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by The Backseat Stylers | October 6th, 2012 
Image credit: George Pimentel
Ann Taylor has officially landed on Canadian soil. This week, the New York-based specialty retailer finally opened the doors to its first international store, at none other than Toronto Eaton Centre. Having attended both the fall and holiday previews over the last few months, I’m rather excited to finally be able to get my hands on the collections.
At the very top of my wish list? Several gorgeous pieces of statement jewelry, as well as a few pairs of chic shoes, all of which is fairly pocketbook-friendly. In fact, Ann Taylor pricing in Canadian stores will be the same as in their U.S. counterparts. Yes, you read right: the price tags will be the same no matter which side of the border you happen to be on. Cause for celebration? I should think so.
If you want in on this Ann Taylor action but aren’t anywhere near Toronto, don’t fret, my dear fellow Canadians. The retailer is currently working on expanding its online shopping site to include Canada, and is expecting to launch in the spring of 2013. In the meantime, check out the gallery below for snaps of Ann Taylor’s ribbon-cutting ceremony and celebrations at Toronto Eaton Centre earlier this week.
Welcome, Ann!
 
Me, T, Nelia Belkova and Kimberly Lyn with Lisa Axelson, Creative Director of Ann Taylor (Image Credit: George Pimentel)
FASHION Magazine’s Caitlin Agnew
Blogger Anita Clarke checking out the – what else? – shoe section
Kimberly Haire Giddens, Regional VP at Ann Taylor
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by The Backseat Stylers | August 27th, 2012 
The holiday previews continue! Next stop? Why, Ann Taylor, of course. By now I’ve attended their Fall 2012 preview and popped by their boutique at The Somerset Collection, so I’m starting to get a bit anxious for their fall arrival in Toronto. How much longer until me and my fellow Torontonians can finally get our hands on their stylish workwear, cute party dresses and to-die-for costume jewelry? Not soon enough, by my measure.
The holiday preview was chock full of pieces I can’t wait to add to the rotation during the holiday season and beyond. The pearl-embellished knitwear (perfect for the office), the glitter smoking slippers (in all available colours, obviously), and so very many of the statement necklaces are all on my Ann Taylor holiday wish list. Perhaps even a zebra-print satchel. What’s on yours?
   
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by The Backseat Stylers | June 14th, 2012 
Ann Taylor announced last month its plans to open the brand’s first international stores in Canada this Fall, and at last night’s exclusive launch event we finally got the juicy details you’ve all been waiting anxiously for. Mark your calendars: Ann Taylor is slated to open at Toronto Eaton Centre in October 2012, Yorkdale Shopping Centre in November 2012, and online in 2013!
We also got a sneak peek at the Fall 2012 collection, and there’s plenty to cheer about there too. Peplums, animal prints, and colour-blocking were all spotted in Ann Taylor’s on trend Fall line-up, but it was the accessories that really blew me away. I can’t wait to shop the eye-catching shoes and bold statement jewelry.
The brand’s apparel offerings are office-ready, as expected, but also perfect for after work cocktails. Creative Director Lisa Axelson, who previously designed for Club Monaco, Gap and Banana Republic, brings a younger, trendier feel to the Ann Taylor aesthetic that will appeal to everyone from the chic young professional to her stylish mother.
If you’re wondering about price points, by the way, rest assured that you won’t experience sticker shock when shopping Ann Taylor’s Canadian stores. The significant discrepancies between price tags north and south of the border, a sad reality with many U.S. chains that set up shop in Canada, aren’t expected to be an issue at Ann Taylor.
Get your pocketbooks ready though: between the colourful outerwear options, the cute bow-embellished leather gloves, the colour-block pony hair pumps and the bevy of other items you’ll be coveting – like I am already – your Fall shopping list at Ann Taylor is going to be a long one, so you may as well start saving up now.
   
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by The Backseat Stylers | May 24th, 2012 
After months of speculation, U.S.-based womenswear retailer Ann Taylor finally announced today the opening of the company’s first two international stores, both in Toronto, Canada. Slated to open in Fall 2012, the two new boutiques will offer a full range of women’s apparel, shoes, jewelry and accessories that aims to dress women “across every generation from desk to dinner and workday to weekend”.
Brian Lynch, Ann Taylor Brand President said in a press release, “We are pleased by the strong awareness Ann Taylor already enjoys in Canada and look forward to offering our Canadian customers great fashion, quality and value in a new, exciting and aspirational shopping environment.”
The locations of the two new boutiques have yet to be officially announced, but a wayward floor plan and current job posting lead us to the conclusion that they will be opening at Yorkdale Shopping Centre and Toronto Eaton Centre. Neither location is a surprise, as Yorkdale in particular has celebrated the launch of two significant first-to-market store openings in the last year with J.Crew and Tory Burch.
Are you excited to be able to shop Ann Taylor’s chic offerings north of the border in a few short months? Stay tuned for more news about Ann Taylor in Canada in the coming weeks!
xx, S
Image Credit: Lila Photo
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THE BACKSEAT STYLERS BY T & S
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