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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000874214-09-000039.txt : 20090825
<SEC-HEADER>0000874214-09-000039.hdr.sgml : 20090825
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090825120726
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000874214-09-000039
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090824
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090825
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090825

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			EISENBERG BARBARA
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001159598

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10738
		FILM NUMBER:		091033223

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O ANNTAYLOR STORES CORP
		STREET 2:		7 TIMES SQUARE, 15TH FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10036

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ANNTAYLOR STORES CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000874214
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-WOMEN'S CLOTHING STORES [5621]
		IRS NUMBER:				133499319
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0202

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7 TIMES SQUARE
		STREET 2:		15TH FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10036
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2125413300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7 TIMES SQUARE
		STREET 2:		15TH FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10036

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	TAYLOR ANN STORES CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19960221
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-08-24</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000874214</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ANNTAYLOR STORES CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ANN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001159598</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>EISENBERG BARBARA</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O ANNTAYLOR STORES CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>7 TIMES SQUARE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10036</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>EVP/General Counsel/Secretary</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-08-24</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>13.23</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>50760</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price.  These shares were sold in multiple transactions ranging from $13.14 to $13.30, inclusive.  The reporting person undertakes to provide to AnnTaylor Stores Corporation, any security holder of AnnTaylor Stores Corporation, or the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price within the ranges set forth in this footnote to this Form 4.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes holdings of approximately 4,999 shares in the Company's Associate Discount Stock Purchase Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Barbara K. Eisenberg</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-08-25</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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