Fragrance house

Ann Taylor

Ann Taylor traces its heritage to 1954, when its first store opened in New Haven, Connecticut; at the time, “Ann Taylor” was the name of a best-selling dress style. Its established identity centers on polished, professional, modern feminine clothing for working women, while later materials describe it as American sportswear rooted in workwear and tailored style. Ann Taylor became a public company through an initial public offering in 1991. LOFT was established in 1995 as an extension of Ann Taylor and became a distinct related brand after changing its name from Ann Taylor LOFT in 2009. Ascena Retail Group acquired ANN INC., Ann Taylor’s parent company, in 2015, then sold Ann Taylor to Premium Apparel LLC, an affiliate of Sycamore Partners, in December 2020. In August 2023, Sycamore placed Ann Taylor within KnitWell Group alongside LOFT and Talbots. In August 2026, Ann Taylor introduced the “This Is Ann” campaign, centered on multidimensional working women and an updated interpretation of suiting and workwear.