Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What’s a good Ann Taylor or Loft alternative for work that is better quality?

Nothing. All mid-priced clothing is awful these days.

Agree that mid priced clothing is not great these days. Would love to hear about exceptions, if anyone has recommendations..

Every mid-priced brand I shop at I have to be very picky to find anything even remotely decent.

There's a whole passel of reasons, and they all started in the late 80s/early 90s and will only get worse.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What’s a good Ann Taylor or Loft alternative for work that is better quality?

Nothing. All mid-priced clothing is awful these days.

Agree that mid priced clothing is not great these days. Would love to hear about exceptions, if anyone has recommendations..

It’s basically the same construction. J crew factory is better for the money. J.Crew is nice.

For AT and loft just shop whichever you like the clothes best. I do both.

Anonymous wrote:What’s a good Ann Taylor or Loft alternative for work that is better quality?

Nothing. All mid-priced clothing is awful these days.

Anonymous wrote:I think of Loft as clothes for middle aged and/not body perfect and/or non trendy women.

I think of Ann Taylor as classic not super high or low quality work clothes (altho I think the quality has dropped below that in the past few years)

I think the differing viewpoints on this thread in part explain why both retailers are failing- neither did a great job at branding!

You may be onto something. Twenty years ago, Loft was where I bought my first work wardrobe post-college. In those days, they had a buy $50 of clothing today, receive a $25 off coupon for next week promo. My 22 year old self would have been horrified to learn it was a brand for middle-aged women!

On another note, they seemed to go downhill a dozen years ago but have been better for the last couple of years. Agree about Ann Taylor having weird cuts. Even at 5’6” and 120 lbs, nothing looked good on me.

What’s a good Ann Taylor or Loft alternative for work that is better quality?

I think of Loft as clothes for middle aged and/not body perfect and/or non trendy women.

I think of Ann Taylor as classic not super high or low quality work clothes (altho I think the quality has dropped below that in the past few years)

I think the differing viewpoints on this thread in part explain why both retailers are failing- neither did a great job at branding!

Anonymous wrote:I'm not sure if these stores are still part of the same corporate family but in general with fashion clothes under $200 per item, there is a kind of standard multiple between garment manufacturing cost and full retail price.

Ann Taylor tends to have slimmer cuts, fancier fabrics, and a less everyday style. I think it has an older target market than Loft. I almost never buy anything there.

I do reliably buy clothes at Ann Taylor Outlet which does not bring in clothes from the regular store chain. It has lower price points but a bit more polished/fancier look than Loft.

I also buy clothes at Loft.

I think Ann Taylor works for women who buy suits from J Crew. I've never had luck at either.

That’s funny to me because Loft started out as the Ann Taylor outlet. At some point, the company started making clothes to be sold just at Loft, and therefore no longer an outlet.

Neither is what they used to be, but I always thought of Ann Taylor as more for work clothes and Loft more casual. I still shop at Loft because they have a decent selection of both petites and curvy fit pants. They always are having a sale.

OP - I’m looking mostly for timeless work clothes. I bought a pair of pants I liked from Loft and stopped shopping after the hem fell out and I realized they had been glued, not sewn!

I used to wear a ton of Ann Taylor, but have n’t bought anything in about a decade. I tried on a dress where only the top was lined and just walked out. But elsewhere.

I'm not sure if these stores are still part of the same corporate family but in general with fashion clothes under $200 per item, there is a kind of standard multiple between garment manufacturing cost and full retail price.

Ann Taylor tends to have slimmer cuts, fancier fabrics, and a less everyday style. I think it has an older target market than Loft. I almost never buy anything there.

I do reliably buy clothes at Ann Taylor Outlet which does not bring in clothes from the regular store chain. It has lower price points but a bit more polished/fancier look than Loft.

I also buy clothes at Loft.

I think Ann Taylor works for women who buy suits from J Crew. I've never had luck at either.

Ann Taylor used to have nice quality but I went a few times this year and walked out without a thing. Terrible quality and weird cuts. Surprisingly, I have found a few things at Loft this year and I hadn't shopped there in years. I'm not looking for something to last 10 years, so I'm fine with Lofts quality.

Their quality used to be very good but now it is pretty hit or miss.

What's the difference?

I used to shop at Loft but the quality wasn't good so I stopped. Is Ann Taylor different or the same?