Ann Taylor for the College Girl

Posted on by Ashley Laurel

Have you checked out Ann Taylor’s “Style for Students” website yet? In the past I reviewed the brand’s social media efforts, and the brand’s new site addition, to me, comes across as one more way for Ann Taylor to both jump further into the fashion conversation online and focus on an even younger audience than in the past.

The site is split into different parts, including a great section where readers can find interviews the brand has done of women across a wide range of industries, including one with a woman in the finance industry just two years into her career. The interviewee answered questions pertaining to interview tips, what her job entails, and what role fashion plays in her work life. Oh, and the ever popular question of what to wear to an interview.

Interviews can be searched by industry, and it’s nice to see that the brand went beyond the style of women working in the fashion and entertainment industries.

Readers may also explore how other college girls from across the country are styling their Ann Taylor pieces. So far only 10 schools are listed (glad to see BU represented!), but I imagine this list will only grow.

If you “like” your favorite looks on the site, you’re automatically entered to win a $1,000 gift card to Ann Taylor. My only question now is, with all this focus on students, what about college girls on a college budget? Do student shoppers get a discount?

E-tailers Decorate for the Holidays

Posted on by Ashley Laurel

eMarketer predicts that holiday e-commerce spending will hit $38.5 billion this season, so I decided to look at how e-tailers have decorated for Christmas so far. Amidst a sea of sites lacking in holiday cheer (and some creativity), I did manage to find some pretty cool designs: 

Ann Taylor: I just love how chic this page looks.

Barney’s New York: Ok, to me this shoe represents the holidays! (Maybe it’s because back in college I once made Christmas cards with shoes on them…).

BCBG Max Azria: Though the page took a few moments to load, at least the wait was pleasant. Instead of the usual timer, time ticked by as presents stacked in a pile until a holiday gift catalog appeared. *(Note to friends and family: just about everything shown is on this year’s wish list).

Bloomingdales: This page is full of vibrant colors and activity. Roll over an ornament and it will shake. Roll over a gift box and the present opens to reveal images of gifts mixed with colorful sequins.


Saks 5th Avenue: The bouncing glass ornament immediately appears when you go to the site and links to a holiday video called “The Snowflake and the Bubble”.

A few screenshots of the video:

Marc Jacobs: This page is very welcoming. Two of the windows show fashion show videos and an employee comes out of the storefront to greet you. I like the additions of Christmas trees and snow to the usual storefront website design that was launched in September. More on the new website design here.

Have you found any favorites of your own?

Ann Taylor’s Foray into Social Media

Posted on by Ashley Laurel
There was a point in my life when I never thought I’d shop at Ann Taylor, yet ever since Ann Taylor’s head designer came on board, my praise of the brand has grown. While the designs are finally completely in line with my aesthetic (thank you, Lisa Axelson), the brand’s social media strategy has been pretty great lately as well.

First, I noticed a contest on Polyvore (a social shopping and digital scrapbooking site). After 2,008 entries, five winners were chosen to receive $200 gift cards and have their sets featured on Facebook. Unfortunately, I didn’t win, but I was pleased to get a response on Twitter after I promoted my set.

After I heard directly from the brand, I checked out their Facebook page and was impressed to see a very well put together landing page called “AT Insider”.  The page includes a link to work chic styles, with a mention of their wear-to-work wardrobe contest, also sponsored by InStyle. Also on the page is a lookbook, the brand’s Twitter feed, and the five winning looks from the Polyvore contest you can choose your summer style from- in case you were wondering, I like the “Refined Chic” outfit the best. You can additionally see how other fans are wearing the brand, or show off your unique twist on Ann Taylor looks. My favorite part of the page is definitely seeing how other Ann Taylor fans are wearing their purchases.

Two things to improve upon:
*No evident organization/schedule to the Facebook or Twitter posts
*No link to the official Twitter account from the website

And now,  two of the looks on my list of must-haves for this season: