TAYLOR ANN STORES CORP
10-K, 1999-03-29
WOMEN'S CLOTHING STORES
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                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            Washington, D.C. 20549

                                  FORM 10-K
                                  ---------
(Mark One)

[X} ANNUAL REPORT  PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES  EXCHANGE
    ACT OF 1934.

                  For the fiscal year ended January 30, 1999
                                      OR
[_] TRANSITION  REPORT  PURSUANT  TO  SECTION  13 OR 15(d)  OF THE  SECURITIES
    EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.

                         Commission File No. 1-10738

                         ANNTAYLOR STORES CORPORATION
                         ----------------------------
            (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

        DELAWARE                                       13-3499319
(State or other jurisdiction of          (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
incorporation or organization)

142 West 57th Street, New York, NY                        10019
  (Address of principal executive offices)             (Zip Code)

                                (212) 541-3300
             (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

         SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(B) OF THE ACT:

   Title of Each Class               Name of each exchange on which registered
      COMMON STOCK,                         THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE
    $.0068 PAR VALUE

      Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None.

      Indicate  by check  mark  whether  registrant  (1) has filed  all  reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of
1934  during  the  preceding  12 months  (or for such  shorter  period  that the
registrant was required to file such reports),  and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes |X| No _____.

      Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item
405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the
best of registrant's  knowledge,  in definitive proxy or information  statements
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this
Form 10-K. Yes |X]. No_____ .

      The  aggregate  market  value of the  registrant's  voting  stock  held by
non-affiliates of the registrant as of February 26, 1999 was $912,348,697.

      The number of shares of the  registrant's  Common Stock  outstanding as of
February 26, 1999 was 26,007,152.

                     DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE:

                                       None.





- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------



<PAGE>



                                        PART I



ITEM 1.   BUSINESS

GENERAL

      AnnTaylor Stores  Corporation  (the  "Company"),  through its wholly owned
subsidiary  AnnTaylor,  Inc. ("Ann  Taylor"),  is a leading  national  specialty
retailer of better quality women's apparel, shoes and accessories sold primarily
under the Ann Taylor  brand name.  The Company  believes  that "Ann Taylor" is a
highly recognized  national brand that defines a distinct fashion point of view.
Ann Taylor  merchandise  represents  classic styles,  updated to reflect current
fashion  trends.  The  Company's  stores offer a full range of career and casual
separates,  weekend wear, dresses, tops,  accessories and shoes,  coordinated as
part  of  a  total  wardrobing  strategy.  This  total  wardrobing  strategy  is
reinforced by an emphasis on customer  service.  Ann Taylor sales associates are
trained to assist customers in merchandise selection and wardrobe  coordination,
helping  them  achieve the "Ann Taylor  look" while  reflecting  the  customers'
personal styles.

      As of January 30, 1999,  the Company  operated 365 stores in 41 states and
the District of Columbia,  under the names Ann Taylor,  Ann Taylor Factory Store
and Ann Taylor  Loft.  Of the 306  stores  operated  under the Ann Taylor  name,
approximately three-quarters are located in regional malls and upscale specialty
retail  centers,  with the balance  located in downtown  and village  locations.
These stores represent the Company's core merchandise line. The Company believes
that  the  customer  base  for its  Ann  Taylor  stores  consists  primarily  of
relatively affluent, fashion-conscious women from the ages of 25 to 55, and that
the majority of its customers  are working women with limited time to shop,  who
are attracted to Ann Taylor by its focused  merchandising  and total  wardrobing
strategies, personalized customer service, efficient store layouts and continual
flow of new merchandise.

      As of January 30,  1999,  the Company  operated 46 Ann Taylor Loft stores.
Ann Taylor Loft is a separate  moderate-price store for women who appreciate the
Ann Taylor style but are more cost conscious.  Merchandise is designed  uniquely
for these  stores and is sold under the Ann Taylor Loft  label.  The first 30 of
the  Company's  Ann Taylor Loft stores were located in factory  outlet  centers,
including some Ann Taylor  Factory Stores that, in 1996,  were converted to Loft
stores after the  introduction of the Loft concept.  In 1998, the Company opened
its  first  16  Ann  Taylor  Loft  stores  outside  the  factory  outlet  center
environment,  primarily in regional malls and strip shopping  centers focused on
the  moderate-priced   consumer.   Management  believes  that  Ann  Taylor  Loft
represents  a  significant  opportunity  for  the  Company  to  compete  in  the
moderately-priced   women's   apparel   market.   See  "Stores  and  Expansion",
"Competition" and "Management's  Discussion and Analysis of Financial  Condition
and Results of Operations - Statement  Regarding  Forward  Looking  Disclosures"
below.

      The Company also operates 13 Ann Taylor  Factory  stores in factory outlet
centers that serve  primarily as a clearance  vehicle for  merchandise  from Ann
Taylor stores.  Many of these stores also offer a limited  selection of original
priced Ann Taylor Loft merchandise.

     The  Company  was  incorporated  under the laws of the state of Delaware in
1988 under the name  AnnTaylor  Holdings,  Inc. The Company  changed its name to
AnnTaylor  Stores  Corporation  in April  1991.  The  Company  was formed at the
direction of Merrill Lynch Capital  Partners,  Inc. ("ML Capital  Partners"),  a
wholly owned subsidiary of Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. ("ML&Co"),  for the purpose
of acquiring Ann Taylor in a leveraged buyout transaction (the "Acquisition") in
1989. The Company  completed an initial  public  offering of its common stock in
May 1991.  Over the past several years,  the aggregate  amount of Company common
stock  beneficially owned by ML Capital Partners and certain other affiliates of
ML&Co. (collectively, the "ML Entities"), has decreased, from 11,473,452 shares,
or  approximately  57% of the Company's  outstanding  common stock,  as of April
1992, to 1,733,628 shares, or approximately  6.7%, of the Company's  outstanding
common stock, as of February 12, 1999. The ML Entities have two designees on the
Company's  Board of  Directors  and,  therefore,  are in a position to influence
management of the Company. On March 25, 1999, ML Capital Partners orally advised
the Company that the ML Entities had sold all of these shares in March 1999.

      Unless the  context  indicates  otherwise,  all  references  herein to the
Company  include the Company,  its wholly owned  subsidiary Ann Taylor and their
respective subsidiaries.

===============================================================================
<PAGE>

MERCHANDISE DESIGN AND PRODUCTION

      Substantially all merchandise offered by the Company's stores is developed
by the Company's  in-house  product design and development  teams,  which design
merchandise  exclusively  for the Company.  The Company's  merchandising  groups
determine  inventory  needs  for  the  upcoming  season,  edit  the  assortments
developed by the design teams, plan monthly  merchandise  flows, and arrange for
the production of merchandise either through the Company's sourcing division, or
with manufacturers or vendors who are private label specialists.

      The  Company's  production  management  and quality  assurance  department
establishes the technical  specifications for all Company merchandise,  inspects
factories in which the  merchandise  is  produced,  including  periodic  in-line
inspections while goods are in production to identify  potential  problems prior
to  shipment  and,  upon  receipt,  inspects  merchandise  on a test  basis  for
uniformity of size and color, as well as for conformity with  specifications and
overall quality of manufacturing.

      The Company sources  merchandise from  approximately 235 manufacturers and
vendors,  none of which accounted for more than 9% of the Company's  merchandise
purchases in Fiscal 1998. The Company's  merchandise is  manufactured in over 20
countries,  with approximately 10% of the Company's merchandise  manufactured in
Hong  Kong  and  35%  in  China.  Any  event  causing  a  sudden  disruption  of
manufacturing  or imports from Hong Kong or China,  including the  imposition of
additional  import  restrictions,  could have a material  adverse  effect on the
Company's  operations.  Substantially all of the Company's foreign purchases are
negotiated and paid for in U.S. dollars.

      The Company cannot predict  whether any of the foreign  countries in which
its products are  currently  manufactured  or any of the  countries in which the
Company may  manufacture its products in the future will be subject to future or
increased import restrictions by the U.S. government,  including the likelihood,
type or effect of any trade restriction. Trade restrictions, including increased
tariffs or quotas, against apparel,  footwear or other items sold by the Company
could affect the importation of such  merchandise  generally and, in such event,
could  increase  the cost or reduce the supply of  merchandise  available to the
Company  and  adversely  affect the  Company's  business,  financial  condition,
results of operations and liquidity.  The Company's merchandise flow may also be
adversely affected by financial or political instability in any of the countries
in which its goods are  manufactured,  if it affects the production or export of
merchandise from such countries. Merchandise flow may also be adversely affected
by  significant  fluctuation  in the value of the U.S.  dollar  against  foreign
currencies or restrictions on the transfer of funds.

      The Company does not maintain any  long-term or exclusive  commitments  or
arrangements  to  purchase  merchandise  from any single  supplier.  The Company
believes it has a good  relationship  with its suppliers and that, as the number
of the Company's stores increases,  subject to the discussion above,  there will
continue to be adequate sources to produce a sufficient  supply of quality goods
in a timely manner and on satisfactory economic terms.


INVENTORY CONTROL AND MERCHANDISE ALLOCATION

      The Company's merchandise planning and allocation department analyzes each
store's  size,  location,  demographics,  and sales  and  inventory  history  to
determine the quantity of  merchandise to be purchased for and the allocation of
merchandise to the Company's stores.  Upon receipt,  merchandise is allocated in
order to achieve an emphasis that is suited to each store's customer base.

      Merchandise  typically  is sold at its  original  marked price for several
weeks,  with the  length  of time  varying  by item.  The  Company  reviews  its
inventory  levels  on  an  on-going  basis  in  order  to  identify  slow-moving
merchandise  and broken  assortments  (items no longer in stock in a  sufficient
range of sizes) and uses markdowns to clear  merchandise.  Markdowns may be used
if inventory exceeds customer demand for reasons of style,  seasonal  adaptation
or changes in customer preference or if it is determined that the inventory will
not sell at its currently marked price.  Marked-down  items remaining unsold are
moved  periodically  to the Company's  factory outlet stores,  where  additional
markdowns may be taken.

===============================================================================
<PAGE>

      Throughout  Fiscal 1997 and Fiscal 1998, the Company  focused on improving
its  inventory  management  strategies,   including  evaluating  target  average
inventory  investment per store, in order to achieve greater inventory turns and
to enhance merchandise gross margins. In Fiscal 1998, inventory turned 5.0 times
compared  to 5.1 times in Fiscal  1997 and 4.7 times in Fiscal  1996.  Inventory
turnover is  determined  by dividing cost of sales by the average of the cost of
inventory  at the  beginning  and the  end of the  period,  excluding  inventory
associated with the Company's  sourcing  division.  Sourcing division  inventory
consists principally of finished goods in transit from factories.

      In Fiscal 1998,  the Company  selected a new  comprehensive  merchandising
information  system  to  provide  improved  systems  support  for the  Company's
merchandising  functions.  Since  selection of the system,  the Company has been
conducting a methodical,  detailed review of both the new system's functionality
and  the  Company's  internal  merchandising   processes,  in  order  to  design
adaptations  to the new system  and,  in some  cases,  changes to the  Company's
processes,  so that the Company may make best use of the new system. The Company
expects  to be ready to pilot the new  system  at the end of Fiscal  1999 and to
phase-in the system over the following year. When complete, this new system will
serve as the  Company's  central  source of  information  regarding  merchandise
items, inventory management,  purchasing, allocation,  replenishment,  receiving
and distribution.

      The Company uses a centralized distribution system, under which nearly all
merchandise  is distributed  to the Company's  stores  through its  distribution
center,  located in  Louisville,  Kentucky.  See  "Properties".  Merchandise  is
shipped by the  distribution  center to the Company's  stores several times each
week.


STORES AND EXPANSION


      An important  aspect of the Company's  business  strategy is a real estate
expansion  program  designed to reach new  customers  through the opening of new
stores.  The  Company  opens  new  stores in  markets  that it  believes  have a
sufficient  concentration of its target customers. The Company also adds stores,
or expands the size of existing stores, in markets where the Company already has
a presence,  as market  conditions  warrant and sites  become  available.  Store
locations are determined on the basis of various factors,  including  geographic
location,  demographic  studies,  anchor  tenants  in  a  mall  location,  other
specialty  stores in a mall or specialty center location or in the vicinity of a
village  location,  and the proximity to  professional  offices in a downtown or
village location. Stores opened in factory outlet centers are located in factory
outlet  malls in which  co-tenants  generally  include a  significant  number of
outlet or discount stores operated by nationally  recognized  upscale brand name
retailers.  Store  size  also is  determined  on the basis of  various  factors,
including geographic location, demographic studies, and space availability.

      As of January 30, 1999,  the Company  operated 365 stores  throughout  the
United  States,  of which 306 were Ann Taylor  stores,  46 were Ann Taylor  Loft
stores, and 13 were Ann Taylor Factory Stores.

      Most new Ann Taylor  stores  opened since 1993 have been between 4,000 and
9,000  square feet in size.  In  addition,  in Fall 1995,  the Company  opened a
"flagship" Ann Taylor store in each of New York City and San Francisco.  Each of
these flagship stores is in excess of 20,000 square feet. These stores represent
the fullest assortment of Ann Taylor  merchandise,  and include amenities unique
to these stores.  In Fiscal 1998,  the Company  opened 26 Ann Taylor stores that
averaged  approximately  4,400 square feet. In Fiscal 1999, the Company plans to
open  approximately  20  Ann  Taylor  stores,  which  are  expected  to  average
approximately 5,000 square feet.

      Ann  Taylor  Loft  stores  that are  located  in  factory  outlet  centers
(including  three such stores  opened in Fiscal 1998) average 9,000 square feet.
The 16 Ann Taylor  Loft  stores  that were  opened in  regional  malls and strip
shopping  centers in 1998  averaged  approximately  6,200 square feet. In Fiscal
1999,  the Company  expects to open  approximately  30 Ann Taylor Loft stores in
regional malls and strip shopping centers.  These stores are expected to average
approximately 6,000 square feet.

      The  Company's 13 Ann Taylor  Factory  Stores,  located in factory  outlet
centers, average 7,000 square feet.

===============================================================================
<PAGE>

      The  Company's  stores  typically  have  approximately  20% of their total
square footage allocated to stockroom and other non-selling space.



      The  following  table  sets  forth  certain  information  regarding  store
openings,  expansions  and closings for Ann Taylor  stores  ("ATS"),  Ann Taylor
Factory Stores ("ATFS"), Ann Taylor Loft stores ("ATL") and the Company's former
Ann Taylor Studio stores ("ATA") over the past five years:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                No.                              
                              Stores               No.        No. 
           Total Stores     No. Stores          Stores      Stores               No. Stores Open
              Open at     Opened During        Expanded     Closed                 at End of
             Beginning     Fiscal Year          During      During                 Fiscal Year 
             of Fiscal ---------------------    Fiscal      Fiscal    -------------------------------------
Fiscal Year     Year   ATS  ATFS  ATL  ATA(a)   Year(b)    Year(b)   ATS    ATFS    ATL    ATA(a)     Total
- -----------     ----   ---  ----  ---  ------     -------    -------   ---    ----  ---    ------     -----
<S>              <C>   <C>   <C>  <C>  <C>     <C>         <C>       <C>    <C>     <C>    <C>        <C>
1994.......      231    18     7    5     5        25          4      236     21     ---       5        262
1995.......      262    26     4   14     4        30          4      258     22      17       9        306
1996.......      306     9     1    1   ---         7          8      259     14(c)   27(c)    9        309
1997.......      309    27   ---  ---   ---         9         12      283     14      27     ---        324
1998.......      324    26   ---   19   ---         8          4      306     13      46     ---        365
- ------------
<FN>

  (a) Ann Taylor Studio was a  free-standing  shoe and accessory store concept
      tested by the  Company in 1994 and 1995.  All Ann Taylor  Studio  stores
      were closed during Fiscal 1997.

  (b) All stores  expanded and all stores closed were Ann Taylor stores,  except
      that one store  expanded  in 1994 and one store  expanded in 1995 were ATL
      stores,  one store closed in 1998 was an ATFS store and nine stores closed
      in 1997 were ATA stores.

  (c) In 1995,  certain  ATFS and ATL stores that sold both  original  price Ann
      Taylor Loft  merchandise and clearance  merchandise from Ann Taylor stores
      and Ann Taylor Loft stores were classified as ATFS stores.  In 1996, these
      stores  were  reclassified  as ATL  stores.  During  1997,  these  stores'
      merchandise  assortment  was changed to be  predominantly  Ann Taylor Loft
      merchandise, and these stores are now operated as ATL stores.
</FN>
</TABLE>

      The  Company  believes  that  its  existing  store  base is a  significant
strategic  asset of its  business.  Ann Taylor stores are located in some of the
most productive  retail centers in the United States.  The Company believes that
it is among the tenants most highly desired by real estate developers because of
its strong Ann Taylor brand franchise and its high average sales per square foot
productivity  ($474 per square foot in Fiscal 1998) relative to other  specialty
apparel retailers.

      The  Company has  invested  approximately  $172  million in its store base
since the beginning of Fiscal 1993;  approximately  64% of its stores are either
new  or  have  been  completely  remodeled,  as a  result  of  an  expansion  or
relocation, in the last five years.

      The Company's  1998 real estate  expansion plan resulted in an increase in
the Company's  total store square footage of  approximately  230,000 square feet
(net of store closings),  or 12.7%, from approximately  1,808,000 square feet to
approximately  2,038,000  square feet.  In Fiscal 1999,  the Company  intends to
increase  store square footage by  approximately  275,000 square feet, or 13.5%,
representing  approximately 20 new Ann Taylor stores, the expansion,  renovation
or relocation of 10 existing Ann Taylor  stores,  and  approximately  30 new Ann
Taylor Loft stores.

      Capital  expenditures  for  the  Company's  Fiscal  1998  store  expansion
program, net of landlord  construction  allowances,  totaled approximately $26.4
million,  including  expenditures for store  refurbishing and store refixturing.
The  Company  expects  that  capital  expenditures  for its  Fiscal  1999  store
expansion   program,   net  of  landlord   construction   allowances,   will  be
approximately  $35 million,  including  expenditures for store  refurbishing and
store refixturing.
===============================================================================
<PAGE>

      The Company's ability to continue to increase store square footage will be
dependent upon,  among other things,  general  economic and business  conditions
affecting  consumer  confidence  and  spending,  the  availability  of desirable
locations and the  negotiation  of  acceptable  lease terms.  See  "Management's
Discussion  and  Analysis of  Financial  Condition  and Results of  Operations -
Liquidity and Capital  Resources" and  "Management's  Discussion and Analysis of
Financial  Condition  and Results of  Operations - Statement  Regarding  Forward
Looking Disclosures".






INFORMATION SYSTEMS

      In 1997,  the  Company  completed  a  thorough  review of its  information
systems,  and developed a five-year  strategic  plan to upgrade  these  systems,
including the planned  implementation of the core merchandising  system referred
to above under  "Inventory  Control  and  Merchandise  Allocation".  The Company
believes  that  enhanced  information  systems  are  critical to  providing  its
management  with enhanced  decision  support tools and maintaining the Company's
competitive  position.  The five-year plan contemplates  aggregate investment in
information  systems of approximately  $35 million,  of which  approximately $11
million  was  expended  in 1998,  and $11  million is expected to be invested in
1999.

      For information  regarding the Company's Year 2000 compliance efforts, see
"Management's  Discussion  and  Analysis of Financial  Condition  and Results of
Operations - Year 2000 Status".


CUSTOMER CREDIT

      Customers  may pay  for  merchandise  with  the Ann  Taylor  credit  card,
American Express, Visa,  MasterCard,  JCB, cash or check. Credit card sales were
80.2% of net sales in  Fiscal  1998,  78.7% in  Fiscal  1997 and 77.8% in Fiscal
1996.  In Fiscal 1998,  16.6% of net sales were made with the Ann Taylor  credit
card, and 63.6% were made with third-party credit cards. As of January 30, 1999,
the Company's Ann Taylor credit card accounts  receivable  totaled  $51,818,000,
net of allowance for doubtful accounts. Accounts written off in Fiscal 1998 were
approximately $1,468,000, or 0.2% of net sales.

      The Company has offered  customers its  proprietary Ann Taylor credit card
since  1976.  The Company  believes  that the Ann Taylor  credit  card  enhances
customer loyalty while providing the customer with additional  credit.  However,
the  percentage of the Company's  total sales made with its  proprietary  credit
card has been declining over the past several  years.  The Company  believes the
declining  penetration of its Ann Taylor credit card as a percentage of sales is
attributable  to the gain of market  share by bank cards  throughout  the retail
industry  generally,  as well as to the increase in the number of the  Company's
Ann Taylor Factory Stores and Loft stores, which have historically experienced a
significantly  lower  penetration  of sales with the Ann Taylor card. At January
30, 1999,  over 374,000 Ann Taylor credit card accounts had been used during the
past 18 months.


ADVERTISING AND PROMOTION

      For many years,  the  Company  relied on its Ann Taylor  fashion  catalog,
mailed  principally  to  Ann  Taylor  credit  card  holders,  as  its  principal
advertising  vehicle.  The Company also occasionally ran print advertisements in
newspapers  and  national  women's  fashion  magazines  such as Elle,  Vogue and
Harpers Bazaar. In early 1996, the Company suspended  publication of its catalog
and ran very few print  advertisements.  Beginning in 1997, the Company placed a
renewed  emphasis  on  marketing.  The  Company  believes  it  is  strategically
important to communicate  on a regular basis directly with its current  customer
base and with  potential  customers,  through  increased  national  and regional
advertising,including  outdoor  media,  as well as through direct mail marketing
and in-store presentation.  Marketing expenditures as a percentage of sales were
2.0% in Fiscal 1998, 1.3% in Fiscal 1997, and 0.8% in Fiscal 1996.


===============================================================================
<PAGE>





TRADEMARKS AND SERVICE MARKS

      The Ann Taylor  trademark,  and other trademarks and service marks used by
the Company,  either are registered or have trademark  applications pending with
the United States Patent and Trademark  Office ("USPTO") and with the registries
of many foreign  countries.  The Company's  rights in the "AnnTaylor" mark are a
significant  part  of the  Company's  business,  as  the  Company  believes  its
trademark is well known in the women's retail apparel industry. Accordingly, the
Company intends to maintain its "AnnTaylor" mark and related  registrations  and
vigorously protect its trademarks against infringement.

      In 1994, the Company initiated  trademark  registration  applications with
the USPTO for its  AnnTaylor  Loft  trademark in the  categories of retail store
services and apparel.  Registration  of the  trademark  was issued in the retail
store  services  category in 1996.  However,  the  Company's  application  for a
trademark  registration in the apparel classification is being challenged in the
USPTO by a French  company,  Freche et Fils,  which  cites its own "Loft  Design
By..." trademark in opposition to the Ann Taylor Loft mark. The Company believes
that the challenge is without merit and intends to defend the action vigorously.
In  the  event  that  Freche  et  Fils'  challenge  to the  Company's  trademark
application  for the Ann Taylor Loft trademark is successful,  the Company would
be denied federal  registration  of the Ann Taylor Loft trademark in the apparel
classification.


COMPETITION

      The women's retail apparel industry is highly  competitive.  The Company's
stores compete with certain  departments in national or local department stores,
and with other  specialty  store chains and  independent  retail stores carrying
similar lines of merchandise.  The Company believes that its focused merchandise
selection, exclusive fashions,  personalized service and convenience distinguish
it  from  other  apparel  retailers.  Many  of  the  Company's  competitors  are
considerably  larger and have  substantially  greater  financial,  marketing and
other resources than the Company and there is no assurance that the Company will
be able to  compete  successfully  with them in the  future.  In  addition,  the
Company has only limited  experience in the  "moderate"  category,  and existing
competitors may have significantly greater brand recognition among this customer
segment than the Company.


EMPLOYEES

      Store  management  receives  compensation  in the  form  of  salaries  and
performance-based  bonuses.  Sales  associates  are paid on an hourly basis plus
performance incentives. A number of programs exist that offer incentives to both
management  and sales  associates  to increase  sales and support the  Company's
total wardrobing strategy.

      As of January 30, 1999, the Company had approximately 7,300 employees,  of
whom 1,800 were  full-time  salaried  employees,  1,900  were  full-time  hourly
employees and 3,600 were part-time hourly  employees  working less than 30 hours
per week. None of the Company's  employees are represented by a labor union. The
Company believes that its relationship with its employees is good.

==============================================================================
<PAGE>


STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING DISCLOSURES

      Sections of this Annual Report contain various forward looking statements,
within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, with
respect to the financial  condition,  results of operations  and business of the
Company.   These  forward   looking   statements   involve   certain  risks  and
uncertainties,  and no  assurance  can be given that any of such matters will be
realized.  Actual results may differ materially from those  contemplated by such
forward  looking  statements.  See  "Management's  Discussion  and  Analysis  of
Financial  Condition  and  Results of  Operations  Statement  Regarding  Forward
Looking Disclosures".


ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

      As of January 30, 1999, the Company operated 365 stores, all of which were
leased.  The store  leases  typically  provide for  initial  terms of ten years,
although  some  leases have  shorter or longer  initial  periods,  and grant the
Company  the  right  to  extend  the term  for one or two  additional  five-year
periods.  Most of the store leases require Ann Taylor to pay a specified minimum
rent,  plus a contingent  rent based on a percentage of the store's net sales in
excess of a specified  threshold.  Most of the leases also require Ann Taylor to
pay real estate taxes,  insurance and certain common area and maintenance costs.
The current terms of the Company's leases,  including renewal options, expire as
follows:

                  Fiscal Years Lease                 Number of
                     Terms Expire                     Stores 
                     ------------                     ------ 

                   1999 - 2001........................ 21
                   2002 - 2004........................ 65
                   2005 - 2007........................160
                   2008 and later.....................119

      Ann Taylor  leases  corporate  offices at 142 West 57th Street in New York
City,  containing  approximately  125,000 square feet and  approximately  59,000
square feet of office  space at 1372  Broadway in New York City.  The leases for
these premises  expire in 2006 and 2010,  respectively.  The Company also leases
office space in New Haven,  Connecticut,  containing approximately 37,000 square
feet. This lease expires in 2000.

      Ann Taylor's wholly owned  subsidiary,  AnnTaylor  Distribution  Services,
Inc.,  owns its 256,000 square foot  distribution  center located in Louisville,
Kentucky.  Nearly all Ann Taylor  merchandise  is  distributed  to the Company's
stores  through this facility.  The parcel on which the Louisville  distribution
center  is  located  comprises  approximately  20 acres  and  could  accommodate
possible future expansion of the facility.

===============================================================================
<PAGE>




ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

      On April 26, 1996,  certain  alleged  stockholders  of the Company filed a
purported  class action  lawsuit in the United States  District  Court  Southern
District of New York,  against the  Company,  Ann Taylor,  certain  officers and
directors of the Company and Ann Taylor, ML&Co. and certain affiliates of ML&Co.
(Novak v.  Kasaks,  et. al., No. 96 CIV 3073  (S.D.N.Y.  1996)).  The  complaint
alleged causes of action under Section 10(b) and Section 20(a) of the Securities
Exchange  Act of 1934,  as amended,  by alleging  that the Company and the other
defendants engaged in a fraudulent scheme and course of business that operated a
fraud or deceit on purchasers  of the  Company's  common stock during the period
commencing  February  3,  1994  through  May 4,  1995 due to  alleged  false and
misleading  statements about the Company and Ann Taylor.  The complaint  sought,
among other things,  certification as a class action on behalf of all purchasers
of common  stock  during the period  commencing  February 3, 1994 through May 4,
1995,  the awarding of  compensatory  damages to the  plaintiffs  and  purported
members  of the  class,  the  awarding  of  costs,  including  pre-judgment  and
post-judgment  interest,  reasonable  attorneys' fees and expert witness fees to
the  plaintiffs  and  purported  members  of  the  class  and  equitable  and/or
injunctive relief. On March 10, 1998, the Court granted the defendants'  motions
to dismiss the complaint.  The Court found that the complaint  failed to state a
claim  upon  which  relief  may be  granted,  and  failed  to plead  fraud  with
particularity  and an  inability  to do so.  The  Court's  Opinion  granted  the
plaintiffs  leave to amend and re-file the  complaint  within thirty days of the
date of the Opinion,  and the plaintiffs filed an amended  complaint on April 9,
1998.  On  November  9,  1998,  the Court  issued an  Opinion  dismissing,  with
prejudice,  the amended complaint. On or about December 15, 1998, the plaintiffs
filed a notice of appeal to the U.S District Court of Appeals,  Second  Circuit,
seeking  review of the  Appellate  Court's  decision.  This appeal is  presently
pending,  and any liability  that may arise from this action cannot be predicted
at this time. The Company  believes that the amended  complaint is without merit
and intends to defend the action vigorously.

      The  Company  is  also a  party  to  routine  litigation  incident  to its
business.  Although the amount of any liability that could arise with respect to
these actions cannot be accurately predicted, in the opinion of the Company, any
such  liability  will  not  have a  material  adverse  effect  on the  financial
position, results of operations or liquidity of the Company.


ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

      None.

==============================================================================

<PAGE>


                                      PART II





ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

      The  Company's  common  stock is listed  and  traded on the New York Stock
Exchange  under the symbol ANN.  The number of holders of record of common stock
at February  26, 1999 was 613. The  following  table sets forth the high and low
closing sale prices for the common stock on the New York Stock  Exchange  during
Fiscal 1998 and Fiscal 1997.

                                                            Market Price
                                                            ------------
                                                           High       Low
                                                           ----       ---
         Fiscal Year 1998
          Fourth quarter..............................$  41-9/16   $ 28-3/4
          Third quarter...............................   29-5/8      19-3/8
          Second quarter..............................   23-1/2      16-1/8
          First quarter...............................   16-1/2      11-13/16
         Fiscal Year 1997
          Fourth quarter..............................$  14-15/16   $ 11-5/16
          Third quarter...............................   19-5/8       14
          Second quarter..............................   25          16-7/8
          First quarter...............................   24-1/4       17


      The  Company  has never paid  dividends  on the common  stock and does not
intend to pay dividends in the foreseeable  future.  As a holding  company,  the
ability  of the  Company  to pay  dividends  is  dependent  upon the  receipt of
dividends  or other  payments  from Ann Taylor.  The payment of dividends by Ann
Taylor to the  Company is subject to  certain  restrictions  under Ann  Taylor's
Credit Facility described below under  "Management's  Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations--Liquidity and Capital Resources".
The payment of cash dividends on the common stock by the Company is also subject
to certain  restrictions  contained in the  Company's  guarantee of Ann Taylor's
obligations  under the Credit  Facility.  In addition,  in  connection  with the
preferred  securities  issued  by the  Company's  financing  vehicle,  AnnTaylor
Finance Trust,  the payment by the Company of cash dividends on the common stock
is  restricted  in the event of a default by the Company of its  obligations  in
relation to the preferred securities or in the event payment of dividends on the
preferred securities is deferred. Any determination to pay cash dividends in the
future will be at the discretion of the Company's Board of Directors and will be
dependent  upon  the  Company's  results  of  operations,  financial  condition,
contractual  restrictions  and other factors deemed relevant at that time by the
Company's Board of Directors.




ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

      The following selected  historical  financial  information for the periods
indicated has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements of
the Company. The Company's consolidated statements of operations,  stockholders'
equity and cash flows for each of the three fiscal years ended January 30, 1999,
January 31,  1998 and  February 1, 1997 and  consolidated  balance  sheets as of
January  30, 1999 and  January  31,  1998,  as audited by Deloitte & Touche llp,
independent  auditors,  appear  elsewhere in this document.  The information set
forth below should be read in  conjunction  with  "Management's  Discussion  and
Analysis of Financial  Condition and Results of Operations" and the consolidated
financial statements and notes thereto of the Company included elsewhere in this
document.  All references to years are to the fiscal year of the Company,  which
ends on the Saturday  nearest  January 31 in the following  calendar  year.  All
fiscal years for which  financial  information  is set forth below had 52 weeks,
with the exception of Fiscal 1995, which had 53 weeks.

================================================================================
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>




                                                       Fiscal Years Ended               
                                      ----------------------------------------------------
                                      Jan. 30,  Jan. 31,   Feb. 1,   Feb. 3,      Jan. 28,
                                        1999      1998      1997       1996         1995 
                                        ----      ----      ----       ----         ---- 
                         (dollars in thousands, except per square foot data and per share data)

<S>                                 <C>         <C>      <C>         <C>          <C>      
Operating Statement Information:
Net sales ..........................$ 911,939   $781,028 $ 798,117   $731,142     $658,804 
Cost of sales.......................  455,724    411,756   443,443    425,225      357,783 
                                      -------    -------   -------    -------      ------- 
   Gross profit.....................  456,215    369,272   354,674    305,917      301,021 
Selling, general and 
   administrative expenses..........  349,955    308,232   291,027    271,136      214,224 
Studio shoe stores closing 
   expense (a)......................      ---        ---     3,600        ---          --- 
Employment contract separation 
   expense (b)......................      ---        ---     3,500        ---          --- 
Retirement of assets (c)............    3,633        ---       ---         ---         --- 
Amortization of goodwill (d)........   11,040     11,040    10,086       9,506       9,506 
                                      -------    -------   -------    -------      ------- 
   Operating income.................   91,587     50,000    46,461      25,275      77,291 
Interest expense (e)................   18,117     19,989    24,416      20,956      14,229 
Other (income) expense, net.........      567        548       403          38         168 
                                      -------    -------   -------    -------      ------- 
Income before income taxes and 
   extraordinary loss...............   72,903     29,463    21,642       4,281      62,894 
Income tax provision................   33,579     17,466    12,975       5,157      30,274 
                                      -------    -------   -------    -------      ------- 
Income (loss) before                
   extraordinary loss..............    39,324     11,997     8,667        (876)     32,620 
Extraordinary loss (f)..............      ---        173       ---         ---         868 
                                      -------    -------   -------    -------      ------- 
   Net income (loss)................$  39,324  $  11,824  $  8,667 $      (876)  $  31,752 
                                      =======    =======   =======    ========     ======= 
Basic earnings (loss) per share before
    extraordinary loss..............$    1.53  $   0.47   $  0.36 $      (0.04)  $    1.44 
Extraordinary loss per share (f)....      ---      0.01       ---          ---        0.04 
                                      -------    -------   -------    -------      ------- 
Basic earnings (loss) per share.....$    1.53  $   0.46   $  0.36 $      (0.04)  $    1.40 
                                      =======    =======   =======    ========     ======= 
Diluted earnings (loss) per share before
    extraordinary loss..............$    1.44  $   0.47   $  0.36 $      (0.04)  $    1.42 
Extraordinary loss per share (f)....      ---      0.01       ---          ---        0.04 
                                      -------    -------   -------    -------      ------- 
Diluted earnings (loss) per share...$    1.44  $   0.46   $  0.36 $      (0.04)  $    1.38 
                                      =======    =======   =======    ========     ======= 
Weighted average shares outstanding
   (in thousands)...................   25,715    25,628    23,981       23,067      22,687 
Weighted average shares 
   outstanding, assuming
   dilution (in thousands)..........   31,006    25,693    24,060       23,167      23,067 

Operating Information:
Percentage increase (decrease) in
   comparable store sales (g)......       7.9%     (5.5)%     1.8%        (8.9)%      13.7%
Net sales per gross square foot (h).$     474  $    445   $   476    $     518   $     627 
Number of stores:
   Open at beginning of the period..      324       309       306          262         231 
   Opened during the period.........       45        27        11           48          35 
   Expanded during the period.......        8         9         7           30          25 
   Closed during the period.........        4        12         8            4           4 
   Open at the end of the period....      365       324       309          306         262 
Total store square footage at 
   end of period ...................2,038,000 1,808,000 1,705,000    1,651,000   1,173,000 
Capital expenditures................$  45,131 $  22,945 $  16,107   $   78,378   $  61,341 
Depreciation and amortization, 
   including goodwill (d)...........$  39,823 $  38,843 $  36,294   $   28,294   $  21,293 
Working capital turnover (I)........      6.3x      6.5x      7.8x         7.8x        8.5x
Inventory turnover (j)..............      5.0x      5.1x      4.7x         4.3x        4.6x

Balance Sheet Information (at end of period):
Working capital (k).................$ 168,708 $ 122,181 $ 118,850   $   86,477   $ 102,181 
Goodwill, net (d)...................  319,699   330,739   341,779      313,525     323,031 
Total assets........................  775,417   683,661   688,139      678,709     598,254 
Total debt..........................  105,157   106,276   131,192      272,458     200,000 
Preferred securities................   96,624    96,391    96,158          ---        --- 
Stockholders' equity................  432,699   384,107   370,582      325,688     326,112 


<FN>
                                                   (Footnotes on following page)
===============================================================================
<PAGE>


(Footnotes for preceding page. In Fiscal 1997, the Company adopted  Statement of
Financial  Accounting Standards No. 128, "Earnings per Share" and all prior year
per share  information has been  recalculated.  Unless  otherwise noted, all per
share information is for diluted earnings per share.)



(a)  Relates to the  closing  of the nine Ann Taylor  Studio  shoe  stores.  The
     charge of  $3,600,000  ($2,052,000,  or $0.08 per share,  net of income tax
     benefit) in Fiscal 1996  represented the write-off of the net book value of
     the nine stores and leases and other related costs for these locations.

(b)  In connection with the resignation in August 1996 of a former executive,  a
     one-time pre-tax charge of $3,500,000 ($1,958,000,  or $0.08 per share, net
     of related  tax  benefit)  was  recorded  in Fiscal  1996  relating  to the
     estimated costs of the Company's  obligations under her employment contract
     with the Company.

(c)  A charge of $3,633,000 ($2,180,000, or $0.07 per share, net of tax benefit)
     was recorded in Fiscal 1998 for the retirement of certain assets  resulting
     from the renovation of the Company's corporate offices.

(d)  As a result of the  Acquisition  of Ann Taylor by the Company,  which was
     effective as of January 29, 1989,  $380,250,000,  representing the excess
     of the allocated  purchase price over the fair value of the Company's net
     assets,   was  recorded  as  goodwill   and  is  being   amortized  on  a
     straight-line  basis  over 40  years.  In  addition,  as a result  of the
     acquisition of the Company's sourcing division,  effective  September 20,
     1996,  the  Company  recorded  goodwill  of  $38,430,000  that  is  being
     amortized on a straight-line basis over 25 years.

(e)  Includes non-cash interest expense of $1,290,000,  $1,419,000,  $1,574,000,
     $1,004,000,  and  $978,000 in Fiscal  1998,  1997,  1996,  1995,  and 1994,
     respectively, from amortization of deferred financing costs.

(f)  In Fiscal  1997,  Ann Taylor  incurred  an  extraordinary  loss of $303,000
     ($173,000,  or $0.01 per share,  net of income tax benefit),  in connection
     with the  prepayment of the  outstanding  balance of a term loan. In Fiscal
     1994, Ann Taylor incurred an extraordinary loss of $1,522,000 ($868,000, or
     $0.04 per  share,  net of  income  tax  benefit),  in  connection  with the
     prepayment  of long-term  debt with the proceeds of a public sale of common
     stock of the Company.

(g)  Comparable store sales are calculated by excluding the net sales of a store
     for any month of one period if the store was not also open  during the same
     month of the prior  period.  In a year with 53 weeks,  such as Fiscal 1995,
     sales  in the  last  week of that  year  are not  included  in  determining
     comparable  store  sales.  A store  that is  expanded  by more  than 15% is
     treated  as a new store for the first  year  following  the  opening of the
     expanded store.

(h)  Net sales per square  foot  ("sales  per  square  foot") is  determined  by
     dividing  net sales for the period by the average of the gross  square feet
     at the  beginning  and  end of each  period.  Unless  otherwise  indicated,
     references  herein to square feet are to gross square feet, rather than net
     selling space.

(i)  Working capital turnover is determined by dividing net sales by the average
     of the amount of working capital at the beginning and end of the period.

(j)  Inventory  turnover is  determined by dividing cost of sales by the average
     of the cost of inventory at the beginning and end of the period  (excluding
     inventory associated with the Company's sourcing division).

(k)  Includes  current  portion of  long-term  debt of  $1,206,000,  $1,119,000,
     $287,000,  $40,266,000,  and $0 in Fiscal 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995, and 1994,
     respectively.

</FN>
</TABLE>

================================================================================
<PAGE>



ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S  DISCUSSION  AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL  CONDITION  AND 
        RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

SALES


      The  following  table  sets  forth  certain  sales and store  data for the
periods indicated:


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  Fiscal Year Ended         
                                                      --------------------------------------------
                                                      Fiscal 1998     Fiscal 1997      Fiscal 1996
                                                      (52 weeks)      (52 weeks)      (52 weeks) 
                                                      ----------      ----------      ------------
      <S>                                             <C>         <C>              <C>        
      Net sales ($000)..............................   $911,939    $    781,028     $   798,117
      Total net sales increase (decrease) 
        percentage (52 week basis) .................        16.8%          (2.1)%          10.6%
      Comparable store sales increase
        (decrease) percentage (52 week basis).......         7.9%          (5.5)%           1.8%
      Net sales per average square foot.............   $     474    $       445     $       476
      Total store square footage at end of period...   2,038,000      1,808,000       1,705,000
      Number of
        New stores .................................          45             27              11
        Expanded stores ............................           8              9               7
        Closed stores ..............................           4             12               8
      Total stores open at end of period ...........         365            324             309

</TABLE>


      The  Company's  net  sales do not  show  significant  seasonal  variation,
although  net sales in the fourth  quarter  have  historically  been  moderately
higher  than  in the  other  quarters.  As a  result,  the  Company  has not had
significant  overhead and other costs  generally  associated with large seasonal
variations.


RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

      The following  table sets forth  operating  statement  data expressed as a
percentage of net sales for the periods indicated:


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                             Fiscal Year          
                                                      ------------------------    
                                                       1998     1997     1996
                                                       ----     ----     ----
<S>                                                   <C>      <C>      <C>   
Net sales .......................................     100.0%   100.0%   100.0%
Cost of sales ...................................      50.0     52.7     55.6
                                                      -----    -----    -----
    Gross profit ................................      50.0     47.3     44.4
Selling, general and
    admnistrative expenses ......................      38.4     39.5     36.5
Studio shoe stores closing expense ..............        --       --      0.4
Employment contract separation expense ..........        --       --      0.4
Retirement of assets ............................       0.4       --       --
Amortization of goodwill ........................       1.2      1.4      1.3
                                                      -----    -----    -----
    Operating income ............................      10.0      6.4      5.8
Interest expense ................................       2.0      2.6      3.1
Other expense, net ..............................        --       --       --   
                                                      -----    -----    -----
Income before income taxes and extraordinary loss       8.0      3.8
                                                                          2.7
Income tax provision ............................       3.7      2.3      1.6
                                                      -----    -----    -----
Income before extraordinary loss ................       4.3      1.5      1.1
Extraordinary loss ..............................        --       --       --
                                                      -----    -----    -----
Net income ......................................       4.3%     1.5%     1.1%
                                                      =====    =====    ===== 
</TABLE>

============================================================================
<PAGE>





FISCAL 1998 COMPARED TO FISCAL 1997

      The  Company's  net sales  increased to  $911,939,000  in Fiscal 1998 over
$781,028,000 in Fiscal 1997, an increase of $130,911,000,  or 16.8%.  Comparable
store sales for Fiscal 1998  increased  7.9%,  compared to a decrease of 5.5% in
Fiscal  1997.   Management  believes  that  the  sales  increase  was  primarily
attributable to the opening of new stores, the expansion of existing stores, and
a net  increase  in  comparable  store  sales in 1998,  as a result of  improved
customer   acceptance  of  the  Company's   product  offerings  and  merchandise
assortment.

      Gross profit as a percentage of net sales  increased to 50.0% in 1998 from
47.3% in 1997. As discussed in Note 1 to the Consolidated  Financial Statements,
the  Company  elected in Fiscal  1998 to change the method by which the  Company
accounts for inventory,  from the retail method to the average cost method.  The
effect of this  accounting  change on Fiscal  1998 net income was an increase of
$1,272,000,  or $0.04 per share on a diluted  basis.  Under the  retail  method,
gross margin as a percentage of net sales would have been  approximately  49.8%.
The increase in gross margin reflects continued  merchandise margin improvements
resulting from the maturation of the Company's sourcing organization,  since the
acquisition of the Company's  sourcing joint venture two years ago, as well as a
reduction  in markdowns as a percentage  of sales.  See  discussion  of Sourcing
Acquisition in Note 14 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.

      Selling,  general and administrative expenses were $349,955,000,  or 38.4%
of net sales, in 1998, compared to $308,232,000, or 39.5% of net sales, in 1997.
The decrease in selling,  general and administrative expenses as a percentage of
net sales was primarily  attributable  to increased  leverage on fixed  expenses
resulting from increased  comparable  store sales. The benefits of this leverage
were partially offset by an increase in the provision for management performance
bonus  expense,  and an increase  in  marketing  expenditures  in support of the
Company's strategic initiatives to enhance the Ann Taylor brand.

      Operating income increased to $91,587,000,  or 10.0% of net sales, in 1998
from  $50,000,000,  or 6.4% of net sales, in 1997.  Operating income in 1998 was
reduced by  $3,633,000,  or 0.4% of net  sales,  for the  retirement  of certain
assets in connection  with the  renovation of the Company's  corporate  offices.
Amortization of goodwill was $11,040,000, or 1.2% of net sales, in 1998 compared
to $11,040,000,  or 1.4% of net sales, in 1997.  Operating income without giving
effect to such amortization was $102,627,000, or 11.2% of net sales, in 1998 and
$61,040,000, or 7.8% of net sales, in 1997.

      Interest  expense was $18,117,000 in 1998 compared to $19,989,000 in 1997.
The decrease in interest expense was primarily attributable to a decrease in the
Company's  outstanding  long-term debt, resulting in part from the prepayment in
July 1997 of a $24,500,000  term loan referred to below, and to greater interest
income  earned  on cash on  hand.  The  weighted  average  interest  rate on the
Company's  outstanding  indebtedness  at January 30, 1999 was 8.60%  compared to
8.59% at January 31, 1998.

      The income tax provision was $33,579,000, or 46.1% of income before income
taxes, in the 1998 period,  compared to  $17,466,000,  or 59.3% of income before
income taxes and  extraordinary  loss, in 1997. The effective tax rates for both
periods  were  higher  than  the  statutory  rates,  primarily  as a  result  of
non-deductible  goodwill expense.  Without giving effect to such  non-deductible
goodwill amortization, the Company's effective income tax rate was 40% of income
before income taxes in the 1998 period,  compared to 43% before income taxes and
extraordinary  loss in the 1997 period. The decrease in the effective income tax
rate resulted primarily from the implementation of additional state tax planning
and from an increase in the amount of income earned outside the United States by
the Company's non-U.S. sourcing subsidiaries.

      As a result  of the  foregoing  factors,  the  Company  had net  income of
$39,324,000,  or  4.3%  of net  sales,  for  1998,  compared  to net  income  of
$11,824,000, or 1.5% of net sales, for 1997.

=============================================================================
<PAGE>





FISCAL 1997 COMPARED TO FISCAL 1996

      The  Company's  net sales  decreased to  $781,028,000  in Fiscal 1997 from
$798,117,000  in Fiscal 1996,  a decrease of  $17,089,000,  or 2.1%.  Comparable
store sales for Fiscal 1997 decreased  5.5% compared to Fiscal 1996.  Management
believes  that the  decreases  were  primarily  attributable  to lower  customer
acceptance of certain of the Company's  merchandise  offerings  and, to a lesser
extent,  planned  decreases in promotional  inventory for certain periods during
the year.

      Gross profit as a percentage of net sales  increased to 47.3% in 1997 from
44.4% in 1996. This increase was primarily  attributable to benefits achieved by
the Company's sourcing division.

      Selling,  general and administrative expenses were $308,232,000,  or 39.5%
of net sales, in 1997, compared to $291,027,000, or 36.5% of net sales, in 1996.
The increase in selling,  general and administrative expenses as a percentage of
net sales was primarily  attributable  to increased  tenancy  expense related to
increased retail square footage,  investments in certain strategic  initiatives,
such as marketing and enhanced merchandising  information systems, and decreased
leverage on fixed expenses due to lower sales in 1997.

      Operating income  increased to $50,000,000,  or 6.4% of net sales, in 1997
from  $46,461,000,  or 5.8% of net sales, in 1996.  Operating income in 1996 was
reduced by $3,500,000, or 0.4% of net sales, representing the estimated costs of
the  Company's  obligations  under  a  former  executive's  employment  contract
following  her  resignation  in  August  1996,  and  by  a  one-time  charge  of
$3,600,000,  or 0.4% of net sales,  relating to the planned  closing of all nine
Ann Taylor  Studio  shoe  stores  announced  in January  1997.  Amortization  of
goodwill was $11,040,000, or 1.4% of net sales, in 1997 compared to $10,086,000,
or 1.3% of net sales,  in 1996.  Operating  income without giving effect to such
amortization was $61,040,000,  or 7.8% of net sales, in 1997 and $56,547,000, or
7.1% of net sales, in 1996.

      Interest  expense was $19,989,000 in 1997 compared to $24,416,000 in 1996.
The decrease in interest expense was primarily attributable to a decrease in the
Company's  outstanding  long-term debt, resulting in part from the prepayment in
July 1997 of a $24,500,000  term loan referred to below, and to greater interest
income  earned  on cash on  hand.  The  weighted  average  interest  rate on the
Company's  outstanding  indebtedness  at January 31, 1998 was 8.59%  compared to
8.63% at February 1, 1997.

      The income tax provision was $17,466,000, or 59.3% of income before income
taxes and  extraordinary  loss, in the 1997 period compared to  $12,975,000,  or
60.0% of income before income taxes,  in 1996.  The effective tax rates for both
periods  were  higher  than  the  statutory  rates,  primarily  as a  result  of
non-deductible goodwill expense.

      On July 2, 1997, the Company used available cash to prepay the outstanding
balance of a  $24,500,000  term loan due  September  1998.  This loan  repayment
resulted in an extraordinary charge to earnings in Fiscal 1997 of $173,000,  net
of income tax benefit.

      As a result  of the  foregoing  factors,  the  Company  had net  income of
$11,824,000,  or  1.5%  of net  sales,  for  1997,  compared  to net  income  of
$8,667,000, or 1.1% of net sales, for 1996.


CHANGES IN FINANCIAL POSITION

      Accounts  receivable  increased  to  $71,049,000  at the end of 1998  from
$60,211,000  at the end of 1997,  an increase  of  $10,838,000,  or 18.0%.  This
increase was primarily attributable to construction allowance receivables, which
increased  $6,501,000  to  $12,485,000  in 1998,  and to third party credit card
receivables (American Express,  MasterCard, and Visa) which increased $2,182,000
and Ann Taylor  credit card  receivables,  which  increased  $2,097,000,  due to
increased sales.

==============================================================================
<PAGE>




      Merchandise inventories increased to $136,748,000 at January 30, 1999 from
$97,234,000  at January 31,  1998,  an increase of  $39,514,000,  or 40.6%.  The
increase in merchandise  inventories is primarily due to inventory purchased for
new store square footage,  planned  increases in inventory  levels and the early
shipment or receipt of Spring  merchandise.  Merchandise  inventories at January
30,  1999  and  January  31,  1998  included   approximately   $32,329,000   and
$21,124,000,  respectively,  of inventory associated with the Company's sourcing
division.  Inventory attributed to the sourcing division is principally finished
goods in transit from factories. Total square footage increased to approximately
2,038,000  square feet at January 30, 1999 from  approximately  1,808,000 square
feet at January  31,  1998.  Merchandise  inventory  on a per square foot basis,
excluding  inventory  associated  with  the  Company's  sourcing  division,  was
approximately  $51 at the end of 1998,  compared to approximately $42 at the end
of 1997, an increase of approximately 21.4%.  Inventory turned 5.0 times in 1998
compared to 5.1 times in 1997, excluding inventory associated with the Company's
sourcing division. Inventory turnover is determined by dividing cost of sales by
the  average of the cost of  inventory  at the  beginning  and end of the period
(excluding inventory associated with the sourcing division).


LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

      The  Company's  primary  sources  of  working  capital  are cash flow from
operations and borrowings available under Ann Taylor's revolving credit facility
described  below.  The  following  table sets  forth  material  measures  of the
Company's liquidity:

                                                          Fiscal Year      
                                                  ----------------------------
                                                  1998       1997         1996
                                                  ----       ----         ----
                                                    (dollars in thousands)

Cash provided by operating activities.......$    75,535   $ 71,589    $  67,532
Working capital.............................$   168,708   $122,181    $ 118,850
Current ratio ...............................    2.30:1     2.39:1       2.53:1
Debt to equity ratio ........................     .24:1      .28:1        .35:1

      Cash provided by operating  activities,  as presented on the  consolidated
statements of cash flows, increased in 1998 principally as a result of earnings,
noncash charges,  and an increase in accounts  payable and accrued  liabilities,
offset by increases in merchandise inventories, receivables and prepaid expenses
and other current assets.

      On June 30,  1998,  Ann  Taylor  entered  into a new  $150,000,000  senior
secured  revolving  credit facility (the "Credit  Facility") with a syndicate of
lenders.  This facility  replaced Ann Taylor's  then-existing  $122,000,000 bank
credit  agreement that was scheduled to expire in July 1998 and also resulted in
the  non-renewal by Ann Taylor's  sourcing  division of its  $50,000,000  credit
facility and in the  non-renewal  by AnnTaylor  Funding,  Inc. of a  $40,000,000
accounts receivable facility.  The Credit Facility is used by Ann Taylor for the
issuance of  commercial  and standby  letters of credit and to provide funds for
other general corporate purposes.

      Loans  outstanding  under the Credit  Facility  at any time may not exceed
$50,000,000.  The Company did not make any borrowings  under the loan provisions
of the Credit Facility  during Fiscal 1998, and there were no loans  outstanding
at fiscal year end.  The  outstanding  loan balance is required to be reduced to
zero for the thirty-day  period  commencing  January 1 each year. This cleandown
period was achieved for January 1999. Maximum availability for loans and letters
of credit  under the Credit  Facility is governed by a monthly  borrowing  base,
determined  by the  application  of  specified  advance  rates  against  certain
eligible  assets.  Based on this  calculation,  the maximum amount available for
loans and  letters of credit  under the Credit  Facility at January 30, 1999 was
approximately $131,054,000. Commercial and standby letters of credit outstanding
under the Credit Facility at January 30, 1999 were approximately $65,763,000.

===============================================================================
<PAGE>






      Amounts  outstanding  under the Credit  Facility  bear  interest at a rate
equal to, at Ann Taylor's  option,  the lead  lender's  Base Rate or  Eurodollar
Rate,  plus a  margin  ranging  from  0.25% to 1.00%  and from  1.25% to  2.00%,
respectively. In addition, Ann Taylor is required to pay the lenders a quarterly
commitment fee on the unused revolving loan commitment  amount at a rate ranging
from  0.375% to 0.5% per annum.  Fees for  outstanding  commercial  and  standby
letters  of  credit   range  from  0.625%  to  1.0%  and  from  1.25%  to  2.0%,
respectively.

      The Credit  Facility  contains  financial and other  covenants,  including
limitations  on  indebtedness,  liens,  investments  and  capital  expenditures,
restrictions on dividends or other distributions to stockholders and maintenance
of certain financial ratios including  specified levels of net worth. For Fiscal
1998, the capital  expenditure limit was $52,000,000.  For Fiscal 1999,  capital
expenditures are limited to a maximum of $55,000,000.

      The lenders  have been  granted a pledge of the common stock of Ann Taylor
and certain of its  subsidiaries,  and a security  interest in substantially all
other tangible and intangible assets, including accounts receivable, trademarks,
inventory, store furniture and fixtures, of Ann Taylor and its subsidiaries,  as
collateral for Ann Taylor's obligations under the Credit Facility.

      The Credit  Facility  matures on June 30, 2000 and  includes an  automatic
one-year extension,  contingent upon the satisfaction of certain conditions.  In
addition,  the commitments  under the Credit Facility  terminate on February 16,
2000 unless Ann Taylor's  outstanding 8 3/4% Subordinated Notes due 2000 (the "8
3/4%  Notes")  are  refinanced  on or prior to such  date with the  proceeds  of
subordinated  debt or  capital  stock,  the  terms and  conditions  of which are
reasonably satisfactory to the Requisite Lenders under the Credit Facility.

      In April and May of 1996,  the Company  completed the sale of an aggregate
of  $100,625,000  of  preferred  securities  issued  by its  financing  vehicle,
AnnTaylor Finance Trust. The preferred securities have a liquidation  preference
of $50 per security  and are  convertible  at the option of the holders  thereof
into shares of common stock of the Company at a conversion  rate of 2.545 shares
of common stock for each  preferred  security.  A total of  2,012,500  preferred
securities  were  issued,  and are  convertible  into an  aggregate of 5,121,812
shares  of  common  stock,  representing  approximately  16%  of  the  Company's
outstanding  common  stock as of January  30,  1999.  The Company  received  net
proceeds of $95,984,000 in connection with the sale of the preferred  securities
and applied  $94,000,000  to reduce  outstanding  borrowings  under Ann Taylor's
then-existing revolving credit facility.

      Ann  Taylor  and  its  wholly  owned  subsidiary,  AnnTaylor  Distribution
Services, Inc., are parties to a $7,000,000 seven-year mortgage loan maturing in
Fiscal 2002. The loan is secured by the Company's  distribution  center land and
building in Louisville,  Kentucky.  The mortgage loan bears interest at 7.5% and
is payable in monthly  installments  of  approximately  $130,000.  The  mortgage
balance at January 30, 1999 was $5,157,000.

      The Company's capital expenditures totaled $45,131,000,  $22,945,000,  and
$16,107,000 in Fiscal 1998, Fiscal 1997 and Fiscal 1996,  respectively.  Capital
expenditures  were  primarily  attributable  to the Company's  store  expansion,
renovation,  and refurbishment  programs,  as well as the investment the Company
made in certain information systems and, in Fiscal 1998, the Company's corporate
offices.  The Company  expects its total  capital  expenditure  requirements  in
Fiscal 1999 will be approximately  $50,000,000,  including capital for new store
construction  for a planned square  footage  increase of  approximately  275,000
square feet, or 13.5%,  as well as capital to support  continued  investments in
information  systems.  The actual amount of the Company's  capital  expenditures
will depend in part on the number of stores opened, expanded and refurbished and
on the amount of construction allowances the Company receives from the landlords
of its new or expanded stores. See "Business--Stores and Expansion".

==============================================================================
<PAGE>



      Dividends and distributions  from Ann Taylor to the Company are restricted
by the Credit Facility and the Indenture for the 8 3/4% Notes.

      In order to finance its operations and capital  requirements,  the Company
expects to use internally  generated funds,  trade credit and funds available to
it under  the  Credit  Facility.  The  Company  believes  that  cash  flow  from
operations  and funds  available  under the Credit  Facility are  sufficient  to
enable  it to meet its  on-going  cash  needs  for its  business,  as  presently
conducted, for the foreseeable future.

      Effective  February 1, 1998,  the Company  elected to change its method of
inventory  valuation  from the retail  method to the average  cost  method.  The
Company believes the average cost method is a preferable method for matching the
cost of merchandise with the revenues  generated.  The cumulative effect of this
accounting  change  on  February  1, 1998 was not  material,  and  therefore  no
disclosure is noted on the Consolidated  Statement of Operations.  The effect of
this accounting  change on Fiscal 1998 net income was an increase of $1,272,000,
or $0.04 per share on a diluted  basis.  It is not  possible  to  determine  the
effect of the change on income in fiscal  periods  ending  prior to  February 1,
1998.

      In June 1998, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of
Financial Accounting  Standards No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative  Instruments
and Hedging Activities" ("SFAS No. 133"), which is effective for the Company for
the quarter  ended October 30, 1999.  SFAS No. 133  establishes  accounting  and
reporting  standards for derivatives and for hedging  activities.  Management is
currently  evaluating the impact of this standard and believes its adoption will
not affect the Company's consolidated financial position,  results of operations
or cash flows.

      In March 1998,  the American  Institute of  Certified  Public  Accountants
issued Statement of Position ("SOP 98-1"), "Accounting for the Costs of Computer
Software  Developed or Obtained for  Internal  Use," which is effective  for the
Company for fiscal years  beginning  after December 15, 1998. The application of
SOP  98-1  is  not  anticipated  to  have a  material  impact  on the  Company's
consolidated financial statements.


YEAR 2000 STATUS

      Many computer systems use only two digits to identify a year (for example,
"99" is used for the year "1999").  As a result,  these systems may be unable to
process  accurately dates later than December 31, 1999, since they may recognize
"00" as the year  "1900",  instead  of the year  "2000".  This  anomaly is often
referred to as the "Year 2000  compliance"  issue.  Since 1997,  the Company has
been  executing  a plan to  remediate  or replace  affected  systems on a timely
basis.   Equipment  and  other  non-information   technology  systems  that  use
microchips or other embedded technology, such as certain conveyor systems at the
Company's  distribution  center,  are also  covered by the  Company's  Year 2000
compliance project.

      The Company's  Year 2000  compliance  project  includes  four phases:  (1)
evaluation  of the Company's  owned or leased  systems and equipment to identify
potential Year 2000 compliance issues; (2) remediation or replacement of Company
systems and equipment  determined to be non-compliant (and testing of remediated
systems before  returning them to production);  (3) inquiry  regarding Year 2000
readiness  of material  business  partners  and other third  parties on whom the
Company's business is dependent; and (4) development of contingency plans, where
feasible, to address potential third party non-compliance or failure of material
Company systems.

      The initial phase of the Company's  Year 2000  compliance  project was the
evaluation of all software,  hardware and equipment owned, leased or licensed by
the Company,  and  identification of those systems and equipment  requiring Year
2000 remediation. This analysis was completed during Fiscal 1998.
=============================================================================

<PAGE>



      All computer  hardware in the Company's U.S. home offices and distribution
center that was not Year 2000 compliant has been remediated or replaced, and all
computer  hardware  in the  Company's  retail  stores  that  was not  Year  2000
compliant  will be  remediated  or replaced  by the end of the first  quarter of
Fiscal  1999.  Of those  software  systems  that were  found not to be Year 2000
compliant,  approximately  90% of all material  systems have been  remediated or
replaced  by Year 2000  compliant  software.  The Company  anticipates  that all
remaining  material  systems,  including  certain  operating systems used in the
Company's  distribution center, will be remediated or replaced by the end of the
second  quarter of Fiscal 1999.  Hardware and software  unique to the  Company's
sourcing  offices  located  outside  the  United  States  are  scheduled  to  be
remediated or replaced by the end of the second quarter of Fiscal 1999.

      The  Company  engaged a  consultant  to assist  in the  evaluation  of the
equipment  used  in the  Company's  distribution  center  (other  than  computer
software and  hardware,  which were  included in the  analysis  and  remediation
efforts  described  above).  This equipment  evaluation has been completed,  and
remediation or replacement of distribution center equipment found not to be Year
2000  compliant is scheduled to be completed by the end of the second quarter of
Fiscal 1999.

      Over  the  past few  years,  the  Company's  strategic  plan has  included
significant  investment in and  modernization of many of the Company's  computer
systems. As a result, much of the costs and timing for replacement of certain of
the Company's systems that were not Year 2000 compliant were already anticipated
as part of the Company's planned  information  systems spending and did not need
to be accelerated as a result of the Company's Year 2000 project. The total cost
to the Company specifically  associated with addressing the Year 2000 issue with
respect to its systems and equipment has not been, and is not anticipated to be,
material to the  Company's  financial  position or results of  operations in any
given year. The Company estimates that the total additional cost of managing its
Year 2000 project,  remediating  existing  systems and  replacing  non-compliant
systems, is approximately $2.1 million, of which approximately $1.1 million will
be expensed as incurred  (including  $965,000  expensed in Fiscal 1998),  and $1
million which will be  capitalized  (including  $855,000  capitalized  in Fiscal
1998).

      Although  the  Company  believes  its Year 2000  compliance  efforts  with
respect to its systems will be successful,  any failure or delay could result in
actual costs and timing differing  materially from that presently  contemplated,
and in a disruption of business. The Company is developing a contingency plan to
permit its primary  operations  to continue if the Company's  modifications  and
conversions of its systems are not successfully completed on a timely basis, but
the foregoing cost estimates do not take into account any  expenditures  arising
out of a response to any such contingencies that materialize. The Company's cost
estimates  also do not include time or costs that may be incurred as a result of
third parties' failure to become Year 2000 compliant on a timely basis.

      The Company is  communicating  with its business  partners,  including key
manufacturers,  vendors,  banks  and  other  third  parties  with  whom  it does
business,  to obtain information regarding their state of readiness with respect
to the Year 2000 issue.  Failure of third parties to remediate  Year 2000 issues
affecting  their  respective  businesses  on a  timely  basis,  or to  implement
contingency  plans  sufficient  to permit  uninterrupted  continuation  of their
businesses  in the event of a failure  of their  systems,  could have a material
adverse effect on the Company's  business and results of operations.  Assessment
of third party Year 2000 readiness is expected to be substantially  completed by
the end of the first  quarter of Fiscal  1999.  The Company  will not be able to
determine its most reasonably  likely worst case scenarios  until  assessment of
third parties' Year 2000 compliance is completed.

==============================================================================
<PAGE>


      The Company's Year 2000 compliance project also includes  development of a
contingency plan designed to support critical  business  operations in the event
of the  occurrence of systems  failures or the  occurrence of reasonably  likely
worst case scenarios.  The Company  anticipates that  contingency  plans will be
substantially developed by the end of the second quarter of Fiscal 1999.

      The  Company  may  not be  able  to  compensate  adequately  for  business
interruption caused by certain third parties. Potential risks include suspension
or significant  curtailment of service or significant delays by banks, utilities
or common carriers, or at U.S. ports of entry. The Company's business also could
be  materially  adversely  affected by the failure of  governmental  agencies to
address Year 2000 issues  affecting the  Company's  operations.  For example,  a
significant  amount of the Company's  merchandise  is  manufactured  outside the
United  States,  and the  Company  is  dependent  upon the  issuance  by foreign
governmental  agencies of export visas for, and upon the U.S. Customs Service to
process  and permit  entry  into the United  States  of,  such  merchandise.  If
failures  in  government  systems  result  in the  suspension  or delay of these
agencies'  services,  the Company could experience  significant  interruption or
delays in its inventory flow.

      The costs and timing for  management's  completion of Year 2000 compliance
modification  and testing  processes are based on  management's  best estimates,
which were derived utilizing  numerous  assumptions of future events,  including
the continued  availability of certain resources,  the success of third parties'
Year 2000 compliance  efforts and other factors.  There can be no assurance that
these  assumptions  will be  realized  or that  actual  results  will  not  vary
materially.


STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING DISCLOSURES

      Sections  of this  Annual  Report on Form 10-K,  including  the  preceding
Management's  Discussion  and  Analysis of  Financial  Condition  and Results of
Operations,  contain various forward looking  statements,  within the meaning of
the  Private  Securities  Litigation  Reform  Act of 1995,  with  respect to the
financial condition, results of operations and business of the Company. Examples
of  forward-looking  statements  are  statements  that use the  words  "expect",
"anticipate",  "plan", "intend",  "project",  "believe" and similar expressions.
These forward looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties, and no
assurance can be given that any of such matters will be realized. Actual results
may differ materially from those contemplated by such forward looking statements
as a result of, among other things, failure by the Company to predict accurately
customer fashion preferences; a decline in the demand for merchandise offered by
the  Company;  competitive  influences;  changes  in levels of store  traffic or
consumer  spending  habits;  effectiveness  of the Company's brand awareness and
marketing  programs;  lack of sufficient  customer  acceptance of the Ann Taylor
Loft concept in the  moderate-priced  women's apparel market;  general  economic
conditions  that are less  favorable  than  expected or a downturn in the retail
industry;  the  inability  of the Company to locate new store sites or negotiate
favorable  lease terms for  additional  stores or for the  expansion of existing
stores;  a significant  change in the regulatory  environment  applicable to the
Company's  business;  an increase in the rate of import  duties or export quotas
with respect to the Company's merchandise; financial or political instability in
any of the countries in which the Company's goods are manufactured; any material
adverse  effects of the Year 2000 issue on the  business of the Company or third
parties  with which the  Company  does  business;  or an adverse  outcome of the
litigation  referred to in "Legal  Proceedings"  that  materially  and adversely
affects the Company's financial condition.  The Company assumes no obligation to
update or revise any such  forward  looking  statements,  which speak only as of
their date,  even if  experience  or future events or changes make it clear that
any projected  financial or operating  results  implied by such  forward-looking
statements will not be realized.

===============================================================================

<PAGE>



ITEM 7A.   QUANTITATIVE  AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURE ABOUT MARKET RISK

      The Company  maintains  the majority of its cash and cash  equivalents  in
financial  instruments  with original  maturities of three months or less. These
financial  instruments  are  subject to interest  rate risk and will  decline in
value if interest rates  increase.  Due to the short duration of these financial
instruments,  a change of 100 basis  points in  interest  rates would not have a
material effect on the Company's financial condition.

      The  Company's  outstanding  long-term  debt as of January  31, 1999 bears
interest at fixed rates;  therefore,  the Company's  results of operations would
only be affected by interest  rate changes to the extent that  fluctuating  rate
loans are  outstanding  under the Credit  Facility.  As of January 31, 1999, the
Company has no such amounts outstanding.  Future borrowings would be affected by
interest  rate changes;  however,  the Company does not believe that a change of
100 basis points in interest rates would have a material effect on the Company's
financial condition.




ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

      The  following  consolidated  financial  statements of the Company for the
years ended January 30, 1999, January 31, 1998 and February 1, 1997 are included
as a part of this Report (See Item 14):

      Consolidated  Statements of Operations  for the fiscal years ended January
          30, 1999, January 31, 1998 and February 1, 1997.

      Consolidated Balance Sheets as of January 30, 1999 and January 31, 1998.

      Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity for the fiscal years ended
          January 30, 1999, January 31, 1998 and February 1, 1997.

      Consolidated  Statements  of Cash Flows for the fiscal years ended January
          30, 1999, January 31, 1998 and February 1, 1997.

      Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.




ITEM 9. CHANGES  IN  AND  DISAGREEMENTS  WITH  ACCOUNTANTS  ON  ACCOUNTING  
        AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES

        None.


===============================================================================
<PAGE>


                                      PART III


ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

      As of March 26, 1999, the Company's  directors and executive officers were
as follows:

 NAME                      AGE      POSITION WITH THE COMPANY AND OFFICE HELD
 ----                      ---      -----------------------------------------

 J. Patrick Spainhour       49      Chairman,   Chief  Executive  Officer  and
                                    Director of the Company and Ann Taylor

 Patricia DeRosa            46      President,  Chief  Operating  Officer  and
                                    Director of the Company and Ann Taylor

 Walter J. Parks (a)        40      Senior Vice  President  - Chief  Financial
                                    Officer and Treasurer of the Company and
                                    Ann Taylor

 Jocelyn F.L. Barandiaran   38      Senior Vice President - General Counsel and
                                    Secretary of the Company and Ann Taylor

 James M. Smith             37      Vice President - Controller and  Assistant 
                                    Treasurer of the Company and Ann Taylor

 Gerald S. Armstrong        55      Director of the Company and Ann Taylor

 James J. Burke, Jr.        47      Director of the Company and Ann Taylor

 Wesley E. Cantrell         64      Director of the Company and Ann Taylor

 Robert C. Grayson          54      Director of the Company and Ann Taylor

 Ronald W. Hovsepian        37      Director of the Company and Ann Taylor

 Rochelle B. Lazarus        51      Director of the Company and Ann Taylor

 Hanne M. Merriman          57      Director of the Company and Ann Taylor


- --------------------
      (a) Mr. Parks  resigned from his positions with the Company and Ann Taylor
          effective March 31, 1999.

      The Board of  Directors  of the  Company  is divided  into  three  groups,
serving  staggered  three-year  terms.  The  Board of  Directors  has  standing
Audit,  Compensation  and  Nominating  Committees.  The  current  members of the
Audit Committee are Mr. Grayson  (Chairman),  Ms. Lazarus and Ms. Merriman.  The
current members of the Compensation  Committee are Ms. Lazarus  (Chairman),  Mr.
Armstrong,  Mr. Burke and Ms.  Merriman.  The current  members of the Nominating
Committee are Ms. Merriman (Chairman), Mr. Armstrong and Mr. Grayson.

      Directors who are employees of the Company do not receive any compensation
for serving on the Board of Directors of the Company or Ann Taylor. In addition,
Mr.  Armstrong  and Mr.  Burke,  who serve on the Boards of the  Company and Ann
Taylor as representatives of ML&Co. and certain of its affiliates, have declined
to receive  any  compensation  from the  Company  for Board  service.  All other
Directors  (referred  to below as  "non-employee  Directors")  receive an annual
retainer of $20,000,  plus $1,000 for each  meeting of the Board or committee of
the Board that they attend.  Committee  chairs also receive an annual stipend of
$3,000 for their service as such. In addition, commencing with fiscal 1998, each
non-employee  Director  also  receives an annual  grant of an option to purchase
2,000 shares of Common Stock.  Any new  non-employee  Director joining the Board
will,  at the time of election,  also  receive an initial  grant of an option to
purchase 7,500 shares of Common Stock. On June 17, 1998, incumbent  non-employee
Directors were each granted a one-time option to purchase 7,500 shares of Common
Stock.


===============================================================================
<PAGE>


      The following is a brief biography of each of the Company's  directors and
executive officers:

      J. PATRICK SPAINHOUR.  Mr. Spainhour has been Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer of the  Company and Ann Taylor  since  August 1996 and a Director of the
Company and Ann Taylor since February  1996.  From February 1996 to August 1996,
he was President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company and Ann Taylor. From
August 1994 to February  1996,  Mr.  Spainhour was executive  vice president and
chief financial officer of The Donna Karan Company,  a designer apparel company.
From February 1993 to July 1994, he was executive  vice  president,  finance and
operations of Stride Rite Corp., a footwear company.

      PATRICIA DEROSA.  Ms. DeRosa has been President,  Chief Operating  Officer
and a Director of the Company and Ann Taylor since  December  1996.  From August
1995 to November 1996, she was executive vice president, business development of
Charming Shoppes, Inc., a women's specialty apparel retailer.  From 1975 to 1981
and from 1983 to August 1995, she served in various capacities at The Gap, Inc.,
a specialty  apparel  retailer,  including from 1993 to 1995 as president of the
GapKids division.

      WALTER  J.  PARKS.  Mr.  Parks  has  been  Senior  Vice   President--Chief
Financial  Officer and  Treasurer of the Company and Ann Taylor  since  February
1997.  He has been  employed  by Ann  Taylor  since  1988  and has held  various
positions,   including  General  Accounting   Manager,   Director  of  Financial
Reporting  and, from 1992 to 1995,  Vice President of Financial  Reporting,  and
from  February  1995 to February  1997,  Senior Vice  President--Finance  of the
Company and  AnnTaylor.  Mr. Parks  resigned from his positions with the Company
and Ann Taylor effective March 31, 1999.

      JOCELYN  F.L.   BARANDIARAN.   Ms.   Barandiaran   has  been  Senior  Vice
President--General  Counsel and  Secretary  of the Company and Ann Taylor  since
October  1996.  She served as Vice  President--General  Counsel and Secretary of
the Company and Ann Taylor from May 1992 to September 1996.

      JAMES M. SMITH.  Mr.  Smith  has  been  Vice   President--Controller  and
Assistant  Treasurer  of the  Company  since  March  1997,  and  has  been  Vice
President--Controller and  Assistant Treasurer  of Ann  Taylor  since  February
1995.  He has  also  held  the  position  of  Assistant  Secretary  of both  the
Company and Ann Taylor  since June 1998.  From  February  1993 to January  1995,
Mr. Smith was Director of Financial Reporting for Ann Taylor.

      GERALD S. ARMSTRONG.  Mr.  Armstrong has been a Director of the Company
and Ann  Taylor  since  February  1989.  He has been the  managing  partner of
Arena Capital  Partners,  LLC, a private  investment firm, since January 1998.
Mr.  Armstrong  was  a  partner  of  Stonington  Partners,  Inc.  ("Stonington
Partners"),  a private  investment  firm, from November 1993 to December 1997,
and a director of Stonington  Partners  from August 1993 to December  1997. He
was a partner of ML Capital  Partners,  a private  investment  firm associates
with  ML&Co.  from May 1993  through  June  1994,  and was an  executive  vice
president of ML Capital  Partners from  November 1988 through April 1993.  Mr.
Armstrong was also a managing  director of the Investment  Banking Division of
ML&Co.  from November 1988 through June 1994.  Since June 1994, Mr.  Armstrong
has served as a consultant  to ML Capital  Partners.  Mr.  Armstrong is also a
director of Blue Bird Corporation and World Color Press, Inc.

     JAMES J.  BURKE,  JR. Mr.  Burke has been a Director of the Company and Ann
Taylor since February 1989. He has been a partner of Stonington Partners,  since
November 1993, and a director of Stonington Partners since August 1993. He was a
partner  of ML  Capital  Partners  from  May 1993  through  June  1994,  and was
president and chief executive  officer of ML Capital  Partners from January 1987
through  April 1993.  Mr.  Burke was a first vice  president  of Merrill  Lynch,
Pierce,  Fenner & Smith  Incorporated from July 1988 through June 1994 and was a
managing  director of the Investment  Banking Division of ML&Co. from April 1985
through June 1994.  Since June 1994,  Mr. Burke has served as a consultant to ML
Capital  Partners.  Mr.  Burke  is  also  a  director  of  Borg-Warner  Security
Corporation,  Education Management Corp.,  Pathmark Stores,  Inc.,  Supermarkets
General  Holdings  Corporation  and United Artists  Theatre  Circuit,  Inc., and
several privately held companies.
      WESLEY E.  CANTRELL.  Mr.  Cantrell  has been a Director  of the Company
and  Ann  Taylor  since  November  1998.  He  has  been  president  and  chief
executive  officer  of  Lanier  WorldWide,   Inc.  since  March  1987.  Lanier
WorldWide is engaged in the office systems and equipment  business,  and is an
operating   unit  of   Harris   Corporation,   a   company   engaged   in  the
communications,  semiconductors,  office systems and  equipment,  and advanced
electronic systems industries.


===============================================================================
<PAGE>


      ROBERT C.  GRAYSON.  Mr.  Grayson has been a Director of the Company and
Ann Taylor  since April 1992.  He has been  president  of Robert C.  Grayson &
Associates,  Inc., a retail  marketing  consulting  firm, since February 1992.
He has also served as chairman of  Berglass-Grayson,  a management  consulting
firm,  since June 1995. He was a vice chairman of the board of Tommy  Hilfiger
Corp.,  an apparel  manufacturer  and  retailer,  and chairman of the board of
Tommy Hilfiger Retail,  a subsidiary of such company,  from June 1994 to March
1996.  Mr.  Grayson is also a director of Sunglass  Hut  International,  Inc.,
Kenneth Cole Productions, Inc. and Frisby Technologies Inc.

      RONALD W. HOVSEPIAN.  Mr. Hovsepian has been a Director of the Company and
Ann Taylor since June 1998. He has been vice  president of business  development
of International  Business Machines  Corporation ("IBM"), a supplier of advanced
information processing products and services, since January 1999. He was general
manager of IBM's global retail and distribution industry solutions  organization
in 1998; from 1996 to 1997 he was vice president,  supply chain  solutions,  and
from 1994 to 1995 he was director, consumer driven solutions, at IBM.

      ROCHELLE B.  LAZARUS.  Ms.  Lazarus has been a Director of the Company and
Ann Taylor since April 1992.  She has been chief  executive  officer of Ogilvy &
Mather Worldwide, an advertising agency, since September 1996, and also chairman
of Ogilvy & Mather  Worldwide  since March  1997.  She was  president  and chief
operating  officer of Ogilvy & Mather  Worldwide from December 1995 to September
1996,  and was  president  of Ogilvy & Mather  North  America from April 1994 to
December 1995.

      HANNE M. MERRIMAN.  Ms.  Merriman has been a Director of the Company and
Ann Taylor since  December  1993. She has been the Principal in Hanne Merriman
Associates,  retail business consultants,  since January 1992. Ms. Merriman is
also a director  of  USAirways  Group,  Inc.,  The Rouse  Company,  State Farm
Mutual Automobile  Insurance  Company,  Ameren Corp.,  Central Illinois Public
Service  Company,  T. Rowe Price Mutual Funds,  and Finlay  Enterprises,  Inc.
She also serves as a director of the Children's  Hospital  Foundation (part of
the  Children's  National  Medical  Center),  and is a member of the  National
Women's Forum.


ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

      The  following  table  sets  forth  information  regarding  the annual and
long-term  compensation  awarded or paid for each of the last three fiscal years
to the Chief  Executive  Officer  and the four  other  most  highly  compensated
executive  officers of the Company as of January  30,  1999  (collectively,  the
"named executives").


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                             Annual Compensation                   Long-Term Compensation
                                       ----------------------------------------  ---------------------------
                                                                                  Restricted    Securities      All Other  
                              Fiscal                               Other Annual  Stock Awards   Underlying      Compensaton
Name and Principal Position    Year    Salary ($)    Bonus ($)(a) Compensation($)     ($)       Options (#)      ($) (b)     
- ---------------------------    ----    ----------    -----------  --------------- ----------    -----------      -------     
<S>                            <C>      <C>             <C>                                      <C>        <C>        
J. Patrick Spainhour           1998     $725,000        $942,500         --           --         20,000     $     2,400
Chairman and Chief             1997      656,250          81,250         --           --           --             3,306
Executive Officer              1996      556,074         295,000         --     $1,378,125(c)   175,000            --

Patricia DeRosa                1998      600,000         660,000         --           --         10,000            --
President and Chief            1997      600,000         150,000     $367,234(d)      --           --              --   
Operating Officer              1996       86,538            --           --        987,500(e)   100,000            --

Walter J. Parks(f)             1998      245,000         137,340         --           --           --             2,400
Senior Vice President          1997      245,000          15,313         --           --         16,000           2,438
Chief Financial Officer        1996      215,000          32,250         --           --          7,500           2,312
and Treasurer

Jocelyn F.L. Barandiaran       1998      233,004         121,450         --           --          4,200            --
Senior Vice President          1997      225,000          14,063         --           --         16,000            --
General Counsel and            1996      215,000          32,250         --           --          5,000            --
Secretary

James M. Smith                 1998      145,600          65,520         --           --          2,000           2,184
Vice President                 1997      140,000           7,000         --           --          7,500           2,374
Controller, Assistant          1996      125,000          11,250         --           --          5,000           1,875
Treasurer and
Assistant Secretary

<FN>

(a)Bonus awards were earned  pursuant to the  Company's  Management  Performance
   Compensation  Plan,  except that a portion of the bonus amounts indicated for
   Mr.  Spainhour for 1996 and for Ms. DeRosa for 1997 were  guaranteed  bonuses
   paid to them in  accordance  with the  terms of their  respective  employment
   agreements with the Company.
===============================================================================
<PAGE>

(b)Represents  contributions  made  by  the  Company  on  behalf  of  the  named
   executives to its 401(k) Savings Plan.

(c)Represents the market value, on the date of the grant,  of 75,000  restricted
   shares of Common  Stock  granted to Mr.  Spainhour  on  December  13, 1996 in
   connection with his promotion to Chairman and Chief Executive  Officer of the
   Company. The value of these shares as of January 30, 1999 was $2,906,250. Mr.
   Spainhour's  rights to these  shares vest with  respect to  one-third  of the
   grant per year on each of the first three  anniversaries  of August 23, 1996,
   the effective date of his promotion,  subject to his continued  employment by
   the Company.  Mr.  Spainhour would be entitled to receive  dividends on these
   restricted  shares if any  dividends  are paid by the  Company  on its Common
   Stock.

(d) Represents reimbursement of relocation expenses.

(e)Represents the market value, on the date of the grant,  of 30,000  restricted
   shares of Common Stock and 20,000  restricted  units granted to Ms. DeRosa on
   December 9, 1996 in connection with her commencement of employment,  pursuant
   to her employment  agreement with the Company.  The value of these shares and
   units as of January 30, 1999, was  $1,937,500.  Ms.  DeRosa's rights to these
   shares and units vest with respect to one-third of the grant per year on each
   of the first three  anniversaries  of December 9, 1996, the effective date of
   her employment agreement, subject to her continued employment by the Company.
   Ms. DeRosa would be entitled to receive dividends on the restricted shares if
   any dividends are paid by the Company on its Common Stock.

(f) Mr. Parks resigned from his employment effective March 31, 1999.

</FN>
</TABLE>


      The following table sets forth certain  information  with respect to stock
options awarded during fiscal year 1998 to the named executives  listed in Table
I above.  These option grants also are reflected in Table I. In accordance  with
Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  ("Commission")  rules,  the  hypothetical
realizable values for each option grant are shown based on compound annual rates
of stock price  appreciation of 5% and 10% from the grant date to the expiration
date. The assumed rates of appreciation are prescribed by the Commission and are
for  illustrative  purposes only;  they are not intended to predict future stock
prices,  which will depend  upon  market  conditions  and the  Company's  future
performance and prospects.


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                   TABLE II
                  Stock Options Granted in Fiscal Year 1998




                                                                                     Potential Realizable Value
                                               % of Total #                            at Assumed Annual Rates
                             # of Securities  of Options                                of Stock Price
                                Underlying    Granted to   Exercise                       Appreciation
                                  Options     Employees in    Price    Expiration         for Option Term (b) 
    Name                         Granted (a)  Fiscal 1998  ($/Share)     Date            5%($)      10%($)
    ----                         -----------  -----------  ---------     ----            -----      ------
<S>                          <C>              <C>          <C>         <C>           <C>           <C>        
J. Patrick Spainhour            20,000            8.5%       $15.50     4/21/08        $195,000    $494,000
Patricia DeRosa                 10,000            4.2%        15.50     4/21/08          97,500     247,000
Walter J. Parks                    ---            ---          ---         ---             ---         ---
Jocelyn F.L. Barandiaran         4,200            1.8%        15.50     4/21/08          40,950     103,740
James M. Smith                   2,000            0.9%        15.50     4/21/08          19,500      49,400

<FN>

(a)   Options  vest  25%  per  year  on  each  of  the  first   through   fourth
      anniversaries  of the date of grant,  subject to earlier  vesting upon the
      occurrence of one of the following  "Acceleration  Events": (i) any person
      (excluding  ML Capital  Partners  and its  affiliates,  and certain  other
      persons)  becomes  the  owner of at least  20% of the  outstanding  Common
      Stock,  (ii) a  majority  of the Board of  Directors  changes,  or (iii) a
      merger or other specified event occurs.

(b)   These columns show the hypothetical realizable value of the options at the
      end of the ten-year term of the options, assuming that the market price of
      the Common Stock subject to the options appreciates in value at the annual
      rate  indicated  in the  table,  from  the date of grant to the end of the
      option term.

</FN>
</TABLE>
===============================================================================
<PAGE>



      The following table shows the number of shares of Common Stock acquired by
each executive  officer upon the exercise of Company stock options during fiscal
year 1998, and the aggregate  dollar value realized by such executives upon such
exercise,  based upon the fair market  value of the Common  Stock on the date of
exercise,  as well as the number of all vested  (exercisable)  and unvested (not
yet  exercisable)  stock  options held by each  executive  officer at the end of
fiscal  year 1998,  and the value of all such  options  that were "in the money"
(i.e.,  the market price of the Common Stock was greater than the exercise price
of the options) at the end of fiscal year 1998.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                  TABLE III
                  Aggregate Option Exercises in Fiscal 1998
                      and Fiscal Year End Option Values


                           No. of Shares      $ Value        Number of Shares Underlying     $ Value of Unexercised 
                            Acquired on     Realized Upon      Unexercised Options           In-the-Money Options 
                            Exercise of     Exercise of      at End of Fiscal 1998           at End of Fiscal 1998 
Name                       Stock Options     Options(a)    Exercisable/Unexercisable     Exercisable/Unexercisable (b)
- ----                       -------------     ----------    -------------------------     -----------------------------
<S>                             <C>          <C>               <C>     <C>                    <C>        <C>     
J. Patrick Spainhour            25,000       $412,500          150,000/20,000                 $3,328,125/$465,000
Patricia DeRosa                   ---            ---           83,000/27,000                   1,462,875/532,125 
Walter J. Parks                 21,218        240,705           7,499/17,753                    122,494/154,073
Jocelyn F.L. Barandiaran          ---            ---           48,040/24,660                   851,982/352,794
James M. Smith                  10,623        104,678           4,584/11,793                    79,301/163,955

- -----------
<FN>

(a) Calculated based on the closing market price of the Common Stock on the date
    of  exercise,  less the  amount  required  to be paid upon  exercise  of the
    option.

(b) Calculated  based on the closing  market price of the Common Stock of $38.75
    on January 29,  1999,  the last  trading  day in fiscal year 1998,  less the
    amount required to be paid upon exercise of the option.

</FN>
</TABLE>

      PENSION  PLAN.  Since 1989,  Ann Taylor has  maintained a defined  benefit
retirement  plan  (as  amended,  the  "Pension  Plan")  for the  benefit  of its
employees  and those of its wholly  owned  subsidiaries,  which is  intended  to
qualify  under  Section  401(a)  of the  Internal  Revenue  Code  (the  "Code").
Originally,  the Pension Plan provided for  calculation  of benefits  based on a
"cash balance" formula. Effective January 1, 1998, the Pension Plan provides for
calculation of benefits based on a "career  average"  formula  instead of a cash
balance formula.

      Under the "career average" formula,  each participant's service and annual
earnings  are used to  determine  their  annual  pension  accrual.  During  each
participant's  first ten years with Ann Taylor,  their pension will accrue,  for
each year of  participation  in the Pension  Plan, at the rate of 1.25% of their
current  year's pay up to the Social  Security Wage Base ("Wage Base") plus 1.6%
of any pay that exceeds the Wage Base, up to the maximum amount permitted by the
Code. Upon completion of more than 10 years of service, the participant's annual
pension  accrual  increases  to 1.6% of the  current  year's pay, up to the Wage
Base,  plus  1.95%  of any pay  over the Wage  Base,  up to the  maximum  amount
permitted by the Code.

      Pension   benefits   are  fully   vested  after  five  years  of  service.
Participants  receive  credit for service  with Ann Taylor prior to July 1, 1989
for purposes of vesting,  and for  purposes of  calculating  benefits  under the
Pension Plan. There is no interruption in participation  for those employees who
were  participants  in the Pension  Plan as of  December  31,  1997;  their cash
balance benefit was frozen as of that date.  Pension benefits for such employees
who retire on or after January 1, 1998 are calculated using whichever of the two
- - the amount in their cash  balance  account as of  December  31,  1997,  or the
career average formula - provides greater benefits.

      Under the Code, the annual compensation that may be taken into account for
purposes of  calculating  benefits under the Pension Plan is limited to $160,000
(indexed for inflation). With the exception of Mr. Smith, all current executives
named in Table I had annual  compensation in 1998 which exceeds this figure, and
the  calculation  of benefits  for these  executives  is based on the lower plan
limitation amount.

===============================================================================
<PAGE>



      As of December 31, 1998,  the credited  years of service under the Pension
Plan for Mr.  Spainhour was 1.8 years; Ms. DeRosa one year; Mr. Parks 9.3 years;
Ms.  Barandiaran  5.7 years;  and Mr.  Smith 4.9 years.  The  estimated  monthly
retirement benefit,  payable as a single life annuity,  that would be payable to
each of the  executives  named in Table I who were  participants  in the Pension
Plan during fiscal 1998, assuming (i) no increases in income and (ii) retirement
and  the  commencement  of  benefit  payments  at age  65,  is as  follows:  Mr.
Spainhour,  $3,949;  Ms. DeRosa,  $4,378; Mr. Parks,  $7,295;  Ms.  Barandiaran,
$7,305;  and Mr.  Smith,  $7,193.  These  benefits  would not be  subject to any
reduction for social security or other offset amounts.

      EMPLOYMENT  AGREEMENTS.  Spainhour Employment  Agreement.  Effective as of
February  19, 1996,  the Company and Mr.  Spainhour  entered into an  employment
agreement in connection  with his  commencement of service as an employee of the
Company.  This  agreement  was  amended as of August 23, 1996 (as  amended,  the
"Spainhour Agreement"), in connection with Mr. Spainhour's promotion to Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. The Spainhour Agreement provides for
Mr.  Spainhour's  employment  as  Chairman  and Chief  Executive  Officer of the
Company for a term of three years,  which term is  automatically  extended on an
annual basis for one additional year unless either party provides notice that it
does not wish to extend the term (a  "Nonrenewal  Notice").  Under the Spainhour
Agreement,  effective  January 1, 1998,  Mr.  Spainhour is entitled to an annual
base  salary  of not less than  $725,000.  Mr.  Spainhour  also is  entitled  to
participate  in the Company's  annual bonus and stock option  plans,  as well as
other Company benefit programs.

      Pursuant  to the  terms of the  Spainhour  Agreement,  Mr.  Spainhour  was
granted,  under the Stock Option Plan, an option to purchase  100,000  shares of
Common  Stock at an exercise  price equal to the fair market value of the Common
Stock on the date Mr. Spainhour commenced  employment with the Company (February
19, 1996).  These options vested 50% on each of the first two  anniversaries  of
the date of grant. In addition, in connection with his promotion to Chairman and
Chief  Executive  Officer  of  the  Company,   Mr.  Spainhour   received  (i)  a
"performance vesting" option to purchase 75,000 shares of Common Stock under the
Stock  Option Plan,  at an exercise  price equal to the fair market value of the
Common Stock on the date of grant,  which option vests on the ninth  anniversary
of the date of grant,  subject to earlier vesting upon the occurrence of certain
performance  criteria  and subject to  accelerated  vesting and  termination  in
accordance  with the terms of the Stock Option Plan; and (ii) 75,000  restricted
shares of  Common  Stock,  one-third  of which  vest on each of the first  three
anniversaries of August 23, 1996,  subject to accelerated  vesting in accordance
with  the  terms of the  Stock  Option  Plan,  or upon  the  termination  of Mr.
Spainhour's  employment other than for Cause or by Mr. Spainhour for Good Reason
(as such terms are defined in the Spainhour Agreement).

      In the event of termination of Mr.  Spainhour's  employment by the Company
without  Cause,  or by Mr.  Spainhour  for Good  Reason,  or in the event of the
expiration  of the term of the  Spainhour  Agreement  by reason of a  Nonrenewal
Notice provided by the Company,  Mr.  Spainhour  shall be entitled,  among other
things,  to  receive,  for the longer of one year or the  remaining  term of the
Spainhour  Agreement,  an amount representing his salary plus the average of his
last three  annual  bonuses,  subject  to Mr.  Spainhour's  compliance  with the
noncompete and  nonsolicitation  provisions of the Spainhour  Agreement.  If any
payments or benefits  received by Mr.  Spainhour would be subject to the "golden
parachute"  excise  tax  under  the  Code,  the  Company  has  agreed to pay Mr.
Spainhour such  additional  amounts as may be necessary to place him in the same
after-tax position as if the payments had not been subject to such excise tax.

      DeRosa  Employment  Agreement.  On November 25, 1996,  the Company and Ms.
Patricia  DeRosa entered into an employment  agreement (the "DeRosa  Agreement")
providing for her  employment as President  and Chief  Operating  Officer of the
Company for a term of three years. Under the terms of the DeRosa Agreement,  Ms.
DeRosa is entitled to an annual  base  salary of not less than  $600,000  and is
entitled to participate in the Company's annual bonus and stock option plans, as
well as other Company benefit programs.


===============================================================================
<PAGE>




     Pursuant to the terms of the DeRosa Agreement, Ms. DeRosa was granted under
the Stock Option Plan an option to acquire  100,000 shares of Common Stock at an
exercise  price equal to the fair market  value of the Common  Stock on November
25, 1996.  One half of these options are "time  vesting"  options,  one-third of
which become exercisable on each of the first three anniversaries of December 9,
1996 (the  "Effective  Date").  The other half of the options  are  "performance
vesting" options which vest on the ninth anniversary of Ms. DeRosa's employment,
subject to earlier vesting upon the occurrence of certain  performance  criteria
and subject to accelerated  vesting and termination in accordance with the terms
of the Stock Option Plan. In addition,  Ms. DeRosa  received  30,000  restricted
shares of Common Stock and 20,000 restricted units, which represent the right to
receive a cash  payment  based on the closing  price of the Common  Stock on the
trading date immediately preceding the date the restrictions lapse. One-third of
each of the  restricted  shares and  restricted  units vest on each of the first
three anniversaries of the Effective Date.

      In the event of  termination  of Ms.  DeRosa's  employment  by the Company
without  Cause or by Ms.  DeRosa for Good Reason,  Ms. DeRosa shall be entitled,
among other  things,  to receive (i) for the longer of one year or the remaining
term of the DeRosa  Agreement,  an amount  representing her base salary and (ii)
the bonus for the season in which the date of termination  occurs,  pro rated to
reflect  the  number of days in such  season  through  the date of  termination,
subject to Ms.  DeRosa's  compliance  with the  noncompete  and  nonsolicitation
provisions  of  the  DeRosa  Agreement.   Any  unvested  restricted  shares  and
restricted  units  would also vest at such time.  If any  payments  or  benefits
received by Ms.  DeRosa  would be subject to the "golden  parachute"  excise tax
under the Code, the Company has agreed to pay Ms. DeRosa such additional amounts
as may be  necessary  to place  her in the  same  after-tax  position  as if the
payments had not been subject to such excise tax.


ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

      As of March 22, 1999, the  outstanding  Common Stock was held of record by
613 stockholders.  The following table sets forth certain  information as of the
Record  Date  concerning  the  beneficial  ownership  of  Common  Stock  by each
stockholder  who is known by the Company to own  beneficially in excess of 5% of
the outstanding  Common Stock, by each director,  by the named executives listed
in Table I above, and by all directors and executive officers as a group. Except
as otherwise indicated,  all persons listed below have (i) sole voting power and
investment  power with  respect to their shares of Common  Stock,  except to the
extent that authority is shared by spouses under applicable law, and (ii) record
and beneficial ownership with respect to their shares of Common Stock.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          No. of        Percent
                                                        Shares of       -------
Name of Beneficial Owner                               Common Stock
- ------------------------                               ------------
<S>                                                     <C>             <C> 
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter & Co. (a)..................  4,191,741        16.0%
Fleet Financial Group, Inc. (b).......................  1,824,484         7.0%
Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. and certain affiliates (c)..  1,733,628         6.6%
FMR Corp. (d).........................................  1,649,450         6.3%
AMVESCAP PLC (e)......................................  1,325,800         5.1%
J. Patrick Spainhour (f)..............................    180,410          *
Patricia DeRosa (f)...................................     99,333          *
Walter J. Parks (f)...................................        625          *
Jocelyn F.L. Barandiaran (f)..........................     51,465          *
James M. Smith (f)....................................      2,781          *
Gerald S. Armstrong (g)(h)............................     10,964          *
James J. Burke, Jr. (g)...............................     52,920          *
Wesley E. Cantrell....................................          0          *
Robert C. Grayson.....................................     25,000          *
Ronald W. Hovsepian...................................          0          *
Rochelle B. Lazarus (i)...............................        600          *
Hanne M. Merriman.....................................        200          *
All executive officers and directors as a 
  group (12 persons) (j)                                  424,298         1.6%
- ------------------
<FN>
*     Less than 1%
==============================================================================
<PAGE>

(a)   Pursuant  to a Schedule  13G dated  February  12,  1999 and filed with the
      Commission by Morgan Stanley Dean Witter & Co., Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
      Advisors Inc., and Van Kampen Asset Management  Inc.,  Morgan Stanley Dean
      Witter & Co had shared voting power with respect to 3,708,741 shares, sole
      voting power with respect to no shares,  and shared dispositive power with
      respect to 4,191,741 shares;  Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Advisors Inc. had
      shared  voting power with respect to 1,891,400  shares,  sole voting power
      with respect to no shares,  shared  voting power with respect to 1,891,400
      shares,  and sole  dispositive  power with  respect to no shares;  and Van
      Kampen  Asset  Management  Inc.  had shared  voting  power with respect to
      1,164,082 shares, sole dispositive power with respect to no shares, shared
      dispositive power with respect to 1,294,382  shares,  and sole dispositive
      power with  respect to no shares.  The  address  for Morgan  Stanley  Dean
      Witter & Co. is 1585 Broadway, New York, NY 10036; for Morgan Stanley Dean
      Witter  Advisors Inc. is Two World Trade Center,  New York, NY 10048;  and
      for Van Kampen  Asset  Management  Inc. is One  Parkview  Plaza,  Oakbrook
      Terrace, IL 60181.

(b)   Pursuant  to a Schedule  13G dated  February  13,  1998 and filed with the
      Commission by Fleet Financial Group, Inc. ("Fleet"), Fleet had sole voting
      power with respect to 25,000  shares,  shared voting power with respect to
      1,799,484  shares,  sole dispositive  power with respect to 25,000 shares,
      and shared dispositive power with respect to 1,686,400 shares. The address
      for  Fleet  Financial   Group,   Inc.  is  One  Federal  Street,   Boston,
      Massachusetts 02110.

(c)  Pursuant to an  amendment  to a Schedule  13G dated  February  12, 1999 and
     filed with the Commission by ML&Co.,  its  subsidiary  Merrill Lynch Group,
     Inc.  ("ML  Group")  and  certain of their  affiliates  (collectively,  the
     "Merrill Lynch  Entities"),  ML&Co. and ML Group are deemed to beneficially
     own an aggregate of 1,733,628  shares of Common Stock.  ML&Co. and ML Group
     may be deemed to beneficially own these shares as a result of their control
     of their wholly owned  subsidiaries  (i) Merrill  Lynch  Capital  Partners,
     Inc.,  which is the general partner of both (a) MLCP Associates L.P. No. I,
     and (b) Merrill  Lynch LBO  Partners No. B-I,  L.P., a limited  partnership
     that  acts  as  general  partner  of  Merrill  Lynch  Capital  Appreciation
     Partnership No. B-II,  which, as reported in the Schedule 13G, is the owner
     of record of shares  representing  approximately  3.29% of the  outstanding
     Common Stock,  and ML Offshore LBO Partners No. B-II which,  as reported in
     the  Schedule   13G,  is  the  owner  of  record  of  shares   representing
     approximately  1.92% of the shares;  (ii) KECALP Inc. and Merrill Lynch MBP
     Inc., each of which acts as general partners of limited  partnerships  that
     are record owners of shares (no single  limited  partnership  is the record
     holder of more than 5% of the outstanding  Common Stock);  and (iii) ML IBK
     Positions,  Inc. that, as reported in the Schedule 13G, owns of record less
     than 1% of such  shares.  The  Merrill  Lynch  Entities  are deemed to have
     shared  voting  and  investment  power with other  ML&Co.  affiliates  with
     respect to the shares of Common  Stock deemed to be  beneficially  owned by
     them. On March 25, 1999,  ML Capital  Partners  orally  advised the Company
     that the Merrill Lynch Entities had sold all of these shares in March 1999.
     The address for ML&Co.,  ML Group and ML IBK  Positions,  Inc. is 250 Vesey
     Street,  World Financial Center, North Tower, New York, New York 10281. The
     address for each of the other  Merrill  Lynch  Entities  named above is 225
     Liberty  Street,  New York,  New York 10080.  (d)  Pursuant to an amendment
     dated January 7, 1999 to a Schedule 13G filed with the  Commission  by FMR 
     Corp.,  Edward C.  Johnson 3d and  Abigail P. Johnson, FMR Corp. indicated
     that it had sole voting power with respect to 222,000 shares and shared 
     voting power with respect to no shares, and each of FMR Corp.,  Edward C. 
     Johnson 3d and Abigail P. Johnson  indicated that they had sole  
     dispositive  power with  respect to 1,649,450  shares.  The address for 
     each of FMR Corp., Edward C. Johnson 3d and Abigail P. Johnson is 82 
     Devonshire Street, Boston, MA 02109.

(e)   Pursuant  to a Schedule  13G dated  February  10,  1999 and filed with the
      Commission by AMVESCAP PLC on behalf of itself and its  subsidiaries  AVZ,
      Inc., AIM Management Group Inc.,  AMVESCAP Group Services,  Inc., INVESCO,
      Inc., INVESCO North American Holdings,  Inc., INVESCO Capital  Management,
      Inc.,  INVESCO Funds Group,  Inc.,  INVESCO  Management & Research,  Inc.,
      INVESCO Realty  Advisers,  Inc., and INVESCO (NY) Asset  Management,  Inc.
      (collectively,  "AMVESCAP"),  AMVESCAP  beneficially owns 1,325,800 shares
      and has shared voting power and shared  dispositive  power with respect to
      all such shares. The address for AMVESCAP is 11 Devonshire Square,  London
      EC2M 4YR England, and 1315 Peachtree Street, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30309.



===============================================================================

<PAGE>




(f)   The shares listed include shares subject to options  exercisable within 60
      days of March 22, 1999 as follows:  Mr.  Spainhour,  155,000  shares;  Ms.
      DeRosa,  69,333 shares;  Mr. Parks, 625 shares;  Ms.  Barandiaran,  51,465
      shares;  and Mr.  Smith,  2,581  shares.  The shares  listed also  include
      restricted  shares  which  have not yet  vested  and which are  subject to
      forfeiture,  as follows:  Mr.  Spainhour,  25,000 shares;  and Ms. DeRosa,
      10,000 shares.

(g)   James J.  Burke,  Jr.  and  Gerald  S.  Armstrong  serve on the Board of
      Directors  of the  Company  and Ann Taylor as  designees  of ML&Co.  and
      certain of its  affiliates.  Both Mr. Burke and Mr.  Armstrong  disclaim
      beneficial  ownership  of the shares  beneficially  owned by the Merrill
      Lynch Entities.

(h)   3,000 of these shares are held by Mr. Armstrong's spouse, as custodian for
      their children.  Mr.  Armstrong  disclaims  beneficial  ownership of these
      shares.

(i)   Shares are held in a pension fund of which Ms. Lazarus' spouse is the sole
      beneficiary. Ms. Lazarus has no voting or investment power with respect to
      these shares.

(j)   The shares listed include  279,004  shares subject to options  exercisable
      within 60 days of March 22, 1999, and 35,000  restricted  shares that have
      not yet vested and are subject to forfeiture.

</FN>
</TABLE>

                           SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL
                        OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

      Section  16(a) of the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934 (as amended)  (the
"Exchange  Act"),  requires the Company's  directors and certain  officers,  and
holders  of more  than  10% of the  Company's  Common  Stock,  to file  with the
Securities and Exchange  Commission  and the New York Stock Exchange  reports of
their  ownership  and changes in  ownership of Common  Stock.  Copies of Section
16(a)  reports are required to be  furnished  to the Company.  Based solely on a
review of the copies of such  statements  furnished to the  Company,  or written
representations from certain reporting persons that no Forms 5 were required for
such  persons,   the  Company   believes  that  during  fiscal  year  1998,  all
transactions  were  reported  on a timely  basis,  except  that Mr.  Hovsepian's
initial  statement of ownership was filed by the Company's  counsel one business
day late.


ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

      Pursuant to an amendment  to a Schedule 13G dated  February 12, 1999 and
filed with the  Commission  by the Merrill Lynch  Entities,  the Merrill Lynch
Entities   beneficially   owned  an   aggregate  of   1,733,628   shares,   or
approximately  6.7%, of the outstanding  Common Stock.  Messrs.  Armstrong and
Burke  serve on the  Boards of  Directors  of the  Company  and Ann  Taylor as
representatives  of ML&Co.  and its affiliates.  Accordingly,  ML&Co.  and its
affiliates  are in a position to  influence  the  management  of the  Company.
Messrs.  Armstrong and Burke are also members of the Compensation Committee of
the Board of  Directors  of the  Company.  On March 25,  1999,  ML Capital 
Partners orally advised the  Company  that the Merrill  Lynch  Entities had 
sold all of these shares in March 1999.

==============================================================================
<PAGE>






                                      PART IV



<PAGE>

ITEM 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

   (a)    List of documents filed as part of this Annual Report:
         
          The following  consolidated  financial statements of the Company and
          the  independent  auditors'  report are included on pages 36 through
          56 and are filed as part of this Annual Report:

          Consolidated  Statements  of  Operations  for the fiscal years ended
          January  30,   1999,   January  31,  1998  and   February  1,  1997;
          Consolidated  Balance  Sheets as of January 30, 1999 and January 31,
          1998;  Consolidated  Statements  of  Stockholders'  Equity  for  the
          fiscal years ended January 30, 1999,  January 31, 1998, and February
          1, 1997;  Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the fiscal years
          ended  January 30,  1999,  January 31,  1998,  and February 1, 1997;
          Notes to Consolidated  Financial  Statements;  Independent Auditors'
          Report.

   (b)    Reports on Form 8-K

          The  Company  filed a report  with the  Commission  on Form 8-K  dated
          November  9,  1998  with  respect  to the  dismissal  of  the  amended
          complaint,  filed in April 1998, of the purported class action lawsuit
          against the Company, Ann Taylor, certain officers and directors of the
          Company and Ann Taylor,  ML&Co.  and certain  affiliates of ML&Co. The
          Company filed a report with the  Commission on Form 8-K dated December
          17, 1998 with respect to the plaintiffs'  filing of a notice of appeal
          of such dismissal.

   (c)      Exhibits
  
            The exhibits listed below are filed as a part of this Annual Report.

  

 Exhibit Number
 --------------

3.1      Restated  Certificate of Incorporation of the Company.  Incorporated
            by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's  Registration Statement
            on Form S-8 filed with the Securities and Exchange  Commission  (the
            "Commission") on August 10, 1992 (Registration
            No. 33-50688).

3.2      By-Laws of the Company.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to
            the Form 10-Q of the Company for the Quarter ended  November 2, 1991
            filed on December 17, 1991 (Registration No. 33-28522).

4.1      Indenture,  dated as of June 15, 1993,  between Ann Taylor and Fleet
            Bank, N.A., as Trustee,  including the form of Subordinated Note due
            2000. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report
            on Form 8-K of Ann Taylor filed on July 7, 1993.

4.1.1    Instrument of Resignation,  Appointment and Acceptance,  dated as of
            December 1, 1995,  among Ann Taylor,  Fleet Bank, N.A., as Resigning
            Trustee,  and Norwest Bank Minnesota,  N.A., the Successor  Trustee.
            Incorporated  by reference to Exhibit  4.1.1 to the Annual Report on
            Form 10-K of the Company filed on April 8, 1996.

10.1     Form of Warrant  Agreement  entered  into between Ann Taylor and The
            Connecticut Bank and Trust Company, National Association,  including
            the form of Warrant.  Incorporated  by  reference  to Exhibit 4.3 to
            Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement of the Company and Ann
            Taylor filed on June 21, 1989 (Registration No. 33-28522).

10.2     1989 Stock Option Plan.  Incorporated  by reference to Exhibit 10.18
            to the Registration Statement of the Company and Ann Taylor filed on
            May 3, 1989 (Registration No. 33-28522).

10.2.1   Amendment to 1989 Stock Option  Plan.  Incorporated  by reference to
            Exhibit  10.15.1  to the Annual  Report on Form 10-K of the  Company
            filed on April 30, 1993.


===============================================================================
<PAGE>






Exhibit Number
- --------------


10.3     Lease, dated as of March 17, 1989, between Carven Associates and Ann
            Taylor concerning the West 57th Street headquarters. Incorporated by
            reference  to Exhibit  10.21 to the  Registration  Statement  of the
            Company  and Ann  Taylor  filed  on May 3,  1989  (Registration  No.
            33-28522).

10.3.1   First  Amendment to Lease,  dated as of November  14, 1990,  between
            Carven  Associates  and Ann Taylor.  Incorporated  by  reference  to
            Exhibit 10.17.1 to the  Registration  Statement of the Company filed
            on April 11, 1991 (Registration No. 33-39905).

10.3.2   Second  Amendment to Lease,  dated as of February 28, 1993,  between
            Carven  Associates  and Ann Taylor.  Incorporated  by  reference  to
            Exhibit  10.17.2  to the Annual  Report on Form 10-K of the  Company
            filed on April 29, 1993.

10.3.3   Extension  and  Amendment  to Lease  dated as of  October  1,  1993,
            between Carven Associates and Ann Taylor.  Incorporated by reference
            to  Exhibit  10.11 to the Form 10-Q of Ann  Taylor  for the  Quarter
            ended October 30, 1993 filed on November 26, 1993.

10.3.4   Modification of Amendment and Extension to Lease,  dated as of April
            14, 1994 between Carven  Associates and Ann Taylor.  Incorporated by
            reference  to Exhibit  10.15.4 to the Annual  Report on Form 10-K of
            the Company filed on April 28, 1995.

10.3.5   Fifth Amendment to Lease, dated as of March 14, 1995, between Carven
            Associates  and Ann Taylor.  Incorporated  by  reference  to Exhibit
            10.15.5 to the Annual  Report on Form 10-K of the  Company  filed on
            April 28, 1995.

10.3.6   Sixth  Amendment  to Lease,  dated as of January  5,  1996,  between
            Pacific  Metropolitan  Corporation  and Ann Taylor.  Incorporated by
            reference to Exhibit 10.8.6 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the
            Company filed on April 30, 1998.

10.3.7   Seventh  Amendment  to  Lease,  dated  as of June 5,  1996,  between
            Pacific  Metropolitan  Corporation  and Ann Taylor.  Incorporated by
            reference to Exhibit 10.8.7 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the
            Company filed on April 30, 1998.

10.3.8   Eighth  Amendment to Lease,  undated,  between Pacific  Metropolitan
            Corporation  and Ann Taylor.  Incorporated  by  reference to Exhibit
            10.8.8 to the  Annual  Report on Form 10-K of the  Company  filed on
            April 30, 1998.

10.3.9   Ninth Amendment to Lease,  dated as of May 13, 1997, between Pacific
            Metropolitan  Corporation and Ann Taylor.  Incorporated by reference
            to Exhibit  10.8.9 to the Annual  Report on Form 10-K of the Company
            filed on April 30, 1998.

10.3.10  Tenth Amendment to Lease,  dated as of May 21, 1997, between Pacific
            Metropolitan  Corporation and Ann Taylor.  Incorporated by reference
            to Exhibit  10.8.10 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company
            filed on April 30, 1998.

10.3.11  Eleventh  Amendment  to  Lease,  dated as of May 15,  1998,  between
            Pacific Metropolitan Corporation and Ann Taylor.

10.4     Tax  Sharing  Agreement,  dated as of July  13,  1989,  between  the
            Company and Ann Taylor.  Incorporated  by reference to Exhibit 10.24
            to Amendment No. 2 to the Registration  Statement of the Company and
            Ann Taylor filed on July 13, 1989 (Registration No.
            33-28522).

10.5     Employment  Agreement  dated as of  February  1,  1994  between  the
            Company and Sally Frame Kasaks. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
            10.8 to the Form 10-Q of the Company for the Quarter  ended  October
            29, 1994 filed on December 9, 1994.
==============================================================================
<PAGE>


Exhibit Number
- --------------


10.6     Employment Agreement dated February 16, 1996 between the Company and
            J. Patrick  Spainhour.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to
            the  Annual  Report  on Form 10-K of the  Company  filed on April 8,
            1996.

10.6.1   Amendment  to the  Employment  Agreement,  dated  August  23,  1996,
            between  the  Company  and J.  Patrick  Spainhour.  Incorporated  by
            reference  to Exhibit  10.11.1 to the Annual  Report on Form 10-K of
            the Company filed on May 1, 1997.

10.7     Employment Agreement dated November 25, 1996 between the Company and
            Patricia  DeRosa.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to Form
            10-Q of Ann Taylor for the Quarter  ended  November 2, 1996 filed on
            December 17, 1996.

10.8     Employment Agreement dated September 20, 1996 between Ann Taylor and
            Dwight F. Meyer.  Incorporated  by  reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the
            Form 10-Q of Ann Taylor for the Quarter ended November 2, 1996 filed
            on December 17, 1996.

10.9     Separation  Agreement  dated July 15,  1997  between  Ann Taylor and
            Barry  Shapiro.  Incorporated  by reference to Exhibit  10.15 to the
            Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company filed on April 30, 1998.

10.10    The AnnTaylor  Stores  Corporation  1992 Stock Option and Restricted
            Stock and Unit Award Plan,  Amended and  Restated as of February 23,
            1994 (the "1992 Option Plan").  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
            10.15 to the Annual  Report on Form 10-K of the Company filed on May
            1, 1997.

10.10.1  Amendment to the AnnTaylor Stores  Corporation  Amended and Restated
            1992 Stock  Option and  Restricted  Stock and Unit  Award  Plan,  as
            approved by stockholders on June 18, 1997. Incorporated by reference
            to Exhibit  10.15.1 to the Form 10-Q of the  Company for the Quarter
            Ended August 2, 1997 filed on September 12, 1997.

10.10.2  Amendment to the AnnTaylor Stores Corporation Amended and Restricted
            1992 Stock Option and Restricted  Stock and Unit Award Plan dated as
            of January 16, 1998. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10 of Form
            8-K of the Company filed on March 12, 1998.

10.10.3  Amendment to the AnnTaylor Stores  Corporation  Amended and Restated
            1992 Stock Option and Restricted  Stock and Unit Award Plan dated as
            of May 2, 1998.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.16.3 to the
            Form 10-Q of the Company  for the Quarter  ended April 2, 1998 filed
            on June 16, 1998.

10.11    AnnTaylor  Stores  Corporation   Amended  and  Restated   Management
            Performance  Compensation  Plan, as approved by stockholders on June
            18, 1997.  Incorporated  by  reference to Exhibit  10.16 to the Form
            10-Q of the Company for the  Quarter  Ended  August 2, 1997 filed on
            September 12, 1997.

10.11.1  Amendment to the AnnTaylor Stores  Corporation  Amended and Restated
            Management Performance Compensation Plan dated as of March 12, 1998.
            Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.17.1 to the Annual Report on
            Form 10-K of the Company filed on April 30, 1998.

10.12    Associate Stock Purchase Plan.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
            10.31 to the Form 10-Q of the Company for the Quarter  Ended October
            31, 1992 filed on December 15, 1992.

10.13    AnnTaylor   Stores   Corporation    Deferred    Compensation   Plan.
            Incorporated  by reference to Exhibit  10.33 to the Annual Report on
            Form 10-K of the Company filed on April 28, 1995.

==============================================================================
<PAGE>

Exhibit Number
- --------------



10.13.1  Amendment to the AnnTaylor Stores Corporation Deferred  Compensation
            Plan as  approved  by the Board of  Directors  on August  11,  1995.
            Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.33.1 to the Form 10-Q of the
            Company for the Quarter  Ended July 29, 1995 filed on September  11,
            1995.

10.14    Mortgage,  Assignment  of Rents and Leases,  Security  Agreement and
            Fixture  Financing   Statement  dated  November  20,  1995,  between
            AnnTaylor  Distribution  Services,  Inc., as Mortgagor,  and General
            Electric Capital Assurance  Company,  as Mortgagee.  Incorporated by
            reference  to  Exhibit  10.34 to the Form 10-Q of Ann Taylor for the
            Quarter ended October 28, 1995 filed on December 8, 1995.

10.15    Promissory  Note  dated  November  20,  1995  from  Ann  Taylor  and
            AnnTaylor Distribution Services,  Inc., collectively as Borrower, to
            General Electric Capital Assurance Company, as Lender.  Incorporated
            by reference to Exhibit 10.35 to the Form 10-Q of Ann Taylor for the
            Quarter ended October 28, 1995 filed on December 8, 1995.

10.16    Stock and Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of June 7, 1996, by and
            among the Company, Ann Taylor, Cygne and Cygne Group (F.E.) Limited.
            Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2 to the  Registrants'  Current
            Report on Form 8-K filed on June 10, 1996.

10.16.1  Amendment to Stock and Asset Purchase Agreement,  dated as of August
            27,  1996,  by and among the  Company,  Ann Taylor,  Cygne and Cygne
            Group (F.E.) Limited.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3 to the
            Registrants' Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 30, 1996.

10.16.2  Stockholders  Agreement,  dated as of September 20, 1996,  among the
            Company,   Cygne  and  Cygne  Group  (F.E.)  Limited,  a  Hong  Kong
            corporation  and wholly owned  subsidiary of Cygne.  Incorporated by
            reference to Exhibit 10.26.2 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K
            of the Company filed on May 1, 1997.

10.16.3  Consulting Agreement, dated as of September 20, 1996, by and between
            the Company, Cygne and Mr. Irving Benson.  Incorporated by reference
            to Exhibit  10.26.4 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company
            filed on May 1, 1997.

10.17    Certificate  of Trust of AnnTaylor  Finance Trust.  Incorporated  by
            reference  to  Exhibit  4.1 to  the  Registration  Statement  of the
            Company  and  AnnTaylor   Finance  Trust  filed  on  June  21,  1996
            (Registration 333-06605).

10.17.1  Amended and Restated  Declaration  of Trust of  AnnTaylor  Finance
            Trust,  dated as of April 25, 1996 among the Company,  as Sponsor,
            The Bank of New York,  as Property  Trustee,  The Bank of New York
            (Delaware),  as Delaware Trustee and J. Patrick Spainhour, Paul E.
            Francis  and  Walter  J.  Parks,  as  Trustees.   Incorporated  by
            reference  to Exhibit  4.2 to the  Registration  Statement  of the
            Company  and  AnnTaylor  Finance  Trust  filed  on June  21,  1996
            (Registration 333-06605).

10.17.2  Indenture,  dated as of  April  15,  1996,  among  AnnTaylor  Stores
            Corporation and The Bank of New York, as Trustee,  including form of
            Preferred Securities and form of Convertible Subordinated Debentures
            due  2016.   Incorporated   by  reference  to  Exhibit  4.3  to  the
            Registration  Statement of the Company and  AnnTaylor  Finance Trust
            filed on June 21, 1996 (Registration No. 333-06605).

10.18    Commitment  Letter dated as of May 7, 1998 among AnnTaylor,  Bank of
            America   National  Trust  and  Savings   Association,   BancAmerica
            Robertson   Stephens,   Citicorp  USA  and  CoreStates   Bank,  N.A.
            Incorporated  by reference to Exhibit  10.27 to the Form 10-Q of the
            Company for the Quarter Ended May 2, 1998 filed on June 16, 1998.

===============================================================================
<PAGE>

Exhibit Number
- --------------


10.19  Credit  Agreement,  dated as of June 30, 1998 among AnnTaylor,  Bank
            of  America,  Citicorp  USA and  First  Union  National  Bank,  as
            Co-Agents,  the  financial  institutions  from time to time  party
            thereto,  BancAmerica Robertson Stephens, as Arranger, and Bank of
            America,  as  Administrative  Agent.  Incorporated by reference to
            Exhibit  10.28 to the Form  10-Q of the  Company  for the  Quarter
            Ended August 1, 1998 filed on September 14, 1998.

10.19.1  Trademark Security Agreement, dated as of June 30, 1998, made by Ann
            Taylor  in  favor  of  Bank of  America,  as  Administrative  Agent.
            Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.28.1 to the Form 10-Q of the
            Company for the Quarter  Ended August 1, 1998 filed on September 14,
            1998.

10.19.2  Guaranty, dated as of June 30, 1998, made by the Company in favor of
            Bank of America, as Administrative Agent.  Incorporated by reference
            to Exhibit  10.28.2 to the Form 10-Q of the  Company for the Quarter
            Ended August 1, 1998 filed on September 14, 1998.

10.19.3  Security and Pledge  Agreement,  dated as of June 30, 1998,  made by
            the Company in favor of Bank of America,  as  Administrative  Agent.
            Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.28.3 to the Form 10-Q of the
            Company for the Quarter  Ended August 1, 1998 filed on September 14,
            1998.

10.19.4  Security  and Pledge  Agreement,  dated as of June 30,  1998 made by
            AnnTaylor  in favor of Bank of  America,  as  Administrative  Agent.
            Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.28.4 to the Form 10-Q of the
            Company for the Quarter  Ended August 1, 1998 filed on September 14,
            1998.

10.19.5  Subsidiary  Guaranty,  dated as of June 30,  1998 made by  AnnTaylor
            Distribution Services in favor of Bank of America, as Administrative
            Agent. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.28.5 to the Form 10-Q
            of the  Company  for the  Quarter  Ended  August  1,  1998  filed on
            September 14, 1998.


10.20    AnnTaylor Stores Corporation  Long-Term Cash Incentive  Compensation
            Plan, as approved by stockholders on June 17, 1998.  Incorporated by
            reference  to  Exhibit  A to the Proxy  Statement  dated May 1, 1998
            filed on May 6, 1998.

18       Preferability letter relating to the change in accounting principle.
            Incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit  18 to the Form 10-Q of the
            Company for the Quarter Ended May 2, 1998 filed on June 16, 1998.

21     Subsidiaries of the Company.

23     Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.

27     Financial Data Schedule.

==============================================================================
<PAGE>

                                  SIGNATURES





      Pursuant  to the  requirements  of Section  13 or 15(d) of the  Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

                          ANNTAYLOR STORES CORPORATION

                                              By:    /s/ J. Patrick Spainhour
                                                     ------------------------
                                                         J. Patrick Spainhour
                                                    Chairman and Chief Executive
                                                              Officer

Date:  March 26, 1999


    Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, this
report  has  been  signed  below  by the  following  persons  on  behalf  of the
Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.


   /s/ J. Patrick Spainhour    Chairman and Chief Executive     March 26, 1999
   ------------------------       Officer and Director
       J. Patrick Spainhour      



   /s/ Patricia DeRosa        President and Chief Operating     March 26, 1999
   -------------------           Officer and Director
       Patricia DeRosa           



   /s/ Walter J. Parks        Senior Vice President -            March 26, 1999
   -------------------           Chief Financial Officer
       Walter J. Parks              and Treasurer
                                   


   /s/ James M. Smith         Vice President and Controller      March 26, 1999
   --------------------         Principal Accounting Officer
       James M. Smith          



   /s/ Gerald S. Armstrong    Director                          March 26, 1999
   -----------------------
       Gerald S. Armstrong



   /s/ James J. Burke, Jr.    Director                          March 26, 1999
   -----------------------
       James J. Burke, Jr.



   /s/ Wesley E. Cantrell     Director                          March 26, 1999
   ----------------------
       Wesley E. Cantrell



   /s/ Robert C. Grayson      Director                          March 26, 1999
   ---------------------    
       Robert C. Grayson



   /s/ Ronald W. Hovsepian    Director                          March 26, 1999
   -----------------------
       Ronald W. Hovsepian



   /s/ Rochelle B. Lazarus    Director                          March 26, 1999
       -------------------
       Rochelle B. Lazarus




   /s/ Hanne M. Merriman      Director                          March 26, 1999
   ---------------------
       Hanne M. Merriman

===============================================================================
<PAGE>


                         ANNTAYLOR STORES CORPORATION
                  INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS




                                                                      Page No.

Independent Auditors' Report...........................................  37

Consolidated Financial Statements:

     Consolidated Statements of Operations for the fiscal years ended
        January 30, 1999, January 31, 1998 and February 1, 1997........  38

     Consolidated Balance Sheets as of January 30, 1999 
        and January 31, 1998...........................................  39

     Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity for the 
        fiscal years ended January 30, 1999, January 31, 
        1998 and February 1, 1997.....................................  40

     Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the fiscal years ended
        January 30, 1999, January 31, 1998 and February 1, 1997.......  41

     Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.......................  42

==============================================================================
<PAGE>

                         INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT




To the Stockholders of ANNTAYLOR STORES CORPORATION:


      We have audited the  accompanying  consolidated  financial  statements  of
AnnTaylor Stores  Corporation and its  subsidiaries,  listed in the accompanying
index.  These  financial  statements  are the  responsibility  of the  Company's
management.  Our  responsibility  is to express  an  opinion on these  financial
statements based on our audits.

      We conducted our audits in accordance  with  generally  accepted  auditing
standards.  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.  An audit also includes
assessing the  accounting  principles  used and  significant  estimates  made by
management,  as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

      In our opinion, such consolidated  financial statements present fairly, in
all  material   respects,   the  financial  position  of  the  Company  and  its
subsidiaries  at January  30, 1999 and January 31, 1998 and the results of their
operations and their cash flows for each of the three fiscal years in the period
ended  January  30,  1999  in  conformity  with  generally  accepted  accounting
principles.

      As  discussed  in Note 1 to the  consolidated  financial  statements,  the
Company  changed its method of  inventory  valuation  to the average cost method
from the retail method.




DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP


New York, New York
March 8, 1999
==============================================================================
<PAGE>

                          ANNTAYLOR STORES CORPORATION
                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                  For the Fiscal  Years Ended  January 30, 1999,
                     January 31, 1998 and February 1, 1997






                                                 Fiscal Years Ended
                                         ------------------------------------
                                         January 30,  January 31,  February 1,
                                            1999          1998        1997
                                            ----          ----        ----
       

                                     (in thousands, except per share amounts)


Net sales................................$911,939     $781,028    $798,117
Cost of sales............................ 455,724      411,756     443,443
                                          -------      -------     -------
Gross profit............................. 456,215      369,272     354,674
Selling, general and administrative
   expenses                               349,955      308,232     291,027
Studio shoe stores closing expense.......    ---          ---        3,600
Employment contract separation expense...    ---          ---        3,500
Retirement of assets.....................   3,633         ---          ---
Amortization of goodwill.................  11,040      11,040       10,086
                                           ------      ------       ------

Operating income.........................  91,587      50,000       46,461
Interest expense.........................  18,117      19,989       24,416
Other expense, net.......................     567         548          403
                                           ------      ------       ------

Income before income taxes and 
  extraordinary loss                       72,903      29,463       21,642
Income tax provision.....................  33,579      17,466       12,975
                                           ------      ------       ------
Income before extraordinary loss.........  39,324      11,997        8,667
Extraordinary loss (net of income 
  tax benefit of $130,000)...............     ---         173          ---
                                           ------      ------       ------
    Net income........................... $39,324     $11,824      $ 8,667
                                          =======     =======      =======

Basic earnings per share:
    Basic earnings per share before
      extraordinary loss.................$   1.53    $   0.47      $  0.36
    Extraordinary loss per share.........     ---        0.01          ---
                                           ------      ------      -------
    Basic earnings per share.............$   1.53    $   0.46      $  0.36
                                          =======    ========      =======

Diluted earnings per share:
    Diluted earnings per share before
      extraordinary loss.................$   1.44    $   0.47      $  0.36
    Extraordinary loss per share.........     ---        0.01          ---
                                           ------      ------       ------
    Diluted earnings per share...........$   1.44    $   0.46      $  0.36
                                          =======    ========      =======






          See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

==============================================================================
<PAGE>


                          ANNTAYLOR STORES CORPORATION
                          CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                     January 30, 1999 and January 31, 1998







                                                       January 30,   January 31,
                                                           1999         1998
                                                           ----         ----
                           Assets                           (in thousands)
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents........................ .    $  67,031    $  31,369
Accounts receivable, net ...........................      71,049       60,211
Merchandise inventories ............................     136,748       97,234
Prepaid expenses and other current assets ..........      23,637       21,291
                                                         -------      -------
Total current assets ...............................     298,465      210,105
Property and equipment, net ........................     151,785      139,610
Goodwill, net ......................................     319,699      330,739
Deferred financing costs, net ......................       2,627        1,258
Other assets .......................................       2,841        1,949
                                                         -------      -------
Total assets........................................     775,417    $ 683,661
                                                         =======    =========

                      Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Current liabilities
Accounts payable....................................   $  65,419    $  38,185
Accrued salaries and bonus .........................      17,132        5,848
Accrued tenancy ....................................       8,465        6,727
Gift certificates redeemable .......................       7,008        5,935
Accrued expenses ...................................      30,527       30,110
Current portion of long-term debt ..................       1,206        1,119
                                                         -------      -------
Total current liabilities ..........................     129,757       87,924
Long-term debt .....................................     103,951      105,157
Other liabilities ..................................      12,386       10,082

Commitments and contingencies

Company-Obligated Mandatorily Redeemable Convertible
Preferred Securities of Subsidiary, AnnTaylor
Finance Trust, Holding Solely Convertible
Debentures .........................................      96,624       96,391
Stockholders' equity
Common stock, $.0068 par value;
40,000,000 shares authorized;
26,035,301 and 25,657,590 shares
issued, respectively ...............................         177          174
Additional paid-in capital .........................     359,805      350,647
Warrants to acquire 2,814 shares of common stock ...          46           46
Retained earnings ..................................      73,295       34,204
Deferred compensation on restricted stock ..........        (272)        (737)
                                                         -------      -------
                                                         433,051      384,334
Treasury stock, 17,201 and 12,659
shares, respectively,
at cost ............................................        (352)        (227)
                                                         -------      -------
Total stockholders' equity .........................     432,699      384,107
                                                         -------      -------
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity..........   $ 775,417    $ 683,661
                                                       =========    =========





            See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

==============================================================================
<PAGE>


                          ANNTAYLOR STORES CORPORATION
                CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
            For the Fiscal  Years Ended  January 30, 1999, January 31, 1998
                               and February 1, 1997
                                 (in thousands)





<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                     Common Stock       Additional     Warrants                    Restricted    Treasury Stock  
                                  -----------------       Paid-In      --------      Retained         Stock     ---------------
                                  Shares      Amount      Capital    Shares  Amount  Earnings         Awards    Shares   Amount
                                  ------      ------      -------    ------ -------  --------         ------    ------   ------


<S>                               <C>         <C>         <C>        <C>     <C>     <C>           <C>           <C>     <C>  
Balance at February 3, 1996......  23,128      $ 157      $311,284       37   $596   $14,120         $   (33)    45       $(436)
Net income.......................     ---        ---           ---      ---    ---     8,667             ---    ---         --- 
Exercise of stock options and
   related tax benefit...........      18        ---           216      ---    ---       ---             ---    ---         --- 
Exercise of warrants.............     ---        ---           314      (34)  (550)      ---             ---    (34)        236
Issuance of stock for Sourcing
    Acquisition..................   2,348         16        35,984      ---    ---       ---             ---    ---         --- 
Amortization of discount on
    preferred securities.........     ---        ---           ---      ---    ---      (174)            ---    ---         --- 
Activity related to common
   stock issued as employee
   incentives....................     104          1         1,747      ---    ---       ---          (1,557)     1          (6)
                                   ------        ---       -------     ----   ----    ------          ------    ---          -- 

Balance at February 1, 1997......  25,598        174       349,545        3     46    22,613          (1,590)    12        (206)
Net income.......................     ---        ---           ---      ---    ---    11,824             ---    ---         --- 
Exercise of stock options and
   related tax benefit...........      48        ---           890      ---    ---       ---             ---      1         (10)
Amortization of discount on
    preferred securities.........     ---        ---           ---      ---    ---      (233)            ---    ---         --- 
Activity related to common
   stock issued as employee
   incentives....................      12        ---           212      ---    ---       ---             853    ---         (11)
                                   ------        ---       -------     ----   ----    ------          ------    ---          -- 
Balance at January 31, 1998......  25,658        174       350,647        3     46    34,204            (737)    13        (227)
Net income.......................     ---        ---           ---      ---    ---    39,324             ---    ---         --- 
Exercise of stock options and
   related tax benefit...........     373          3         9,061      ---    ---       ---             ---      3        (106)
Amortization of discount on
    preferred securities.........     ---        ---           ---      ---    ---      (233)            ---    ---         --- 
Activity related to common
   stock issued as employee
   incentives....................       4        ---            97      ---    ---       ---             465      1         (19)
                                   ------        ---       -------     ----   ----    ------          ------    ---          -- 
Balance at January 30, 1999......  26,035      $ 177      $359,805        3    $46   $73,295         $  (272)    17       $(352)
                                   ======       ====      ========     ====   ====   =======          ======    ===       ===== 


</TABLE>




              See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

===============================================================================
<PAGE>

                          ANNTAYLOR STORES CORPORATION
                     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                   For the Fiscal  Years Ended  January 30, 1999,
                       January 31, 1998 and February 1, 1997

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        Fiscal Years Ended    
                                                        ---------------------------------------------
                                                        January 30,          January 31,   February 1,
                                                            1999                 1998         1997 
                                                            ----                 ----         ---- 
                                                                           (in thousands)
Operating activities:
<S>                                                     <C>                  <C>          <C>      
Net income ..........................................   $  39,324            $  11,824    $   8,667
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
provided by operating activities:
Extraordinary loss ..................................        --                    303         --
Equity earnings in CAT ..............................        --                     --       (1,402)
Provision for loss on accounts receivable ...........       1,476                1,795        1,803
Depreciation and amortization .......................      28,783               27,803       26,208
Amortization of goodwill ............................      11,040               11,040       10,086
Amortization of deferred compensation ...............         465                1,065          191
Non-cash interest ...................................       1,290                1,419        1,574
Deferred income taxes ...............................       3,966               (2,687)        (985)
Loss on disposal of property and equipment ..........       4,175                  248        3,209
Change in assets and liabilities net of effects from
purchase of sourcing division:
Decrease (increase) in receivables ..................     (12,314)               1,599        4,987
Decrease (increase) in merchandise inventories ......     (39,514)               3,003
                                                                                              9,342
Decrease (increase) in prepaid expenses and
other current assets ................................      (5,581)               1,894          247
Decrease in other non-current assets and liabilities,
net .................................................         679                2,861          738
Increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities       41,746                9,422        2,867
                                                           ------                -----        -----
Net cash provided by operating activities ...........      75,535               71,589       67,532
                                                           ------                -----        -----
Investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment .................     (45,131)             (22,945)     (16,107)           
Purchase of sourcing division .......................        --                     --         (227)
                                                           ------                -----        -----
Net cash used by investing activities ...............     (45,131)             (22,945)     (16,334)
                                                           ------                -----        -----
Financing activities:
Repayments under revolving credit facility ..........        --                     --     (101,000)
Net proceeds from issuance of preferred securities ..        --                     --       95,984
Repayment of term loan ..............................        --                (24,500)        --
Term loan prepayment penalty ........................        --                   (184)        --
Payments of mortgage ................................      (1,119)                (416)        (266)
Repayments under receivables facility ...............        --                   --        (40,000)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options .............       9,036                  869          210
Payment of financing costs ..........................      (2,659)                 (69)        (384)
                                                           ------                -----        -----
Net cash provided by (used by) financing activities .       5,258              (24,300)     (45,456)
                                                           ------                -----        -----
Net increase in cash ................................      35,662               24,344        5,742
Cash, beginning of year .............................      31,369                7,025        1,283
                                                           ------                -----        -----
Cash, end of year ...................................   $  67,031            $  31,369    $   7,025
                                                           ======               ======        =====
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Cash paid during the year for interest ..............   $  18,582            $  19,251    $  22,689
                                                           ======               ======        =====
Cash paid during the year for income taxes ..........   $  33,934            $  17,220    $   8,990
                                                           ======               ======        =====
</TABLE>

          See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

==============================================================================
<PAGE>

                         ANNTAYLOR STORES CORPORATION
                  NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS




1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

      Ann Taylor is a leading  national  specialty  retailer  of better  quality
women's apparel,  shoes and accessories  sold  principally  under the Ann Taylor
brand name.


BASIS OF PRESENTATION

      The consolidated  financial  statements  include the accounts of AnnTaylor
Stores  Corporation  (the  "Company") and AnnTaylor,  Inc. ("Ann  Taylor").  The
Company has no material assets other than the common stock of Ann Taylor and the
common  securities  of AnnTaylor  Finance  Trust,  a special  purpose  financing
vehicle,  and conducts no business other than the management of Ann Taylor.  All
intercompany accounts have been eliminated in consolidation.

      Certain Fiscal 1997 and 1996 amounts have been  reclassified to conform to
the Fiscal 1998 presentation.


FISCAL YEAR

      The Company follows the standard fiscal year of the retail industry, which
is a 52 or 53 week period  ending on the  Saturday  closest to January 31 of the
following calendar year. All fiscal years presented included 52 weeks.

FINANCE SERVICE CHARGE INCOME

      Income from  finance  service  charges  relating to customer  receivables,
which is deducted from selling, general and administrative expenses, amounted to
$8,422,000 for Fiscal 1998, $8,568,000 for Fiscal 1997 and $9,024,000 for Fiscal
1996.


MERCHANDISE INVENTORIES

      Merchandise inventories are stated at the lower of average cost or market.
Effective  February  1,  1998,  the  Company  elected  to change  its  method of
inventory  valuation  from the retail  method to the average  cost  method.  The
Company believes the average cost method is a preferable method for matching the
cost of merchandise with the revenues  generated.  The cumulative effect of this
accounting  change  on  February  1, 1998 was not  material,  and  therefore  no
disclosure is noted on the Consolidated  Statement of Operations.  The effect of
this accounting  change on Fiscal 1998 net income was an increase of $1,272,000,
or $0.04 per share on a diluted  basis.  It is not  possible  to  determine  the
effect of the change on income in any previously reported fiscal years.


PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT

      Property and equipment are recorded at cost. Depreciation and amortization
are computed on a  straight-line  basis over the  estimated  useful lives of the
assets (3 to 40 years) or, in the case of leasehold improvements, over the lives
of the respective leases, if shorter.


===============================================================================
<PAGE>



                         ANNTAYLOR STORES CORPORATION
           NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)



1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)


DEFERRED FINANCING COSTS

      Deferred  financing  costs are being  amortized  using the interest method
over the term of the related debt. Accumulated  amortization at January 30, 1999
and January 31, 1998 was $3,119,000 and $4,427,000, respectively.


GOODWILL

      Goodwill  relating to the 1989 acquisition of Ann Taylor by the Company is
being amortized on a straight-line basis over 40 years. Goodwill relating to the
1996 Sourcing  Acquisition  (see Note 14) is being  amortized on a straight-line
basis over 25 years.  Accumulated  amortization  at January 30, 1999 and January
31, 1998 was $98,891,000 and $87,851,000,  respectively. On an annual basis, the
Company  compares  the  carrying  value of its  goodwill  to an  estimate of the
Company's  fair value to evaluate the  reasonableness  of the carrying value and
remaining  amortization  period.  Fair value is computed  using  projections  of
future non-discounted cash flows.


INCOME TAXES

      The Company  accounts for income  taxes in  accordance  with  Statement of
Financial  Accounting  Standards No. 109,  "Accounting for Income Taxes",  which
requires an asset and liability  method of accounting for deferred income taxes.
Under the asset and liability  method,  deferred tax assets and  liabilities are
recognized,  and income or expense is  recorded,  for the  estimated  future tax
consequences   attributable  to  differences  between  the  financial  statement
carrying  amounts of existing assets and  liabilities  and their  respective tax
bases.


USE OF ESTIMATES

      The  preparation  of financial  statements  in conformity  with  generally
accepted  accounting  principles  requires  management  to  make  estimates  and
assumptions  that  affect  the  reported  amount of assets and  liabilities  and
disclosures  of contingent  assets and  liabilities at the date of the financial
statements and the reported  amounts of revenue and expenses during the reported
period. Actual results could differ from these estimates.


RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

      In June 1998, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of
Financial Accounting  Standards No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative  Instruments
and Hedging Activities" ("SFAS No. 133"), which is effective for the Company for
the quarter  ended October 30, 1999.  SFAS No. 133  establishes  accounting  and
reporting  standards for derivatives and for hedging  activities.  Management is
currently  evaluating the impact of this standard and believes its adoption will
not affect the Company's consolidated financial position,  results of operations
or cash flows.


===============================================================================


<PAGE>



                         ANNTAYLOR STORES CORPORATION
           NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)


1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

      In March 1998, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (the
"AICPA") issued Statement of Position ("SOP 98-1"), "Accounting for the Costs of
Computer  Software  Developed or Obtained for Internal  Use," which is effective
for the  Company  for fiscal  years  beginning  after  December  15,  1998.  The
application  of SOP 98-1 is not  anticipated  to have a  material  impact on the
Company's consolidated financial statements.

2. LONG-TERM DEBT

      The following table  summarizes  long-term debt outstanding at January 30,
1999 and January 31, 1998:


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                  January 30, 1999      January 31, 1998      
                                                  ----------------      ----------------      
                                                 Carrying Estimated  Carrying   Estimated
                                                  Amount  Fair Value  Amount   Fair Value
                                                  ------  ----------  ------   ----------

                                                                 (in thousands)

<S>                                            <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>     
Mortgage....................................   $  5,157   $  5,157   $  6,276   $  6,276
8 3/4% Notes ...............................    100,000    101,875    100,000    100,500
- - - -                                           -------    -------    -------    -------
Total debt .................................    105,157    107,032    106,276    106,776
                                                -------    -------    -------    -------
  Less current portion .....................      1,206      1,206      1,119      1,119
  Total long-term debt......................   $103,951   $105,826   $105,157   $105,657
                                               ========   ========   ========   ========

</TABLE>

      In accordance with the  requirements of Statement of Financial  Accounting
Standards No. 107, "Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments",  the
Company  determined the estimated fair value of its financial  instruments using
quoted market information, as available. As judgement is involved, the estimates
are not  necessarily  indicative  of the amounts the Company  could realize in a
current market exchange.

      On June 30,  1998,  Ann  Taylor  entered  into a new  $150,000,000  senior
secured  revolving  credit facility (the "Credit  Facility") with a syndicate of
lenders.  This facility  replaced Ann Taylor's  then-existing  $122,000,000 bank
credit  agreement that was scheduled to expire in July 1998 and also resulted in
the  non-renewal by Ann Taylor's  sourcing  division of its  $50,000,000  credit
facility and in the  non-renewal  by AnnTaylor  Funding,  Inc. of a  $40,000,000
accounts receivable facility.  The Credit Facility is used by Ann Taylor for the
issuance of  commercial  and standby  letters of credit and to provide funds for
other general corporate purposes.

      Loans  outstanding  under the Credit  Facility  at any time may not exceed
$50,000,000.  The Company did not make any borrowings  under the loan provisions
of the Credit Facility during Fiscal 1998 and there were no loans outstanding at
fiscal year end. The outstanding  loan balance is required to be reduced to zero
for the thirty-day period commencing  January 1 each year. This cleandown period
was achieved for January  1999.  Maximum  availability  for loans and letters of
credit  under the Credit  Facility  is  governed  by a monthly  borrowing  base,
determined  by the  application  of  specified  advance  rates  against  certain
eligible  assets.  Based on this  calculation,  the maximum amount available for
loans and  letters of credit  under the Credit  Facility at January 30, 1999 was
approximately $131,054,000. Commercial and standby letters of credit outstanding
under the Credit Facility at January 30, 1999 were approximately $65,763,000.


==============================================================================

                            ANNTAYLOR STORES CORPORATION
           NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)


2. LONG-TERM DEBT (CONTINUED)

      Amounts  outstanding  under the Credit  Facility  bear  interest at a rate
equal to, at Ann Taylor's  option,  the lead  lender's  Base Rate or  Eurodollar
Rate,  plus a  margin  ranging  from  0.25% to 1.00%  and from  1.25% to  2.00%,
respectively. In addition, Ann Taylor is required to pay the lenders a quarterly
commitment fee on the unused revolving loan commitment  amount at a rate ranging
from  0.375% to 0.5% per annum.  Fees for  outstanding  commercial  and  standby
letters  of  credit   range  from  0.625%  to  1.0%  and  from  1.25%  to  2.0%,
respectively.

      The Credit  Facility  contains  financial and other  covenants,  including
limitations  on  indebtedness,  liens,  investments  and  capital  expenditures,
restrictions on dividends or other distributions to stockholders and maintenance
of certain financial ratios including  specified levels of net worth. For Fiscal
1998, the capital  expenditure limit was $52,000,000.  For Fiscal 1999,  capital
expenditures are limited to a maximum of $55,000,000.

      The lenders  have been  granted a pledge of the common stock of Ann Taylor
and certain of its  subsidiaries,  and a security  interest in substantially all
other tangible and intangible assets, including accounts receivable, trademarks,
inventory, store furniture and fixtures, of Ann Taylor and its subsidiaries,  as
collateral for Ann Taylor's' obligations under the Credit Facility.

      The Credit  Facility  matures on June 30, 2000 and  includes an  automatic
one-year extension,  contingent upon the satisfaction of certain conditions.  In
addition,  the commitments  under the Credit Facility  terminate on February 16,
2000 unless Ann Taylor's  outstanding 8 3/4% Subordinated Notes due 2000 (the "8
3/4%  Notes")  are  refinanced  on or prior to such  date with the  proceeds  of
subordinated  debt or  capital  stock,  the  terms and  conditions  of which are
reasonably satisfactory to the Requisite Lenders under the Credit Facility.

      On June 28, 1993, Ann Taylor issued $110,000,000 principal amount of its 8
3/4% Notes.  The outstanding  principal  amount of these notes as of January 30,
1999 was $100,000,000.

      In July 1993,  Ann Taylor entered into a  $110,000,000  (notional  amount)
interest rate swap  agreement,  which had the effect of converting the Company's
interest  obligations  on  the 8  3/4%  Notes  to a  variable  rate.  Under  the
agreement,  the Company  received a fixed rate of 4.75% and paid a floating rate
based on LIBOR, as determined in six month intervals. The swap agreement matured
in July 1996. Net receipts or payments  under the agreement  were  recognized as
adjustments to interest expense.

      Ann  Taylor  and  its  wholly  owned  subsidiary  AnnTaylor   Distribution
Services,  Inc. are parties to a $7,000,000 seven-year mortgage loan maturing in
Fiscal 2002. The loan is secured by the Company's  distribution  center land and
building in Louisville,  Kentucky.  The mortgage loan bears interest at 7.5% and
is payable in monthly installments of approximately  $130,000. The mortgage loan
balance at January 30, 1999 was $5,157,000.

      The  aggregate  principal  payments of all  long-term  obligations  are as
follows:

         Fiscal Year                                    (in thousands)
         -----------                                    
          1999...........................................  $  1,206
          2000...........................................   101,300
          2001...........................................     1,401
          2002...........................................     1,250
                                                            -------

             Total.......................................  $105,157
                                                           ========


===============================================================================
<PAGE>

                            ANNTAYLOR STORES CORPORATION
           NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)



3. PREFERRED SECURITIES

      In April and May of Fiscal  1996,  the  Company  completed  the sale of an
aggregate of $100,625,000  of 8 1/2%  Company-Obligated  Mandatorily  Redeemable
Convertible  Preferred  Securities  (the "preferred  securities")  issued by its
financing  vehicle,  AnnTaylor  Finance  Trust,  a Delaware  business trust (the
"Trust").  The preferred  securities  have a  liquidation  preference of $50 per
security  ($100,625,000  in the aggregate) and are  convertible at the option of
the holders  thereof into the  Company's  common  stock at a conversion  rate of
2.545 shares of common stock for each preferred  security  (equivalent to $19.65
per share of common  stock,  which  represented  a 20%  premium  to the  $16.375
closing price of the common stock on the New York Stock  Exchange at the date of
the  execution of the purchase  agreement  relating to the sale of the preferred
securities). The sole assets of the Trust are $103,700,000 of 8 1/2% Convertible
Subordinated  Debentures  of the Company  maturing on April 15, 2016. A total of
2,012,500  preferred  securities  were  issued,  and  are  convertible  into  an
aggregate  of  5,121,812  shares of the  Company's  common  stock.  The  Company
received  net  proceeds  of  $95,984,000  in  connection  with  the  sale of the
preferred  securities.  The  carrying  value  and  estimated  fair  value of the
preferred  securities  at January 30, 1999 were  $96,624,000  and  $196,219,000,
respectively.


4. ALLOWANCE FOR DOUBTFUL ACCOUNTS

      A summary of activity  in the  allowance  for  doubtful  accounts  for the
fiscal years ended January 30, 1999, January 31, 1998 and February 1, 1997 is as
follows:


                                                    Fiscal Years Ended
                                           -----------------------------------
                                           January 30, January 31, February 1,
                                              1999        1998         1997
                                              ----        ----         ----


                                                   (in thousands)

Balance at beginning of year ............   $   812    $   811    $   736
Provision for loss on accounts receivable     1,476      1,795      1,803
Accounts written off ....................    (1,468)    (1,794)    (1,728)
                                             ------     ------     ------ 
Balance at end of year ..................   $   820    $   812    $   811
                                            =======    =======    =======



5. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

RENTAL COMMITMENTS

      Ann Taylor occupies its retail stores and administrative  facilities under
operating leases, most of which are non-cancelable.  Some leases contain renewal
options for periods ranging from one to ten years under  substantially  the same
terms and  conditions as the original  leases.  Most of the store leases require
Ann Taylor to pay a specified  minimum rent,  plus a contingent  rent based on a
percentage  of the  store's  net sales in excess of a  specified  threshold.  In
addition,  most of the  leases  require  Ann  Taylor to pay real  estate  taxes,
insurance  and  certain  common  area and  maintenance  costs in addition to the
future minimum lease payments shown below.


==============================================================================
<PAGE>



                            ANNTAYLOR STORES CORPORATION
           NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)


5. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (CONTINUED)

      Future  minimum lease payments under  non-cancelable  operating  leases at
January 30, 1999 are as follows:


      Fiscal Year                                   (in thousands)
      -----------
        1999.........................................$  78,042
        2000.........................................   77,068
        2001.........................................   73,767
        2002.........................................   71,265
        2003.........................................   64,978
        2004 and thereafter..........................  252,340
                                                       -------
        Total........................................$ 617,460
                                                       =======

      Rent expense for the fiscal years ended January 30, 1999, January 31, 1998
and February 1, 1997 was as follows:


                                                Fiscal Years Ended
                                        --------------------------------------
                                        January 30,  January 31,   February 1,
                                            1999          1998         1997
                                            ----          ----         ----

                                                   (in thousands)

       Minimum rent ...................   $66,358      $59,495      $55,571
       Percentage rent.................     2,414        1,671        2,433
                                            -----        -----        -----
       Total ..........................   $68,772      $61,166      $58,004
                                           ======       ======       ======

LITIGATION

      The Company has been named as a defendant in several legal actions arising
from its normal business  activities.  Although the amount of any liability that
could arise with respect to these actions cannot be accurately predicted, in the
opinion of the  Company,  any such  liability  will not have a material  adverse
effect on the  financial  position,  results of  operations  or liquidity of the
Company.

      In  addition,  the  Company,  Ann  Taylor,  certain  directors  and former
officers  and  directors  of the  Company and Ann  Taylor,  Merrill  Lynch & Co.
("ML&Co.") and certain  affiliates of ML&Co.  have been named as defendants in a
purported   class  action  lawsuit  filed  in  April  1996  by  certain  alleged
stockholders  alleging  that the Company and the other  defendants  engaged in a
fraudulent  scheme and  course of  business  that  operated a fraud or deceit on
purchasers of the Company's common stock during the period from February 3, 1994
through May 4, 1995. On March 10, 1998,  the Court issued an Opinion  dismissing
the complaint.  The Court's  Opinion  granted the plaintiffs  leave to amend and
re-file the  complaint  within  thirty days of the date of the  Opinion,  and an
amended  complaint was filed by the  plaintiffs on April 9, 1998. On November 9,
1998,  the Court  issued an Opinion  dismissing,  with  prejudice,  the  amended
complaint.  On or about  December 15,  1998,  the  plaintiffs  filed a notice of
appeal to the U.S District Court of Appeals,  Second Circuit,  seeking review of
the  Appellate  Court's  decision.  The  appeal is  presently  pending,  and any
liability  that may arise from this action cannot be predicted at this time. The
Company  believes  that the amended  complaint  is without  merit and intends to
defend the action vigorously.


6. NET INCOME PER SHARE

      Basic  earnings  per share is  calculated  by  dividing  net income by the
weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period.  Diluted
earnings per share  assumes the issuance of  additional  shares of common stock,
that  are  issuable  by the  Company  upon  the  conversion  of all  outstanding
warrants, stock options, and convertible preferred securities. Basic and diluted
earnings per share calculations follow:

==============================================================================
<PAGE>




                         ANNTAYLOR STORES CORPORATION
           NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)


6. NET INCOME PER SHARE (CONTINUED)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  Fiscal Years Ended                     
                              -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                   January 30, 1999            January 31, 1998               February 1, 1997 
                               -----------------------   -----------------------------  ---------------------------       
                                                    (In thousands, except per share amounts)

                                                 Per                             Per                     Per
                                                Share                           Share                   Share
                               Income  Shares   Amount   Income        Shares   Amount  Income  Shares  Amount
                               ------  ------   ------   ------        ------   ------  ------  ------  ------
<S>                           <C>       <C>      <C>    <C>            <C>      <C>     <C>      <C>      <C>  
Basic Earnings per Share
Income available
   to common stockholders
before extraordinary loss     39,324    25,715   $1.53   $11,997       25,628   $0.47  $8,667   23,981   $0.36

Effect of Dilutive
Securities
Warrants .................      --           3               --             3             --       22
Stock options ............      --         166               --            62             --       57
Preferred securities .....     5,189     5,122               --            --             --       --     
                               -----     -----            -----        ------           ----     -----        
Diluted Earnings per Share
Income available 
to common stockholders
before extraordinary loss     44,513    31,006   $1.44  $11,997        25,693   $0.47   $8,667   24,060   $0.36
                              ======    ======   =====  =======        ======   =====   ======   ======   =====
</TABLE>



Conversion of the preferred  securities into common stock is not included in the
computation of diluted earnings per share for the fiscal years ended January 31,
1998 and February 1, 1997 due to the antidilutive effect of the conversion as of
such dates.


7. ENTERPRISE-WIDE OPERATING INFORMATION

      In Fiscal 1998,  the Company  adopted  Statement  of Financial  Accounting
Standards  No. 131,  "Disclosure  About  Segments of an  Enterprise  and Related
Information",  which establishes  annual and interim reporting  standards for an
enterprise's  operating  segments and related  disclosures  about its  products,
services,  major customers and the material  countries in which the entity holds
assets and reports revenues.

      The  Company  is a  specialty  retailer  of  women's  apparel,  shoes  and
accessories.  Given  the  economic  characteristics  of the store  formats,  the
similar  nature  of the  products  sold,  the type of  customer  and  method  of
distribution,  the operations of the Company are aggregated  into one reportable
segment.  The Company  believes that the customer  base for its stores  consists
primarily of relatively affluent, fashion-conscious women from the ages of 25 to
55, and that the majority of its  customers  are working women with limited time
to shop.
==============================================================================
<PAGE>



                         ANNTAYLOR STORES CORPORATION
           NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)



8. OTHER EQUITY

COMMON STOCK WARRANTS

      At January 30, 1999, the Company had outstanding  warrants to acquire,  in
the aggregate, 2,814 shares of the common stock of the Company (the "Warrants").
The  Warrants,  when  exercised,  entitle  the holders  thereof to acquire  such
shares,  subject to  adjustment,  at no  additional  cost.  The Warrants  became
exercisable as a result of the initial public  offering of the Company's  common
stock in May 1991, and expire on July 15, 1999.

PREFERRED STOCK

      At January 30,  1999,  January 31, 1998 and  February 1, 1997,  there were
2,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01, authorized and unissued.



9. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT

      Property and equipment consists of the following:
                                                         Fiscal Years Ended  
                                                      ------------------------
                                                      January 30,   January 31,
                                                           1999         1998
                                                           ----         ----
                                                            (in thousands)
          Land and building..........................  $  8,683      $  8,625
          Leasehold improvements.....................    93,168        85,332
          Furniture and fixtures.....................   153,395       136,314
          Construction in progress...................    11,059         6,422
                                                        -------       -------
                                                        266,305       236,693
          Less accumulated depreciation and 
            amortization                                114,520        97,083
                                                        -------        ------
               Net property and equipment............  $151,785      $139,610
                                                       ========      ========


10.    STOCK OPTION PLANS

      In 1989 and 1992, the Company  established  stock option plans. At January
30, 1999 71,683 shares of common stock were reserved for issuance under the 1989
plan and 2,601,906  shares of common stock were reserved for issuance  under the
1992 plan.  Under the terms of both plans,  the exercise price of any option may
not be less than 100% of the fair market  value of the common  stock on the date
of grant.  Stock options  granted prior to 1994  generally vest over a five year
period, with 20% becoming  exercisable  immediately upon grant of the option and
20% per year for the next four years. Stock options granted since 1994 generally
vest either (i) over a four year period,  with 25% becoming  exercisable on each
of the first four  anniversaries  of the  grant,  or (ii) in seven or nine years
with  accelerated  vesting upon the  achievement of specified  earnings or stock
price targets  within a five year period.  All stock  options  granted under the
1989 plan and the 1992 plan expire ten years from the date of grant.  At January
30,  1999,  there were 21,077  shares under the 1989 plan and  1,260,614  shares
under the 1992 plan available for future grant.

==============================================================================
<PAGE>


                         ANNTAYLOR STORES CORPORATION
      NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)


10. STOCK OPTIONS PLANS (CONTINUED)

      The Company  accounts for the stock options in accordance  with Accounting
Principles  Board  Opinion No. 25, under which no  compensation  costs have been
recognized for stock option awards. Had compensation costs of option awards been
determined  under a fair  value  alternative  method as stated in  Statement  of
Financial   Accounting   Standards   No.  123,   "Accounting   for   Stock-Based
Compensation",  the  Company  would have been  required  to prepare a fair value
model for such  options and record such amount in the  financial  statements  as
compensation  expense.  Proforma net income  before  extraordinary  loss and net
income per share  before  extraordinary  loss after  taking  into  account  such
expense would have been $38.4 million and $1.41,  respectively  for Fiscal 1998,
$11.0  million and $0.43,  respectively,  for Fiscal 1997,  and $8.2 million and
$0.34,  respectively,  for Fiscal 1996.  For purposes of this  calculation,  the
Company  arrived at the fair  value of each stock  grant at the date of grant by
using the Black Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted average
assumptions used for grants for the fiscal years ended January 30, 1999, January
31, 1998 and February 1, 1997:  risk-free  interest rate of 5.4%, 6.2% and 5.8%,
respectively; expected life of 4.0 years, 5.0 years and 4.3 years, respectively;
and expected volatility of 59.4%, 67.9% and 55.2%, respectively.

      The following  summarizes  stock option  transactions for the fiscal years
ended January 30, 1999, January 31, 1998 and February 1, 1997:

                                                           Weighted      Number
                                       Option Prices    Average Price  of Shares
                                       -------------    -------------  ---------

Outstanding Options February 3, 1996   $6.80 - $44.125    $ 28.00    1,554,177
Granted ............................   $11.00-$21.625     $ 17.52      463,500
Exercised ..........................   $ 6.80             $  6.80      (18,234)
Canceled ...........................   $11.50-$42.75      $ 27.31     (335,358)
                                                                     ---------

Outstanding Options February 1, 1997   $ 6.80-$44.125     $22.69     1,664,085
Granted ............................   $14.25-$22.75      $20.60       590,000
Exercised ..........................   $ 6.80-$20.00      $15.45       (47,436)
Canceled ...........................   $11.50-$39.75      $25.11      (585,557)
                                                                     ---------
Outstanding Options January 31, 1998   $ 6.80-$44.125     $21.20     1,621,092
Granted ............................   $14.00-$36.25      $17.52       306,574
Exercised ..........................   $ 6.80-$36.25      $19.09      (373,544)
Canceled ...........................   $ 6.80-$42.50      $23.68      (162,224)
                                                                     ---------
Outstanding Options January 30, 1999   $ 6.80-$44.125     $20.67     1,391,898
                                                                     =========

      At January 30,  1999,  January  31,  1998 and  February 1, 1997 there were
exercisable 696,596 options, 450,776 options and 660,290 options,  respectively,
which have  weighted  average  exercise  prices of $19.76 per share,  $19.02 per
share and $21.03 per share, respectively.

      In 1994,  the Company's 1992 stock option plan was amended and restated to
include restricted stock and unit awards. A unit represents the right to receive
the cash value of a share of common  stock on the date the  restrictions  on the
unit lapse.  The  restrictions on grants generally lapse over a four year period
from the date of the grant.  In the event a grantee  terminates  employment with
the Company,  any  restricted  stock or restricted  units  remaining  subject to
restrictions  are  forfeited.  During  1997 and 1998,  certain  executives  were
awarded  restricted  common  stock and,  in some  cases  restricted  units.  The
resulting unearned compensation expense, based upon the market value on the date
of grants,  was charged to stockholders'  equity and is being amortized over the
restricted period.



===============================================================================
<PAGE>


                         ANNTAYLOR STORES CORPORATION
           NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)


11.    EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

      Effective  August 23, 1996, a former executive and Director of the Company
and Ann Taylor  resigned from her position.  See Note 13 for a discussion of the
Company's obligations under the former executive's employment agreement.

      Upon this resignation,  the Company's  then-President  and Chief Operating
Officer J. Patrick  Spainhour was promoted to the position of Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer. In connection with this promotion,  Mr. Spainhour was granted
75,000 shares of restricted  common stock. The resulting  unearned  compensation
expense of $1,171,875,  based on the market value on the date of the grant,  was
charged to  stockholders'  equity  and is being  amortized  over the  restricted
period  applicable to these shares.  Additionally,  as of December 9, 1996,  the
President and Chief Operating  Officer of the Company received a grant of 30,000
restricted  shares of common stock and 20,000  restricted  units.  The resulting
unearned compensation expense of $592,500, based on the market value on the date
of the grant,  was charged to  stockholders'  equity and is being amortized over
the restricted period applicable to these shares. As of January 30, 1999, 35,000
shares of restricted stock and 6,667 restricted units had not yet vested.


12.  EXTRAORDINARY ITEM

      On July 2, 1997, the Company used  available  cash to prepay  $24,500,000,
the outstanding  balance of its term loan due September 1998,  which resulted in
an  extraordinary  charge to earnings in Fiscal 1997 of $173,000,  net of income
tax benefit.


13.  NONRECURRING CHARGES

STUDIO SHOE STORES CLOSING

      In connection  with the planned closing of all of the Company's Ann Taylor
Studio shoe stores,  announced in January 1997,  the Company  recorded a pre-tax
charge of $3,600,000 in Fiscal 1996. Of the total  impairment  loss,  $2,500,000
represented  impairment  of  long-lived  assets  such as  properties  and  store
fixtures and  $1,100,000  pertained to lease and other  related  costs for these
locations until the properties are sublet.

RESIGNATION OF A FORMER EXECUTIVE

      Effective  August 23, 1996, a former executive and Director of the Company
and Ann Taylor resigned. In connection with this resignation, a one-time pre-tax
charge of $3,500,000 was recorded in Fiscal 1996 relating to the estimated costs
of the Company's  obligations under the former executive's  employment  contract
with the Company.

RETIREMENT OF ASSETS

      In the fourth  quarter of Fiscal 1998,  the Company  recorded a $3,633,000
non-cash  pre-tax  charge for the  retirement  of certain  assets.  This  charge
related to the write-off of the net book value of the assets relinquished during
the renovation of the Company's corporate offices.

==============================================================================

<PAGE>



                         ANNTAYLOR STORES CORPORATION
           NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)



14.  CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

TRANSACTIONS WITH MERRILL LYNCH AND ITS AFFILIATES

      At January 30, 1999,  certain  affiliates of ML&Co.  held  approximately
6.7% of the  Company's  outstanding  common  stock.  Two of the members of the
Board of Directors of the Company and Ann Taylor serve as  representatives  of
ML&Co.  and its affiliates.  As a result,  ML&Co. and such affiliates are in a
position to influence the management of the Company and Ann Taylor.

      In Fiscal 1996, the Company paid  approximately  $1,207,500 to ML&Co.  and
Merrill  Lynch,  Pierce,  Fenner  & Smith,  Incorporated  ("Merrill  Lynch")  in
connection with their services as placement agents for the sale of the preferred
securities  (see Note 3). The Company  agreed to  indemnify  ML&Co.  and Merrill
Lynch, as placement  agents,  against  certain  liabilities,  including  certain
liabilities under the federal securities law, in connection with the sale of the
preferred securities.


SOURCING ACQUISITION

      In Fiscal 1995, the Company purchased approximately 16% of its merchandise
directly  from  Cygne  Designs,  Inc.  ("Cygne")  and an  additional  38% of its
merchandise through the Company's direct sourcing joint venture with Cygne known
as CAT. On September 20, 1996 (the "Effective Date"),  pursuant to the Stock and
Asset Purchase Agreement dated as of June 7, 1996, by and among the Company, Ann
Taylor,   Cygne  and  Cygne  Group  F.E.  Limited  (as  amended,  the  "Purchase
Agreement"), Ann Taylor acquired the entire interest of Cygne in CAT and certain
of the assets  (the  "Assets")  of the Ann Taylor  Woven  Division of Cygne (the
"Division")  that  were  used  for  sourcing  merchandise  for Ann  Taylor  (the
"Sourcing Acquisition").  As a result of the Sourcing Acquisition, CAT became an
indirect wholly owned  subsidiary of the Company.  CAT was  subsequently  merged
into Ann Taylor and now performs all of Ann Taylor's direct sourcing  functions,
including  those  previously  provided  by the  Division,  as a division  of Ann
Taylor. For financial reporting purposes, the transaction has been accounted for
as of the Effective  Date under the purchase  method of accounting in accordance
with  Accounting  Principles  Board  Opinion No. 16,  "Accounting  for  Business
Combinations".

      In consideration  for Cygne's interest in CAT and the Assets,  the Company
paid (i)  2,348,145  shares of common  stock of the Company  having an aggregate
value,  as of the Effective  Date, of  $36,000,000,  (ii)  $3,200,000 in cash as
payment for  inventory  and fixed assets and (iii)  approximately  $6,500,000 in
cash in  settlement  of  open  accounts  payable  by Ann  Taylor  to  Cygne  for
merchandise  delivered by Cygne prior to the  closing.  The Company also assumed
certain  liabilities  related to the  operations of the  Division.  The purchase
price was subject to post-closing  adjustments based upon final determination of
the value of certain of the assets  purchased  and  liabilities  assumed.  As of
February 1, 1997, certain post-closing  adjustments reduced the net cash paid to
approximately  $227,000. The total purchase price to the Company of the Sourcing
Acquisition  has been  allocated  to the  tangible  and  intangible  assets  and
liabilities  of CAT and the Division that were  acquired,  based on estimates of
their  respective  fair values.  The excess of the purchase  price over the fair
value of the net assets acquired was recorded as goodwill and is being amortized
on a straight-line basis over 25 years.

      The following unaudited proforma consolidated data for the Company for the
fiscal year ended  February 1, 1997 has been  presented  to reflect the Sourcing
Acquisition as if it had occurred at the beginning of such period:

===============================================================================
<PAGE>


                         ANNTAYLOR STORES CORPORATION
           NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)



14.  CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS (CONTINUED)


                                                    Fiscal Year Ended
                                                     February 1, 1997
                                                    -----------------
                                                    Actual      Proforma
                                                    ------      --------
                                       (in thousands, except per share amounts)
    Net sales......................................$ 798,117    $798,117
    Net income.....................................$  8,667     $11,595
    Basic and diluted earnings per share...........$   0.36     $  0.45
    Weighted average shares........................  23,981      25,458
    Weighted average shares, assuming dilution.....  24,060      25,537


      The proforma data set forth above does not purport to be indicative of the
results  that  actually  would have  occurred if the  Sourcing  Acquisition  had
occurred at the beginning of the period  presented or of results which may occur
in the future.

      A summary of the noncash  activity  that occurred in the fiscal year ended
February 1, 1997 in conjunction with the Sourcing Acquisition is as follows:

  
                                                                (in thousands)

    Fair value of assets acquired .............................  $   4,727
    Excess of purchase price over the fair value 
       of net assets acquired..................................     38,340
    Ann Taylor's previous investment in CAT....................     (6,840)
    Issuance of the Company's common stock.....................    (36,000)
                                                                   ------- 
    Cash paid .................................................  $     227
                                                                   =======

15.   INCOME TAXES

      The  provision  for income  taxes for the fiscal  years ended  January 30,
1999, January 31, 1998 and February 1, 1997 consists of the following:

                 
                                              Fiscal Years Ended
                                      ------------------------------------
                                      January 30,  January 31,  February 1,
                                           1999       1998         1997 
                                           ----       ----         ---- 
                                                 (in thousands)
    Federal:
      Current...........................$ 21,589    $14,427     $ 9,898
      Deferred..........................   2,748     (1,917)       (802)
                                          ------     ------     ------- 
        Total federal...................  24,337     12,510       9,096
                                          ------     ------     ------- 
    State and local:
      Current...........................   7,869      5,538       3,844
      Deferred..........................   1,217       (769)       (152)
                                          ------     ------     ------- 
        Total state and local...........   9,086      4,769       3,692
                                          ------     ------     ------- 
    Foreign:
      Current...........................     156        187         187
      Deferred..........................     ---        ---         ---
                                          ------     ------     -------
        Total foreign...................     156        187         187
                                          ------     ------     ------- 
      Total.............................$ 33,579    $17,466     $12,975
                                        ========    =======     =======

=============================================================================
<PAGE>



                         ANNTAYLOR STORES CORPORATION
           NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)



15.   INCOME TAXES (CONTINUED)

      The  reconciliation  between  the  provision  for  income  taxes  and  the
provision  for income taxes at the federal  statutory  rate for the fiscal years
ended January 30, 1999, January 31, 1998 and February 1, 1997 is as follows:


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                Fiscal Years Ended
                                                      --------------------------------------
                                                      January 30,   January 31,   February 1,
                                                          1999          1998         1997 
                                                          ----          ----         ---- 

                                                                   (in thousands)
<S>                                                    <C>          <C>          <C>     
Income before income taxes and extraordinary
loss ...............................................   $ 72,903     $ 29,463     $ 21,642
                                                       ========     ========     ========
Federal statutory rate .............................         35%          35%          35%
                                                       ========     ========     ========
Provision for income taxes at federal statutory rate   $ 25,516     $ 10,312     $  7,575
State and local income taxes, net of federal
income tax benefit .................................      4,660        3,800        2,273
Non-deductible amortization of goodwill ............      3,500        3,500        3,429
Unremitted earnings of foreign subsidiaries ........       (188)        (314)
                                                                                     (382)
Other ..............................................         91          168           80
                                                       --------     --------     --------
Provision for income taxes..........................   $ 33,579     $ 17,466     $ 12,975
                                                       ========     ========     ========

</TABLE>

      The tax effects of significant items comprising the Company's net deferred
tax assets as of January 30, 1999 and January 31, 1998 are as follows:

                                             January 30, 1999  January 31, 1998
                                             ----------------  ----------------
                                                        (in thousands)
    Current:
     Inventory..................................   $    128    $  2,854
     Accrued expenses...........................      3,812       4,269
     Real estate................................     (1,686)     (1,634)
     Other......................................        ---         ---
                                                     ------     -------
    Total current...............................   $  2,254    $  5,489
                                                    =======     =======
    Noncurrent:
     Depreciation and amortization..............   $ (5,510)   $ (4,982)
     Rent expense...............................      4,786       4,364
     Other......................................        276         901
                                                     ------     -------
  Total noncurrent............................     $   (448)   $    283
                                                    =======     =======

      Income taxes provided reflect the current and deferred tax consequences of
events that have been  recognized in the Company's  financial  statements or tax
returns.  U.S. federal income taxes are provided on unremitted  foreign earnings
except those that are considered  permanently  reinvested,  which at January 30,
1999 amounted to approximately  $6,864,000.  However, if these earnings were not
considered  permanently  reinvested,  under current law, the  incremental tax on
such undistributed earnings would be approximately $2,149,000.


==============================================================================
<PAGE>


                           ANNTAYLOR STORES CORPORATION
           NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)



16. RETIREMENT PLANS

      SAVINGS PLAN. Ann Taylor maintains a defined  contribution  401(k) savings
plan  for  substantially   all  full-time   employees  of  Ann  Taylor  and  its
subsidiaries.  Participants may contribute to the plan an aggregate of up to 10%
of their annual earnings.  Ann Taylor makes a matching  contribution of 50% with
respect to the first 3% of each participant's annual earnings contributed to the
plan. Ann Taylor's  contributions  to the plan for Fiscal 1998,  Fiscal 1997 and
Fiscal 1996 were $592,000, $519,000 and $390,000, respectively.

      PENSION PLAN.  Substantially all full-time employees of Ann Taylor and its
subsidiaries are covered under a  noncontributory  defined benefit pension plan.
Through  December 31, 1997, the pension plan was a "cash balance  pension plan".
Each  participant  accrued a benefit based on compensation  and years of service
with Ann Taylor.  As of January 1, 1998, the Plan was amended and the formula to
calculate  benefits  was  changed to a career  average  formula.  The new career
average  formula was used to determine the funding  status of the plan beginning
in Fiscal  1997.  Ann  Taylor's  funding  policy  for the plan is to  contribute
annually the amount  necessary to provide for benefits based on accrued  service
and projected pay increases.  Plan assets consist  primarily of cash, equity and
fixed income securities.

      In Fiscal 1998,  the Company  adopted  Statement  of Financial  Accounting
Standards   No.  132,   "Employers'   Disclosures   about   Pensions  and  Other
Postretirement  Benefits",  which  standardizes the disclosure  requirements for
pension and other postretirement benefits,  eliminates certain disclosures,  and
requires  additional  information on the changes in the benefit  obligations and
fair value of plan assets.

      The following  table provides  information for the Pension Plan at January
30, 1999, January 31, 1998 and February 1, 1997:



                                                   Fiscal Years Ended
                                              ---------------------------------
                                             January 30, January 31, February 1,
                                                  1999       1998        1997 
                                                  ----       ----        ---- 

                                                          (in thousands)
Change in benefit obligation:
Benefit obligation, beginning of year .......   $ 3,820    $ 3,413    $ 2,893
Service cost ................................       669        571        981
Interest ....................................       292        250        212
Plan amendments .............................      --           81       --
Actuarial loss (gain) .......................       348       (103)      (316)
Benefits paid ...............................      (487)      (392)      (357)
                                                  ------     ------     ------
Benefit obligation, end of year..............     4,642      3,820      3,413
                                                  ------     ------     ------
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets, beginning of year      5,128      4,745      2,537
Actual return on plan assets ................     1,205        907      2,333
Employer contribution (refund) ..............     1,640       (132)       232
Benefits paid ...............................      (487)      (392)      (357)
                                                  ------     ------     ------
Fair value of plan assets, end of year ......     7,486      5,128      4,745
                                                  ------     ------     ------

Funded status (fair value of plan assets less
benefit obligation) .........................     2,844      1,308      1,332
Unrecognized net actuarial gain .............    (1,675)    (1,361)      (802)
Unrecognized prior service cost .............        69         75       --
                                                  ------     ------     ------
Prepaid benefit cost.........................   $ 1,238    $    22    $   530
                                                 ======    =======    =======

==============================================================================

<PAGE>


                           ANNTAYLOR STORES CORPORATION
           NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)


16. RETIREMENT PLANS  (CONTINUED)

Net pension cost includes the following components:

                                                      Fiscal Years Ended       
                                           ------------------------------------
                                           January 30,   January 31, February 1,
                                              1999           1998        1997 
                                              ----           ----        ---- 

Service cost..............................$    669      $    571    $     981 
Interest cost.............................     292           250          213 
Expected return on assets.................    (481)         (409)        (218)
Amortization of prior gains...............     (61)          (42)          (9)
Amortization of prior service cost........       6             6          --- 
                                             -----       -------     --------
Net periodic pension cost.................$    425      $    376    $     967 
                                          ========      ========    ========= 


For the fiscal years ended  January 30,  1999,  January 31, 1998 and February 1,
1997, the following actuarial assumptions were used:


                                                      Fiscal Years Ended       

                                          January 30,    January 31, February 1,
                                              1999           1998        1997 
                                              ----           ----        ---- 

Discount rate.............................    6.75%         7.50%        8.00%
Long-term rate of return on assets........    9.00%         9.00%        9.00%
Rate of increase in future compensation...    4.00%         4.00%        4.00%


17.  QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED)

                                                       Quarter
                                          -------------------------------------
                                          First    Second     Third      Fourth 
                                          -----    ------     -----      ------ 

                                       (in thousands, except per share amounts)
Fiscal 1998
Net sales ..........................   $198,170   $223,393   $227,535   $262,841
Gross profit .......................    101,334    104,934    124,418    125,529
Net income .........................   $  6,419   $  7,044   $ 14,074   $ 11,787
                                       ========   ========   ========   ========

Basic earnings per share ...........   $   0.25   $   0.27   $   0.55   $   0.46
                                       ========   ========   ========   ========
Diluted earnings per share .........   $   0.25   $   0.27   $   0.50   $   0.42
                                       ========   ========   ========   ========

Fiscal 1997
Net sales ..........................   $197,064   $184,999   $187,200   $211,765
Gross profit .......................     98,636     85,354     92,732     92,550
Income before extraordinary loss ...      6,475        985      2,185      2,352
Extraordinary loss .................       --          173       --         --
                                       --------   --------   --------   --------
Net income .........................   $  6,475   $    812   $  2,185   $  2,352
                                       ========   ========   ========   ========

Basic and diluted earnings per share
before extraordinary loss ..........   $   0.25   $   0.04   $   0.09   $   0.09
Extraordinary loss per share .......       --         0.01       --         --
                                       --------   --------   --------   --------
Basic and diluted earnings per share   $   0.25   $   0.03   $   0.09   $   0.09
                                       ========   ========   ========   ========

      In the fourth  quarter of Fiscal 1997,  the Company  adopted  Statement of
Financial  Accounting  Standards No. 128,  "Earnings per Share".  All previously
reported per share information has been  recalculated.  The sum of the quarterly
per share data may not equal the annual  amounts due to changes in the  weighted
average shares and share equivalents outstanding.


                                                                 EXHIBIT 10.3.11

                         ELEVENTH AMENNDMENT TO LEASE
                         ----------------------------



      ELEVENTH  AMENDMENT  TO LEASE,  made  this  15th day of May 1998,  by and
between   PACIFIC    METROPOLITAN    CORPORATION,    a   Delaware   Corporation
(successor-in-interest   to  Carven   Associates)  having  an  office  at  3000
Executive  Parkway,  Suite 236, San Ramon,  California  94583  ("Landlord") and
ANNTAYLOR,  INC.  a  Delaware  corporation  having  an  office at 142 West 57th
Street, New York, New York 10019 ("Tenant").

                                     WITNESSETH
                                     ----------

      WHEREAS,  under date of March 17, 1989,  Landlord and Tenant entered into
a lease as amended  pursuant  to  agreements  dated  November  14,  1990 (First
Amendment),   October  1,  1993  (Extension  and  Amendment),  April  14,  1994
(Modification  of  Amendment  and  Extension  to Lease),  March 14, 1995 (Fifth
Amendment),   January  5,  1996  (Sixth  Amendment),   June  5,  1996  (Seventh
Amendment),  the undated (Eight Amendment) May 13, 1997 (Ninth Amendment),  and
May 21,  1997  (Tenth  Amendment),  together,  collectively  referred to as the
"Lease"  affecting the entire second (2nd),  third (3rd),  fourth (4th),  fifth
(5th),  sixth  (6th),  seventh  (7th),  eighth  (8th)  fourteenth  (14th) and a
portion  of the  seventeenth  (17th)  floor  (the  "Premises"),  in  commercial
condominium  unit (the  "Building")  of which the Premises form a part known by
the street address of 142 West 57th Street, New York, New York;

      WHEREAS,  Landlord and Tenant are desirous of further amending said Lease
in the manner set forth below:

1.    The following  Section shall be inserted after Section I of Article 45 of
        the Lease:

        "J.     (i)  Landlord  has  approved  Tenant's  Plans (the  "Renovation
        Plans") for Tenant's  Work,  consisting of renovating  the Premises,  a
        copy of such  Renovation  Plans being  attached  hereto as Exhibit A to
        Eleventh Amendment to Lease (such work, the  "Renovation").  In lieu of
        the letter of credit  required to be delivered by Tenant under  Section
        H (ii) of this  Article  45,  and  subject  to the  provisions  of this
        Section  J,  Landlord  agrees  to  accept a  $1,000,000  cash  security
        deposit  (the  "Construction  Deposit")  as security  for the  faithful
        performance  and  completion by Tenant of the  Renovation in accordance
        with the  Renovation  Plans  and the  terms of this  Lease,  including,
        without  limitation,  this Article 45. The  Construction  Deposit shall
        be  deposited  by  Landlord  with a bank  selected  by  Landlord  in an
        interest bearing account.

(ii)  Tenant  agrees  that in the event  that a default  which  relates  to the
                improper  performance by Tenant of the Renovation in accordance
                with the  Renovation  Plans  or the  terms  of this  Lease,  or
                Tenant's failure to pay sums to contractors or materialmen,  or
                others, incurred in connection with the

===============================================================================


                Renovation   or  Tenant's   failure  to  obtain  all   permits,
                authorizations,  certificates  or other  approvals  required in
                connection  with  or  as  a  result  of  the  Renovation  under
                applicable    regulations   or   the   terms   of   the   Lease
                (collectively,  the "Renovation Approvals"),  then Landlord may
                (a) use or apply  the  whole  or any  part of the  Construction
                Deposit   reasonably   necessary  to  cure  such  default,   as
                determined  in  Landlord's  sole  discretion  or (b) retain the
                Construction  Deposit on account of any  damages or  deficiency
                accrued  before or after summary  proceedings  or other reentry
                by Landlord occasioned in whole or in part by such default.

(iii) Provided  (a)  there is then no  uncured  default  which  relates  to the
                improper  performance by Tenant of the Renovation in accordance
                with the  Renovation  Plans and the terms of this Lease and (b)
                Landlord  has  received  general  releases  and waivers of lien
                from all contractors,  subcontractors and materialmen  involved
                in  the   performance  of  the  Renovation  and  the  materials
                furnished in connection therewith and satisfactory  evidence of
                the payment in full for the  Renovation  and (c)  Landlord  has
                received  satisfactory  evidence of the  Renovation  Approvals,
                the  remainder  of  the   Construction   Deposit  less  applied
                portions and the accrued  interest  thereon (less any bank fees
                or  expenses)  shall be returned to Tenant  within  thirty (30)
                days after request by Tenant therefor.

(iv)  Tenant shall cause the  Renovation to commence  prior to June 1, 1998 and
                be completed on or prior to September 1, 1999.  The  Renovation
                shall  be  performed  on a  maximum  of two (2)  floors  of the
                Premises at any one time.  After the  Renovation  is  completed
                on any one floor,  Tenant must,  prior to the  commencement  of
                the Renovation on any additional  floor,  provide Landlord with
                (a) general  releases and waivers of lien from all contractors,
                subcontractors  and materialmen  involved in the performance of
                the  Renovation  of such  completed  floor  and  the  materials
                furnished in connection  therewith,  (b) satisfactory  evidence
                of the Renovation  Approvals and (c) evidence of the payment in
                full for the Renovation of such completed floor.

2.    The terms of this  agreement  cannot be  changed  orally,  but only by an
      instrument in writing executed by both parties.

      Except  as  herein  expressly   modified,   the  Lease,  as  amended,  is
      unmodified and is ratified and confirmed in all respects.

4.    The terms,  covenants  and  provisions  contained in this  Agreement  are
      binding and shall  inure to the  benefit of the parties  hereto and their
      respective heirs, successors and assigns.


   IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  Landlord and Tenant have  respectively  executed  this
   Agreement as of the day and year first above written.


                               LANDLORD:

                               PACIFIC METROPOLITAN CORPORATION


                               By:  /s/ David A. Hennefer          
                                    ---------------------          
                                    David A. Hennefer
                                    Assistant Secretary


 
                               TENANT:

                               ANNTAYLOR, INC.

                               By:  /s/ Valerie Richardson         
                                    ----------------------
                                    Valerie Richardson
                                    Senior Vice President
                                    Real Estate and Development

                                                                     Exhibit 21
                 SUBSIDIARIES OF ANNTAYLOR STORES CORPORATION






           AnnTaylor Finance Trust, a Delaware statutory business trust
           AnnTaylor, Inc., a Delaware corporation
           AnnTaylor Travel, Inc., a Delaware corporation
           AnnTaylor Distribution Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation
           AnnTaylor Loft, Inc., a Delaware corporation



                                                                   Exhibit 23

                       INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT


     We  consent  to  the   incorporation   by  reference  in  AnnTaylor  Stores
Corporation's  Registration Statements No. 33-31505 on Form S-8, No. 33-50688 on
Form S-8, No.  33-54387 on Form S-8, No.  33-52389 on Form S-8, No.  33-55629 on
Form S-8, No.  333-32977 on Form S-8 and No. 333-37145 on Form S-8 of our report
dated March 8, 1999  appearing  in the Annual  Report on Form 10-K of  AnnTaylor
Stores Corporation for the year ended January 30, 1999.


DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
NEW YORK, NEW YORK
March 26, 1999

<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
     CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED
     BALANCE SHEETS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
     FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
   </LEGEND>
<CIK>    0000874214                     
<NAME>   AnnTaylor Stores Corporation                     
<MULTIPLIER>  1000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              JAN-30-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                   JAN-30-1999
<CASH>                                               67031
<SECURITIES>                                             0
<RECEIVABLES>                                        71869
<ALLOWANCES>                                           820
<INVENTORY>                                         136748
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                    298465
<PP&E>                                              266305
<DEPRECIATION>                                      114520
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                      775417
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                               129757
<BONDS>                                             100000
                                    0
                                              0
<COMMON>                                               177
<OTHER-SE>                                          432522
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                        775417
<SALES>                                             911939
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                    911939
<CGS>                                               455724
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                       365195
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                    365195
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                         0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   18117
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                      72903
<INCOME-TAX>                                         33579
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  39324
<DISCONTINUED>                                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                          0
<CHANGES>                                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                         39324
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                         1.53
<EPS-DILUTED>                                         1.44
        

</TABLE>


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