Ann Taylor Factory is the outlet arm of Ann Taylor, selling workwear, knits, dresses and accessories at prices well below the main brand. Most of the stock is made specifically for the outlet rather than left over from Ann Taylor stores.
A good Ann Taylor Factory order depends on understanding that difference, getting the size right without trying on, and timing the purchase against the near-constant percentage events.
Outlet-made versus mainline
Ann Taylor Factory pieces carry their own labels and are designed for the outlet's price point. Fabrics are often simpler: more polyester and viscose blends, less silk and wool than the mainline. Construction is fine for office wear but linings, buttons and hardware are plainer.
That is not a criticism. A blazer from Ann Taylor Factory at a fraction of the mainline price is good value for daily wear, as long as you read the composition and do not expect mainline fabric.
Occasionally genuine Ann Taylor overstock appears at the Factory site. Look for the Ann Taylor label in the product name or photos, and buy those first when the price is right.
Reading the fabric line
Every Ann Taylor Factory listing states fibre content. Cotton, wool, linen and silk breathe and age well. Viscose and rayon drape nicely but can shrink or lose shape if machine washed hot. Polyester is durable and cheap to care for, and warm in summer.
Check the care instruction on the listing. A dry-clean-only blouse bought for the office adds a running cost. Ann Taylor Factory has a good range of machine-washable knits and ponte trousers, which suit a working wardrobe.
Sizing, petite and the fit names
Ann Taylor Factory sells regular and petite in most styles, and some extended sizes. Petite is cut for a shorter frame overall, with shorter sleeves, rise and hem, not just a shorter leg.
Use the Ann Taylor Factory size chart for each category rather than assuming your mainline size. Reviewers on the site regularly note whether a piece runs large, and the outlet's knits in particular have tended to run generous.
Trousers carry fit names that describe rise and leg. Read the fit description and the inseam length, since petite and regular inseams differ by a couple of inches.
How the percent-off events work
Ann Taylor Factory rarely sells at the ticket price. Most weeks there is a sitewide percentage off, and the site shows the reduced figure once the code or automatic promotion applies.
The pattern to watch is "extra" percentages on already-reduced clearance. An extra 40% off a clearance dress is a genuinely low price. A 40% event on full-price stock is closer to the normal price of the shop.
Compare the final price after the code, not the percentage. The Ann Taylor Factory sale section, with an extra code applied, is consistently where the lowest prices sit.
Shipping, returns and final sale
Online orders from Ann Taylor Factory ship with a fee unless a free shipping threshold or code applies. Check the threshold at checkout and consider adding a basic to cross it if you are close.
Returns of online orders have generally been accepted in Ann Taylor Factory stores and by mail within the stated window. Factory purchases are usually not returnable to full-price Ann Taylor stores, and items marked final sale cannot go back at all. Check the return policy and the final-sale flag before buying anything you are unsure about.
Building a working wardrobe here
The strongest Ann Taylor Factory categories for value are blazers, ponte and crepe trousers, shell tops and cardigans. Dresses are hit and miss on fabric; read the reviews.
Buy the basics in two colours during a 50% event rather than one at a time. Shoes and jewellery are cheaper elsewhere for the quality.
Where the Ann Taylor Factory savings are
A 50% sitewide code is the best of these for a mixed basket, and Ann Taylor Factory runs events at that level several times a year. If it is rejected, the event has ended and the 40% code is the fallback.
The bottoms code only reduces trousers, skirts and jeans. It is useful when a sitewide code is not running and you only need trousers; when a sitewide code is live, use that instead, because Ann Taylor Factory applies one code per order.
Codes usually exclude some items, particularly new arrivals and collaborations. Anything that does not move at checkout is excluded.
Codes at Ann Taylor Factory are event-based and expire on a fixed date. Check the terms shown with the offer for the end date.
Common questions
Is Ann Taylor Factory the same quality as Ann Taylor?
No. Most Factory stock is made for the outlet with simpler fabrics and finishes. It is good value for the price but not mainline quality.
Can I return Ann Taylor Factory items to an Ann Taylor store?
Generally not. Return to a Factory store or by mail, within the window, and note that final-sale items are not returnable.
Do Ann Taylor Factory sizes run large?
Knits and some tops have tended to. Use the size chart and the reviews for the specific item.
Can I stack two codes?
One code per order. Choose the sitewide percentage when it is running, and a category code otherwise.
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| Franco Sarto | Similar deals and discounts | Active promo codes available | SEE DISCOUNT CODES → |
| Free People | Similar deals and discounts | Active promo codes available | SEE DISCOUNT CODES → |
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