8-K

                                 UNITED STATES
                                 -------------
                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                      ----------------------------------
                            WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


                                   FORM 8-K
                                   --------

                                CURRENT REPORT
                                --------------
                    Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                        Securities Exchange Act of 1934


Date of Report  (Date of earliest event reported):     April 18, 2002
                                                       --------------

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


Delaware                           1-10738                   13-3499319
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(State or Other            (Commission File Number)      (I.R.S. Employer
Jurisdiction of                                          Identification Number
Incorporation)
Identification No.)

                             142 West 57th Street
                           New York, New York 10019
                           ------------------------
  (Address, including Zip Code, of Registrant's Principal Executive Offices)


                                (212) 541-3300
                                --------------
             (Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)


                                 ANNTAYLOR, INC.
                                 ---------------
            (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Delaware                           1-11980                  51-0297083
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(State or Other            (Commission File Number)      (I.R.S. Employer
Jurisdiction of                                          Identification Number
Incorporation)
Identification No.)


                             142 West 57th Street
                           New York, New York 10019
                           ------------------------
  (Address, including Zip Code, of Registrant's Principal Executive Offices)


                                (212) 541-3300
                                --------------
             (Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)


                                 Not Applicable
                                 --------------
                 (Former Names or Former Addresses, if Changed
                              Since Last Report)


This combined Form 8-K is separately filed by each of AnnTaylor Stores
Corporation and AnnTaylor, Inc.  The information contained herein relating to
each individual registrant is filed by such registrant on its own behalf.

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ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS AND REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE.

         AnnTaylor Stores Corporation (the "Company") issued a Press Release,
dated April 18, 2002.  A copy of the Press Release is appended to this report
as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

  (c)    Exhibits.

         99.1   Press Release issued by the Company on April 18, 2002.


                                  SIGNATURES
                                  ----------

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the Registrants have duly caused this report to be signed on their behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                            ANNTAYLOR STORES CORPORATION
                                            By: /s/ Barbara K. Eisenberg
                                                ------------------------
                                                Barbara K. Eisenberg
Date:  April 18, 2002                           Senior Vice President,
                                                General Counsel and Secretary




                                            ANNTAYLOR, INC.
                                            By: /s/ Barbara K. Eisenberg
                                                ------------------------
                                                Barbara K. Eisenberg
Date:  April 18, 2002                           Senior Vice President,
                                                General Counsel and Secretary




                                    Page 2

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                          EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit No.                          Description
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------

  99.1           Press Release issued by the Company on April 18, 2002.




                                    Page 3

EX-99

    ANN TAYLOR CORPORATION TARGETS TO DELIVER 18%-20% COMPOUNDED EPS GROWTH
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------
    THROUGH COMPANY'S EFFORTS TO ACHIEVE CONSISTENCY IN SALES AND OPERATING
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 MARGIN GAINS
                                 ------------

         -- COMPANY REAFFIRMS PREVIOUSLY PROVIDED GUIDANCE FOR 2002 --

                                                          FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                                                          ---------------------

NEW YORK, NEW YORK, APRIL 18, 2002 - Ann Taylor Stores  Corporation  (NYSE: ANN)

is  targeting  to achieve  earnings  per share growth in the range of 18% to 20%

over 2003- 2005, the Company's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer,  J. Patrick

Spainhour,  today told analysts at a webcast  investor  conference held today at

the New York Stock Exchange.



Mr. Spainhour said that these earnings objectives can be met if the Company more

consistently  delivers on the expectations of the Ann Taylor client.  The target

is to  drive  annual  top  line  sales  growth  in the  range  of 12%,  based on

comparable  store  growth in the 3% range at both the Ann  Taylor and Ann Taylor

Loft. The Company is also targeting to reach double-digit operating margins.



"The Ann  Taylor  brand  appeals to broad and highly  appealing  demographics  -

possibly  among  the best in the  industry.  By  taking  steps to  deliver  more

consistently on our clients'  expectation of updated classic styling, we believe

we can meet our targeted  growth rates.  With the right  strategy and right team

now in  place,  we are  well-positioned  to  produce  over  time the  value  our

shareholders know Ann Taylor is capable of achieving," Spainhour said.



At the meeting,  Barry Erdos,  Ann Taylor's Chief Operating  Officer,  also said

that the Company was comfortable  with its previous  earnings per share guidance

for 2002 of $2.01- $2.12 on a diluted  basis.  Quarterly  estimates for the year

are  projected to be $0.60- $0.62,  $0.34- $0.36,  $0.63- $0.66 and $0.44- $0.48

for the first through fourth quarters, respectively.



"We have worked hard to set our house in order and the  financial  benefits  are

starting to show," said Mr. Erdos.  "While we are taking a conservative  view on

comps - for the spring 2002 season we expect comparable store sales flat to last

year and for  fall  2002 we are  projecting  comparable  store  sales in the low

single  digit  positive  range - we expect  gross margin for the year to improve

approximately  100  basis  points  over  the  50.2%  achieved  in  fiscal  2001.

Achievement of this rate would represent the highest merchandise gross margin in

the Company's history."



Ann Taylor held a webcast of its Annual  Analyst  Meeting from the  boardroom of

the New York Stock Exchange.  Kim Roy, President of the Ann Taylor Division, Kay


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Krill,  President of the Ann Taylor Loft Division,  and Catherine Sadler,  Chief

Marketing  Officer  participated  with  Messrs.   Spainhour  and  Erdos  in  the

presentation and a question and answer session.



The meeting was broadcast live over the Internet. For the webcast, log on to the

Ann Taylor  Investor  Relations  web site at  http://investor.anntaylor.com  and
                                              -----------------------------
click on the event  link.  The  webcast  will be  available  for replay  through

Thursday, April 30, 2002.



Ann  Taylor  is  one of  the  country's  leading  women's  specialty  retailers,

operating 544 stores in 42 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and

also an Online Store at www.anntaylor.com.
                        -----------------


                          #    #    #

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements made
pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995.  The forward-looking statements may use the words
"expect", "anticipate", "plan", "intend", "project", "believe" and similar
expressions.  These forward-looking statements reflect the Company's current
expectations concerning future events and actual results may differ
materially from current expectations or historical results.  Any such
forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties,
including failure by the Company to predict accurately customer fashion
preferences; 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 upper-moderate-priced women's apparel market; general economic
conditions 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; lack of sufficient consumer
interest in the Company's Online Store; 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; acts of war or terrorism in the
United States or worldwide; and other factors set fourth in the Company's
filings with the SEC.  The Company does not assume any obligation to update
or revise any forward-looking statements at any time for any reason.

                                     # # #
          Contact:

          Barry Erdos
          Chief Operating Officer
          (212) 541-3318


          Doreen D. Riely
          Director, Investor Relations
          (212) 541-3484