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):     October 9, 2003
                                                       ---------------

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



         Delaware                          1-10738               13-3499319
         --------                          -------               ----------
(State or Other Jurisdiction       (Commission File Number)   (I.R.S. Employer
of  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 Jurisdiction       (Commission File Number)   (I.R.S. Employer
of  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 7.       FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.
- -------       ----------------------------------

              (c)    Exhibits.

                     99.1  Press Release issued by AnnTaylor Stores Corporation
                           on October 9, 2003.



ITEM 9.       REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE.
- -------       -------------------------

              AnnTaylor Stores Corporation issued a Press Release, dated
October 9, 2003.  A copy of the Press  Release is appended  to this report as
Exhibit  99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.



                                  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:  October 9, 2003                            Senior Vice President,
                                                  General Counsel and Secretary



                                               ANNTAYLOR, INC.
                                               ---------------

                                               By:/s/Barbara K. Eisenberg
                                                  -----------------------
                                                  Barbara K. Eisenberg
Date:  October 9, 2003                            Senior Vice President,
                                                  General Counsel and Secretary



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                                EXHIBIT INDEX
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Exhibit No.                          Description
- ----------        -------------------------------------------------------
99.1              Press Release issued by AnnTaylor Stores Corporation on
                  October 9, 2003.







                                    Page 3

EX-99

                                                                    Exhibit 99.1
                                   ANNTAYLOR
                                   NEWS RELEASE
                                   142  WEST  57TH  STREET NEW YORK, N.Y. 10019


               ANN TAYLOR ANNOUNCES SEPTEMBER 2003 SALES RESULTS
               -------------------------------------------------

New York,  New York,  October 9, 2003 -  AnnTaylor  Stores  Corporation  (NYSE:
- -------------------------------------
ANN)  announced  today total net sales for the five week period  ended  October

4,  2003  increased  17.2  percent  to  $160,484,000  over  total  net sales of

$136,945,000  for the five week period ended October 5, 2002. By division,  net

sales were $83,580,000 for Ann Taylor and $64,488,000 for Ann Taylor Loft.



Comparable  store  sales for the period  increased  6.9  percent  compared to a

comparable  store sales increase of 2.3 percent for the same  five-week  period

last year.  By  division,  comparable  store  sales for fiscal  September  2003

were up 0.8 percent for Ann Taylor  compared  to a 0.4  percent  increase  last

year,  and up 17.1  percent  for Ann  Taylor  Loft  compared  to a 4.9  percent

increase last year.



Ann Taylor  Chairman J.  Patrick  Spainhour  said,  "We are  excited  about our

September  performance  at  Ann  Taylor  Stores  Corporation.   Both  divisions

posted  positive  comparable  store  sales  gains  over  last  year's  positive

comparable  store  sales  results.  September's  performance  has  set  a  good

foundation for the rest of the season."



Mr.  Spainhour  continued,  "We are  enthusiastic  about  our Ann  Taylor  Loft

performance  for  September.  We surpassed our  expectations  with  outstanding

full-price  performance in our casual and relaxed separates,  tops, accessories

and petites.  Fashion,  color,  novelty at a great value drove sales and margin

across all product categories.



"At Ann Taylor we were pleased with our sales  performance in our pants,  woven

shirts, and outerwear  categories,  however,  the overall assortment  continued

to lack the  proper  balance of color and  novelty.  We are  encouraged  by the

sales  pick-up  experienced  during  the fifth week of the month  providing  us

with sales momentum as we head into October."



Total  inventory   levels  at  the  end  of  September,   including   inventory

attributable to Ann Taylor Global Sourcing,  were down  approximately 8 percent

on a per  square  foot basis  compared  to last year.  By  division,  inventory

levels on a per square  foot basis were down  approximately  9 percent  for Ann

Taylor and 3 percent for Ann Taylor  Loft.  The  decrease in  inventory  levels

compared to last year is attributable to better product sell-through.



The company  continues  to expect  earnings  per share for the third and fourth

quarter in the range of $0.57 - $0.61 and $0.41 - $0.43, respectively.



During the month,  the  Company  opened 4 new Ann Taylor  stores and 13 new Ann

Taylor Loft  stores.  The total store count at month end was 628,  comprised of


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355 Ann Taylor  stores,  246 Ann Taylor  Loft  stores and 27 Ann Taylor  Factory

stores. Total store square footage at the end of the month increased 9.6 percent

over the year before.



For the fiscal  year-to-date  period ended  October 4, 2003,  the Company's net

sales totaled  $1,007,304,000,  up 10.2 percent from  $914,095,000 for the same

period in fiscal  2002.  By  division,  net sales for the  fiscal  year-to-date

period  were  $553,630,000  for Ann  Taylor  and  $365,814,000  for Ann  Taylor

Loft.  Comparable  store  sales for the fiscal  year-to-date  period  increased

1.5 percent  compared to a comparable  store sales  decrease of 0.5 percent for

the same  period  last  year.  Comparable  sales  by  division  for the  fiscal

year-to-date  period  were down 0.7  percent  for Ann Taylor  compared to a 1.5

percent  decrease  last  year,  and up 4.7  percent  for Ann  Taylor  Loft Loft

compared to a 1.3 percent increase last year.



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

operating  628 stores in 42 states,  the  District of Columbia and Puerto Rico,

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


For more  information,  please  call  (866)  214-2661  to listen to Ann  Taylor

Stores Corporation's monthly sales recording.  No access code is required.



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  client  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;  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;  the
potential  impact of health concerns  relating to severe  infectious  diseases,
particularly on manufacturing  operations of the Company's  vendors in Asia and
elsewhere;  acts of war or terrorism in the United  States or  worldwide;  work
stoppages,  slowdowns or strikes;  and other factors set forth 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 Riely
     Director of Investor Relations
     (212) 541-3484


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