits, make suggestions, and even model the clothes. Yes, you are required to try clothes on while you work (if a client askes how it wears, you are able to be knowledgeable about that piece).
*At the begining of your shift, one of the sales leads will let you know the promotions for that day. You have a pre-set goal in which you have to meet. (a goal for how many sales you make, and how many credit cards you open). The reason you have a goal is beacause the store has to meet the store goal.
*When the client arrives at the desk, she is asked if anyone helped her today, if you helped her then hopefully she says your name. The associate ringing the client out will then enter your ID # so you get credit for that sale. You do not get paid commission for sales in anyway, it only benifits you to meet your sales goal for the day.
*You will be assigned is the following areas...Front of store, Middle of Store, Back of Store, Wardrobing Rooms, Desk (on really busy days), or Manager on Duty (for managers only).
*THIS IS WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO EVERYDAY BEING AN ASSOCIATE= ring clients out (returns or purchases), answer the phone (which rings ALL the time because other stores are checking to see if your has a particular garment for a client), clear the wardrobing rooms of clothes, check on your clients, put clothes back ina neat manner, continually straighten up the store so it looks nice.
Now if your are wondering what it is like to be a sales lead...sorry It was WAY to much to write. The associates have it pretty easy.

LOVE that they still have petities. Their clothes are a little "old" for me. (I am in my 20s) but I still find a few things I like there. Mostly I go there for work pants because their clothes cater to a woman with a curvy figure. I am normally a size 4/6 but I have hips! I definitely prefer Ann Taylor Loft though; it is trendier and cheaper.

I like Ann Taylor clothes for work because it's not too sexy but not too boring and they have petites..which is a blessing for me.. Big Problem though...THEY SHRINK...I have lost sooo much money on this issue it's not funny..I even stopped drying them on the machine...and they still shrink! Also, the pants and hems always break...it's ;ousy workmanship...for a $80 pant, to have only one round of thread on the hem its absurd...I wish they would do something about it...

Beautiful classic pieces but no "spice" and is a really dull place to work.

I received an Ann Taylor necklace as a gift that wasn't my style. The tag was attached, and my friend even gave me the original receipt so I could take it back to exchange for something else. I couldn't believe the attitude of the sales clerk (or manager - I'm not sure of her title). She looked at the necklace and said, "that is a really old style - maybe your friend switched the tags and put it on this necklace." The date on the receipt was from the end of June 2008 (and it's now August 2008, so it's not that old). She acted like it was from years ago. It wasn't until she looked up the necklace in their jewelry book that they had behind the counter and saw that the necklace tag matched the style listed in her book, did she accomodate me to do the exchange. This Ann Taylor associate has absolutely no people skills and is very rude. Besides the slightly unpleasant experience, I looked around the store and I agree with alot of the other comments - the clothes are cheap quality for what they are charging for them.

The hems on the pants fall down. Clothes have become very CHEAP - not worth the price they charge. I have seen better made clothes at Walmart. Buttons fall off, hems fall down and color fades. So a women feels good she can wear a smaller size - that is about it....the quality has gone down in my opinion. Cheap clothes. Check the tags...clothes NOT made in the USA. Read in forums that they treat employees crapy. Vermont has some quality products (seen in Marshalls) made in the USA - speciality shops sell them too. I don't shop at Ann Taylor-LOFT anymore - clothes I bought there did not last a year - some just fell apart after being washed or never made it to get dry cleaned. CHEAP clothes.

I love Ann Taylor clothes. The comments about the sizes make me laugh. I am a black woman and I always had a hard time in life finding pants which gave me room for my booty. I have a very small waist but I am blessed with Hips and Booty. Yet I wear the same size at Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, Victoria Secret, NY & Co., White House Black Market, Cold Water Creek, J.Jill, Bloomingdales and Macy's. I wear a 8 or a 10 in pants in all these places. There has never been a time that I wear an 8 at Ann Taylor and needed a 12 at another store. Now, if I go to a store which has only straight leg or slim in the hips clothes then I'd have to wear size larger. So maybe you guys who think the Ann Taylor clothes are too big either #1- shop usually at cheap stores ie..Walmart, or #2- you don't have much booty and hips. It's just a thought. Thank God designers are allowing for some curves these days. Ann Taylor's Audrey fit does run much smaller as it is geared to women with a straighter figure.

Every year my father gives me a $100 gift card to Ann Taylor for my birthday.  Guess what: my closet has almost nothing from Ann Taylor because it just doesn't last, shrinks, fall apart, whatever.

its k ill wair it if i have to look respectable lol

Probably high quality...?

i got stuff from there, but not too often...

again , what s ann taylor

donno.

samsmom01: I had the EXACT same problem with an item that I just ordered. They wanted to have me dispute the charges with my bank and pay full price for replacements. After many, many days of repeated calls I was able to get 30% discount on my items. I spoke with Operations Manager Rebecca Widner 801-736-3828. Hope this helps.

I usually don't like the kind of women who shopped at Ann Taylor, usually sorority types. Now I have something more substantive to fuel my dislike: the fact that they pay their Chinese workers more poorly than almost every other manufacturer, just 14 cents an hour, while tying them to their looms for an unequalled 96 hours a week!

Clothes are really getting cheap and customer service sucks. I ordered something and they said on web site that DHL was delivering, while phone system said USPS was delivering and it never arrived. I was told that I would have to dispute it through my credit card. Why not just ship me another one and eat the cost and go to DHL and work it out with them? No, they penalize their customer instead. Well, I am no longer a custoemr.

I shop a LOT at Ann Taylor Loft because I am very petite. Recently, I bought a trench coat online(cost me 100 bucks!). I wore it twice and the buttons started falling off. I lost one but luckily the other one came off in my hand while I was buttoning it. I complained to customer service. Got a reply saying - "We have not received any quality issues regarding this item".

So what was my mail to them - a bunch of roses? Is there a minimum number of customers who should complain before they take it seriously? If that is the case, then it is really dumb. How can a company care about a group of 5 customers and not an individual one?

I bought some sale items and was never told they were "final sale" items, and now can't return them. I was supposed to know, how? I will NEVER shop at Ann Taylor Loft again. It sounds like a class action lawsuit waiting to happen. I think I will contact one of those law firms.

I used to buy frequently from AT until almost all of my sweaters and jewelry were falling apart! Don't ever buy a piece of jewelry there! I also bought a dress and get it dry cleaned and the dress shrunk in places and the dry cleaners said they have seen that happen to AT clothing, but nothing else. However, the pants and skirts are pretty good. Just don't buy any jewelry or sweaters!

i am working at Ann Taylor and i can tell you that it is such good company to work at. It has to do a lot that managers there are awesome as well as the associates !!!! . I am having a blast.
best job ever !!!!!

How is it working at Ann Taylor? What's the salary of a store manager? Any comments...? Thanks.

Too bad their customer service and business attitudes are so bad. I have moved to Canada but have US credit cards; when I tried to have some items shipped to a friend in US as gift; even with a US credit card, they won't sell because the billing address is not in US. Certainly no help from the sales associate on the phone. I won't be buying from AT again and my friends who rely on AT on their trips "south of the border" will hear about it too.

Can anyone comment on their experience working for Ann Taylor? What did you enjoy most about working there? What did you enjoy the least? What is the Company's overall emphasis placed on?

I love their petites selection.  One of the few stores that actually has pants that fit me (5'0 and 100 lbs).  Compared to the few other stores that do (Express and the Limited), Ann Taylor's prices are better.  I bought my first suit here and I love the way it fits.  Saleswomen were very helpful.

I agree about the sizing comment. I just bought a size 4 jacket and size 6 pants. Now, having lost some weight, I'm proud that I've dropped sized, but c'mon - I weigh like 145 and have wide hips. A six??? Poor girl buying her first suit in the next room - a size 0 was hanging off her. She was small - but what is AT going to do? Maybe they should start making negative sizes...

Beware, if you buy something and wash it and it falls apart in the wash, you can not get your money back, only store credit. I complained to corporate who said I should get my money back, only to go to the store and have the manager give me a major attitude because she claimed she was following the handbook in only giving me store credit. She claimed they stand behind their goods - that's crap, it isn't standing behind your goods, it's pushing the burden onto another item of clothing. They've lost my business for good. Employees need major de-snobbing.

I shopped at this store recently and purchased several outfits to wear to work, things that I could mix and match and wear relatively often but are generic enough that no one would notice. The look I am going for is sharp and professional. Since beginning working at a professional office, I realize the need to buy more staple type items and less attention-getting "trendy" clothes. I am not talking boring clothing, but if you buy the right thing, you should blend in with everyone else at work and not be noticed for something inappropriate. Anyway my point is AT offers these options. Most of my purchases were basic items like a black skirt, white shirt, and shirts of different colors to wear with basic pants or to switch around with a suit, as well as a pin stripe suit, suits of conservative colors, and a white suit for spring. It does sound boring, but when I get dressed for work now, I do not worry about whether or not I look fine. It is kind of status quo-mainstream stuff, which is troubling, but you can always differentiate by accessorizing. What is good is AT provided me with a variety of the things I needed. The garment quality is good. I used to shop at Casual Corner. CC offered garments of similar quality (and price) to AT but I think the clothes are better at AT, as far as fit and detail. I would not purchase any after-work or casual items at AT. The things are overpriced, like camisoles or jeans. I would also not purchase any "trendy" type of outfits here, like tweed suits or suits with odd patterns or colors, which do pop up there on occasion. I did try on some Jackie-O style tweed suits but they were ill fitting on me, and I'd probably end up wearing them only once. I would not purchase shoes or jewelry here, because I suspect that the quality is not properly matched with the price. My biggest problem with the store is that they do not offer enough of my size. This is a double edged sword; while it would be good that not every size 0-2 (depending on the garment) is wearing the same outfit I bought, getting there last to discover a wonderful blazer is missing it's equally awesome counterpart is disappointing. And the sales girls offered to call other stores, but I wasn't in the mood to travel across the city for a pair of pants. Another slight problem is that I see other girls at work wearing suits that look very AT like, but you can probably get a nice suit at a department store or other retailer, and they'll pretty much look the same. Because AT offers so many classic looks you are bound to see other people with similar outfits, and if you are dressed appropriately you will blend in with everyone else, and your outfits won't be memorable; on a daily basis no one will remember what you wore on Monday vs. Friday. It sounds horrible to be so main stream but work is not a fashion show, although sometimes it seems like the eager youngsters are always trying to one up each other with their attire. If I had the money I would have purchased suits at an upscale department store known for designer brands and high quality. But I don't make that kind of money yet. While AT is definitely pricey, it is not designer pricey, and any woman who is working a decent job can afford to buy a few things here; actually she can't afford not to go here, lest she risk looking like a slob or a tart at the office and lose her job or career momentum. Overall if you are looking for basic career wear, this is the place to go, although you can expect to spend a pretty penny. I spent about a month's net salary on several outfits, but they will carry me far into this year and next. Most of the shirts I purchased on sale for $30, which to me is about right for a nice blouse, however normal price was $58 to $78 dollars, laughable for a basic blouse. Unless it has incredible detailing or is made out of luxury material, I'd rather buy the shirts on sale. However you can find some nice things in the sales racks, but usually what is left are the larger sizes, which is good if you are a larger size. Another store besides CC where I used to shop is Banana Republic. I purchased several things there and I have to say I am already finding more favor with my AT career wear than with the BR. The BR "suits" seem to be made of more casual material and the clothing styles and colors are so bland, and white bread, I am regretful to have purchased anything there at all. However, in comparison, AT offered a variety of different outfits and separates that were conservative, not as boring, and much classier and dressier than a similar outfit at BR. In the past, I regretfully purchased items at AT Loft, thinking the quality would be there. The clothes there are so drab and do not hold a fraction of the class and tailored look that the regular AT offers. AT Loft may be ok for casual outings but in my opinion, not for work. Well that's my opinion, take it or leave it.

Most shoes are made in Brazil, NOT Italy. They have really decreased the quality over the years. They USED to be made in Italy, but seriously, check it out, None to Almost almost none are made there now. Pants are just okay. No more pockets. Silk sweaters are no longer 100% silk, they are rayon mixes, which is cheaper to make, but they still charge and arm and a leg. Most recently, email coupons are only online, which helps no one who likes to actually shop in the store to feel and see the products in person.

Ann Taylor's once "very good" quality and stylishness has diminished over the years. I find many of the clothes to be very commercial-looking; not very interesting. Also, AT makes generous use of synthetic fabrics; not the most comfortable or durable fabrics. The sizes are not "true" sizes. I usually wear a size smaller at Ann Taylor than at other stores. In regard to clothing: once in a blue moon I will find something I really like. The shoes tend to be rather nice, 'though not as nice as the Joan and David they used to carry. The hair accessories are overpriced. The jewelry is overpriced as well. I will browse here from time to time, but usually find this store to be rather boring. Ho-hum...yawn.

Ann Taylor's once "very good" quality and stylishness has diminished over the years. I find many of the clothes to be very commercial-looking; not very interesting. Also, AT makes generous use of synthetic fabrics; not the most comfortable or durable fabrics. The sizes are not "true" sizes. I usually wear a size smaller at Ann Taylor than at other stores. In regard to clothing: once in a blue moon I will find something I really like. The shoes tend to be rather nice, 'though not as nice as the Joan and David they used to carry. The hair accessories are overpriced. The jewelry is overpriced as well. I will browse here from time to time, but usually find this store to be rather boring. Ho-hum...yawn.

I used to buy all of my business suits at Ann Taylor Loft - the biggest advantage was the ability to buy a jacket and skirt or pants separately (sizing of the bottom half always seems too small). Lately I have noticed that the selection of suits for each season has gotten smaller and of the ones that are offered, many are made to fit only petite women (ex: one-button jackets with puffed sleeves that look horrible on anyone over with wider shoulders and a larger chest.) I can no longer find nice, classic looks in rich fabrics that have a decent fit. The quality seems to have declined as well - most pants lose the bottom hem within weeks and need to be repaired. No longer worth the price.