Anyone Shop/Love Ann Taylor?

[Irishgal]

Ann Taylor -- Sizing runs huge and a bit too conservative for me.

OK, so it is not just me who is having problems with the sizing? I usually wear a 4 suit at AT, then it became a 2, but the pants have a ton of extra room in the butt and thigh area. I asked the SA and she said (and I quote) "women who have saddlebags or wide hips or are heavy want to think they are a small size so AT started making the sizes bigger to fool the fatter women".

 

[Janos614]

^

That's good to know. Half my closet is from AT/ATL. I started adding to it slowly about 5 years ago, when I first started working, and I update it every season. It's great for basics and beyond!

 

[Prada Psycho]

I asked the SA and she said (and I quote) "women who have saddlebags or wide hips or are heavy want to think they are a small size so AT started making the sizes bigger to fool the fatter women".

"Fatter" Gee thanks, you tactless SA!

Just goes to show that the line from The Devil Wears Prada is true: "Size 14 is the new size 8." (or something to that effect)

AKA: vanity sizing. Just goes to prove how true it is that you should only buy clothes that fit and ignore the size tag.

 

[couturequeen]

OK, so it is not just me who is having problems with the sizing? I usually wear a 4 suit at AT, then it became a 2, but the pants have a ton of extra room in the butt and thigh area. I asked the SA and she said (and I quote) "women who have saddlebags or wide hips or are heavy want to think they are a small size so AT started making the sizes bigger to fool the fatter women".

Thanks, that definitely explains the issue for me. I like Ann Taylor and Loft stuff, but I have to try on everything because I"m never sure how it will fit.

 

[boobeary]

Ann Taylor is a great standby store that has come out with some more trendy pieces at great prices (like BR). I haven't shopped there recently, but the outlet prices are awesome. I have lots of AT stuff for work.
I don't like the Loft as much, I feel like it looks a little cheaper.

 

[BagLuver]

I love AT! Their clothes fit me so well, and I love their classic styles.

 

[MeriCherie]

I love A.T and anntaylor loft has great cheap things too!

 

[habanerita]

I use to love AT years ago, but in the last few years found their clothes a little unimaginative, too conservative and boring....staples like their Tshirts, knit tops are always good, sunglasses are quite a buy, the rest is not that appealing to me anymore.

 

[Couturegrl]

I love Ann Taylor and Ann Taylor loft!!!

 

[samhainophobia]

Bumping the ancient Ann Taylor thread -- we have ATL and Anthro and J. Crew threads, so why not?

Couple of things:

1. Extra 25% off sale items with code SALE25 today! (No FS, unfortunately. Boo.) There's a crapton of stuff in the sale section -- regular, petite, bags, shoes. I got:
~ Silk Sleeveless Ruffle Shell in "Walrus" (actually a gorgeous taupe) -- http://www.anntaylor.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=23338&viewAll=true&Ns=SALE_SEQUENCE_NO&categoryId=3944&Nr=AND(CAT_SALE_FLAG:Y)&loc=TN&N=1200040&defaultColor=Walrus&defaultSizeType=Regular
~ Cut-In Ruffle Shell in "Soft Ribbon" -- http://www.anntaylor.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=23774&N=1200041&categoryId=341&pCategoryId=3944&Ns=CATEGORY_SEQ_341&Nr=AND%28CAT_SALE_FLAG%3aY%29&Nty=1&No=14&loc=TN&defaultColor=Soft%20Ribbon&defaultSizeType=Regular
~ Mixed Media pencil skirt (black) -- http://www.anntaylor.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=23928&Nr=AND(CAT_SALE_FLAG:Y)&N=1200046&pCategoryId=3944&categoryId=343&Ns=CATEGORY_SEQ_343&loc=TN&defaultColor=Black&defaultSizeType=Regular

2. Wanted to review the cardi I'm wearing today, because although I really like it, it looks a lot different than I expected.

My OOTD, with Ann Taylor Open Front Cardigan with Ruffle Trim:
http://www.polyvore.com/ootd_april_2010/set?id=17592111

Cardigan, now avail. in L and XL in Winter White -- http://www.anntaylor.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=24497&N=1200006&pCategoryId=3939&categoryId=181&Ns=CATEGORY_SEQ_181&loc=TN&defaultColor=Winter%20White&defaultSizeType=Regular

Petite cardigan, avail. in L and XL in all colors (gray, turquoise, navy, and winter white) -- http://www.anntaylor.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=24508&N=0&Ntk=KeywordSearch&Ntt=ruffle&Nty=1&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&found=63&gridSize=sm&showAll=true&defaultSizeType=Petite

Review: I really like this cardi a lot, but it 's much more casual than what I was expecting from the picture. The stock photo of the gray, in particular (http://anntaylor2.richfx.com.edgesuite.net/image/media/236230_7639_Z2/FirstFrame.jpg), looks very stylized while IRL the ruffles are very floppy and look much more like something that you would throw on with jeans and a tank top on the weekend. The fabric is lovely (it's incredibly soft and very lightweight -- a great spring/summerweight piece). It's whisper-light, very comfortable, and IMO very cute on. I got it on sale for 30% off, and probably would not have wanted to pay any more than that -- certainly not $88.

I have a couple other items that I received recently (Shadow Floral Silk Skirt -- http://www.anntaylor.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=24603&N=1200010&pCategoryId=3939&categoryId=185&Ns=CATEGORY_SEQ_185&loc=TN&defaultColor=Dark%20Navy&defaultSizeType=Regular and Charmeuse Neck Tank -- http://www.anntaylor.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=24749&N=1200005&categoryId=183&pCategoryId=3939&Ns=CATEGORY_SEQ_183&Nty=1&No=14&loc=TN&defaultColor=Starry%20Sky&defaultSizeType=Regular) that I'll review as I get to trying them on and/or wearing them, and I'll review my sale order when it comes in!

 

[DC-Cutie]

I'm all Ann Taylor'd out today. Will post a pic later...

I have to admit, I only shop AT when there is 40% EVERTYHING. Like they had this weekend! I got a lot of new work pieces.

 

[GirlieShoppe]

I used to LOVE Ann Taylor, but to me it seems like the quality of their clothing has gone way downhill over the past few years. Also, the styles have gotten overly trendy IMO. They used to be great for classic & conservative, yet cute & stylish clothes. I recently tried on several pieces and couldn't find anything that looked right on me. I hate to admit this, but I think I'm just getting too old for AT.

 

[DC-Cutie]

I used to LOVE Ann Taylor, but to me it seems like the quality of their clothing has gone way downhill over the past few years. Also, the styles have gotten overly trendy IMO. They used to be great for classic & conservative, yet cute & stylish clothes. I recently tried on several pieces and couldn't find anything that looked right on me. I hate to admit this, but I think I'm just getting too old for AT.

trendy? really?

 

[GirlieShoppe]

^^The items I saw in my store were pretty trendy. Not as trendy as stores like H&M, but definitely not as classic/conservative as they've been in the past (no offense at all to anyone who loves the brand). That isn't necessarily bad, I just can't find anything that works for me any more.

 

[ahpeste]

The only thing I dont like about Ann Taylor is most of their clothes has to be dry cleaned...it cost too much when you have a lot lol. But still, it wouldnt stop me from buying their lovely clothes.