<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SUMMARY CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CONDENSED CNSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000874214 <NAME> ANNTAYLOR STORES CORPORATION <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> JAN-29-2000 <PERIOD-END> JUL-31-1999 <CASH> 90,603 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 66,447 <ALLOWANCES> 711 <INVENTORY> 134,388 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 317,486 <PP&E> 290,110 <DEPRECIATION> 126,930 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 802,875 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 110,751 <BONDS> 110,353 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 214 <OTHER-SE> 565,410 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 802,875 <SALES> 515,147 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 515,147 <CGS> 257,905 <TOTAL-COSTS> 257,905 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 201,098 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 5,584 <INCOME-PRETAX> 50,560 <INCOME-TAX> 22,432 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 28,128 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 962 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 27,166 <EPS-BASIC> 0.99 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.89