Ann Taylor Is 50% Off — Even New Arrivals! (Sponsored)
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Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Ann Taylor, but written by your usual friendly blogger Kat.
Oooh: Ann Taylor is having its sale of the season, with 50% off almost everything, and even new arrivals are included. I'm loving all the fall colors and textures I'm seeing, like this absolutely stunning lace vine print shell (pictured at top), which comes down to $49(!) in the sale. In addition to all of the great on-trend, season-specific pieces, some of my favorites are some of the simpler, more basic pieces that add polish and sophistication to every working woman's wardrobe. Some of my favorites, below:
 No matter how casual or conservative your office, elevated basics like this have a place in every polished professional's wardrobe. This machine washable pleat top is as easy to wear as a long-sleeve tee, but has a bit more style with the pleated side, as well as the keyhole detail in the back. I love this aubergine color, but it also comes in black and white; in the 50% off sale it comes down to $24.50 from $49.50. (This dropped waist shell is similar and under $20!) Pictured: Crepe Side Pleat Top |
 Ooh: another basic where Ann Taylor hits it out of the park. This mixed media pleat blouse is easy to wear with skirts, trousers, ankle pants — beneath blazers and cardigans or by itself — with all sorts of necklaces (long, short, delicate, statement). I love the pleated sleeves, the fact that it's machine washable, and the fact that it comes in black and winter white for $29.75 (down from $59.50. Mixed Media Pleat Sleeve Top |
 This vine print (color: “Molten Lava”) is one of their new “of the moment” prints, and even though orange isn't usually my thing, I must say I love the print, as well as the other details about the blouse — the slight bell sleeves, the covered placket, the shirred shoulder seams and back yoke — gorgeous. It's available in regular and petite sizes XXS-XXL, is machine washable, and at full price is $69.50 — in the sale it comes down to $34.75. (The print comes in other versions — love this topper, lace peplum shell (pictured at top), and this sweater — and if you like the shape of the pictured blouse but NOT the print, it also comes in solid versions.) Pictured: Vine V-Neck Blouse |
 I always love a good merino wool sweater for warmth and durability — and because they're generally thinner than cotton or cashmere sweaters, I often find them easier for layering beneath blazers. (This one is hand washable, also.) This cowl neck sweater looks like a great workhorse to keep in your closet for years to come — it's available in five colors, regular and petite sizes, and comes down to $39.75 in the sale ($79.50 full price). Merino Wool Cowl Neck Sweater |
 Ann Taylor, of course, has a ton of great sheath dresses right now — it's hard to choose which one I like the best. (Other favorites: this faux wrap dress, this tropical wool dress, this flounce dress, and this spotted jacquard sheath dress.) This dark olive sheath dress (it also comes in navy) looks fabulous for work and beyond — the split neck is flattering without adding exposure, and I always like a waist that sits slightly higher, like this one. It's $139 full price, but comes down to $69.50 in the sale. Doubleweave Split Neck Sheath Dress |
 We all know I love a good strappy pump, and the scalloped edges on these suede Mary Jane pumps really take these to the next level — love. In addition to black, they come in a hunter green and a burgundy, available in sizes 5-11, for $148 full price; with the sale they come to $74, available exclusively online. (If you're looking for a pointy toe block heel, do check out these metal heel pumps.) Pictured: Alissa Suede Mary Jane Pumps |
Ladies, which are your favorites from the big Ann Taylor sale? Have you gotten any amazing pieces from the brand lately?
Thank you so much to Ann Taylor for sponsoring this post!
(L-all)
Ann Taylor is 50% off? So in other words, it’s a day that ends in “y”?
Also, if even new arrivals are 50% off, that means they priced them twice what was reasonable to begin with.
Agreed.
AT’s colors often seem mumsy to me, too. They need to poach some people from JCrew. For all the quality issues that crop up at JCrew, at least they get their colors right.
The colors are horrible– always muted burgundy that’s too light, pale pink peach that’s just horrible. And the prints are gross, like ugly plants usually. You walk into the store and everything looks too big, like it’s not tailored right, and very polyestery.
Ann Taylor looks so cheap nowadays. Used to be a lot better.
They are cheap. It’s all that polyester garbage they use now.
I’m so tired of stores with regular 50-60% off sales.
I am too. And I’m frugal. But it’s to the point where I realize I get what I’m paying for, and I’d rather pay $100 for a skirt that is actually well made than $50 for a “$100” skirt that retailers intend to immediately mark down 50% because its a piece of junk. This started happening during the recession, and stores have never come back from it.
I could soapbox about this all day, but I have Ann Taylor things from 10 years ago that look nicer than the brand new clothes they have in their stores now. Heck, I have two gorgeous lined 100% wool skirts from LOFT from 10 years ago that are nicer than anything AT has had since the recession. It makes me so sad. Also it makes me shop at Brooks Brothers instead. I haven’t bought anything from AT in years, since the last pair of pants I bought there fell apart within four wears.
+ a million
Same with J Crew. I appreciate that they seem to have learned that no one wants to pay $400 for a lime green sequined tank top or whatever, but they (somehow!?) don’t appear to have figured out that terrible quality is also a problem. I’m so over it. Every time I see a $79 polyester “shell” at AT I want to scream.
And Banana Republic too. I’m so sick of seeing them charge ridiculous amounts for garbage polyester. There is a reason H&M and F21 are successful. They know they sell disposable clothes and price them as such. Banana, JCrew, and AT thought they could do the same but with higher price points. It’s no wonder their sales have all been terrible the last few years. I’ve started emailing them in hopes something will change but I doubt it will. The CEO’s tend to blame the weather or something equally ridiculous.
Where do women shop for quality clothes that are similar to the way these three stores used to be? I hear so many people talk about Everlane but everything looks ill fitting and boxy on their models.
And yet free ship is so much more elusive…
Also this sale excludes anything remotely appealing. I added a new style suit to my cart and it said it was exempt from the sale. Thanks, AT. I’d like that 15 minutes of my life back.
I have a white work dress that has a large yellowish stain on it. Would it be possible to bleach that stain since the dress is white anyway so I wouldn’t be lifting color off anyways? COuld also try to dry clean it but I know I’ve dry cleaned it before so I’m wondering if that’s where the stain came from.
What is the dress made of? And what is the nature of the stain?
The reason I ask is because bleach could be too harsh on some fabrics or could intensify the yellow on certain stains (like underarm stains). I second oxiclean.
Oxiclean! Make a thick paste with the powder and a water, let it sit for a few hours, then wash it.
Everyone time I’ve used oxiclean (the stick version), it’s eaten at the fabric enough that it looks like there is a spot. It took me awhile to figure out the stainstick was the culprit and I had to get rid of several shirts. No oxiclean for me ever again.
Question: Can anyone tell me when the law market got hit? Was it associated with the economic downturn of 2008/2009 or was it slightly earlier? Or not related to that event at all?
Yup. Same. Related.
Fall of 2008 right after the crash was when layoffs started and they continued through 2009. By 2010 firms were done laying people off for the most part but hiring was slow to pick up again for several years and many firms have not gone back to pre-2008 levels.
Just out of curiosity, why the question? Are you looking at a resume with a gap?
Essentially yes, looking at someone’s overall background with gap both in their work and public life gap. Thanks everyone for the confirmation!
It started to become overt fall of 2008. The blog Above the Law started identifying mass stealth firings I think early that year, in big law. They were noting a trend of many people receiving poor reviews that formed the basis for letting large numbers of people go. Then it trickled down from big law.
Yeah, not to Canada as usual. SMH.
Right? I had items in my cart all ready to order and then realized I couldn’t. I love Ann Taylor but sticking with Banana where I can actually take part in sales.
Yeah, that sheath dress is $191 Canadian.
Um, no. Not for Anne Taylor quality.
+1 I’ll pass on this one too.
Any other plus size posters refuse to purchase shoes or accessories from a company that doesn’t carry plus sizes? I like the shoes, but I’m a solid 18W/1X top (or dress, if it accommodates the junk in the trunk) and 20W bottom. The 18 straight sizing won’t fit me. Not gonna get the shoes if I can’t wear the clothes. Le sigh.
I have honestly never thought about it like that… I buy what I like when I find it, so if I loved the shoes it might feel a bit like hurting myself further.
No, because I feel like my choices are so limited anyway. But I understand the desire to do so.
I was a 16/18W for about a decade and I absolutely understand where you’re coming from. It’s frustrating to go into a popular store and realize you can only shop the earrings and maybe–if you’re lucky–a generously cut sweater or a zip up hoodie.
A natural consequence of selling only to straight-size women is that their sales market shrinks to only straight size women. If I can’t wear the clothes, I stop thinking about the store at all and pass it by like I’d skip Gymboree or Master Cuts. It’s not one of MY stores so it just ceases to exist to me.
I have been a frequent Ann Taylor shopper in the past and own many items from them. However, I haven’t seen anything in the last six months I’m even interested in trying on. None of their prints, colors, or shapes (hi, midi skirts that don’t work on petites) have been at all appealing, and all of their basic stuff seems so boring. I hope they turn things around next year.
Wish list from Ann Taylor– dresses with sleeves that aren’t black and aren’t f’ing “fit and flare” and/or midi length. Blouses that aren’t basic and don’t have 10 inches of extra fabric around the waist even in the smallest sizes. Suits and blazers in other than black, gray, and fugly colors of khaki. Sweaters that don’t feel like they’re made of woven plastic.
I have this dress in both colors and really love it.
Whoops, forgot the link http://www.anntaylor.com/ponte-v-back-sheath-dress/419034?skuId=21690099&defaultColor=5553&colorExplode=true&catid=cata000012
+1 to interesting suits! I would stop shopping at Ann except the suiting fits me really well, and when it goes on sale (which is rarely) it’s pretty affordable.
Seriously. I know fit and flare works well for some body types but if I wear that ish I look like a school girl on a field trip instead of a lawyer. Completely useless. Also, where exactly am I supposed to put all of that extra shirt??? AT used to be the fancy store where I could get work clothes that would be pricey but knew would last, or special occasion dresses. That blue tweed dress they have now is gorgeous but I’m sure is not high enough quality to merit costing $180.
I think I labor under the delusion that some AT market researcher will read these comments……
I just got the merino cowl neck in hunter green and like it (although I may have to figure out a taping/pinning arrangement; I had to adjust it a couple of times during the day to avoid cleavage showing, although that may not be an issue for less busty types than me). The knit is soft and the quality seems good. Not $79.50 good, but of course there also was a 50% off sale when I bought it two weeks ago . . .
I also like the rib knit merino cardigan, which I also got in hunter, thinking of trying other colors. (But, yeah, I wish AT was better with color.) It is a good length to wear with sheath dresses, the ribbing dresses it up a bit and it is soft and comfortable.
Why are all women’s tops made of rayon/modal/viscose or poly now a days? I dislike rayon with passion now. It drapes well initially, but stretches out within a year, pills, develops holes, and in generally doesn’t wash well. Plus all rayon shirts are non-machine dryable, and some not even machine washable. I don’t have time to hand wash items after every wear.
Put simply: garbage fabric is cheaper than quality fabric.
I agree it’s so hard to find quality fabrics these days. For some reason AT, Banana, and JCrew all think we’ll pay the same price for an acrylic sweater as we would for cashmere or merino. It’s insulting.
At least with sweaters I wear something under them, and don’t wash them often. But hand washing or line drying multiple shirts every wash?! I don’t have space (shower rod is not that long) or time for that! I was scared of wool sweaters for a while, but after I discovered Eucalan, I prefer them now. Washing them is actually so easy now. I still avoid cashmere though, I don’t have time to take cashmere stuff to get dry cleaned, and I am clumsy and tend to spill sticky liquids on there that really require water to get out.