<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