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                                 UNITED STATES
                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            Washington, D.C. 20549

                                   FORM 11-K


(Mark One)

|X| ANNUAL REPORT  PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES  EXCHANGE ACT OF
    1934  [FEE REQUIRED].


                     For the year ended December 31, 2000

                                      OR

|_| TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES  EXCHANGE ACT
    OF 1934 [NO FEE REQUIRED].



For the transition period from _______________________ to ____________________.



                        Commission File No. 33-55629



   A. Full title of the plan and the address of the plan, if different from
that of the issuer named below:


                         ANNTAYLOR, INC. SAVINGS PLAN


   B. Name of the issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the
address of its principal executive office:


                         ANNTAYLOR STORES CORPORATION
                         ----------------------------
            (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



     142 West 57th Street, New York, NY                          10019
     ----------------------------------                          -----
  (Address of principal executive offices)                     (Zip Code)


                                (212) 541-3300
                                --------------
             (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


================================================================================




ANNTAYLOR, INC. SAVINGS PLAN
----------------------------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
-----------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>

                                                                      Page
                                                                      ----

Independent Auditors' Report................................            1

Financial Statements:
Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits,
  December 31, 2000 and 1999................................            2
Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for
  Benefits for the Years Ended
  December 31, 2000 and 1999................................            3
Notes to Financial Statements...............................            4




Supplemental Schedule:

Form 5500, Schedule H, Line 4i - Schedule of Assets Held
  at End of Year
  December 31, 2000.........................................            9

================================================================================
<PAGE>




INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT
----------------------------

AnnTaylor, Inc. Savings Plan:

    We have audited the  accompanying  statements  of net assets  available for
benefits of the  AnnTaylor,  Inc.  Savings Plan (the "Plan") as of December 31,
2000 and 1999,  and the related  statements of changes in net assets  available
for  benefits  for the years then ended.  These  financial  statements  are the
responsibility of the Plan's  management.  Our  responsibility is to express an
opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

    We conducted our audits in accordance  with  auditing  standards  generally
accepted  in the United  States of America.  Those  standards  require  that we
plan and perform the audit to obtain  reasonable  assurance  about  whether the
financial  statements  are free of  material  misstatement.  An audit  includes
examining,  on a test basis,  evidence  supporting the amounts and  disclosures
in the financial  statements.  An audit also includes  assessing the accounting
principles  used  and  significant  estimates  made by  management,  as well as
evaluating the overall financial  statement  presentation.  We believe that our
audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

    In our opinion,  such financial  statements present fairly, in all material
respects,  the net assets  available  for  benefits  of the Plan as of December
31, 2000 and 1999,  and the changes in net assets  available  for  benefits for
the  years  then  ended in  conformity  with  accounting  principles  generally
accepted in the United States of America.

    Our  audits  were  conducted  for the  purpose of forming an opinion on the
basic  financial  statements  taken as a whole.  The  supplemental  schedule of
assets held for  investment  purposes as of December 31, 2000, is presented for
the  purpose of  additional  analysis  and is not a required  part of the basic
2000 financial  statements,  but is supplementary  information  required by the
Department  of Labor's  Rules and  Regulations  for  Reporting  and  Disclosure
under the Employee  Retirement  Income  Security Act of 1974.  This schedule is
the   responsibility  of  the  Plan's   management.   Such  schedule  has  been
subjected  to the  auditing  procedures  applied in our audit of the basic 2000
financial  statements  and, in our  opinion,  is fairly  stated in all material
respects  when  considered in relation to the basic 2000  financial  statements
taken as a whole.



Deloitte & Touche LLP


New York, New York
June 15, 2001





================================================================================
<PAGE>2


ANNTAYLOR, INC. SAVINGS PLAN
----------------------------

STATEMENTS OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE
----------------------------------
FOR BENEFITS, DECEMBER 31, 2000 AND 1999
----------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------



                                                           2000         1999
                                                           ----         ----


Investments at fair value:
    Mutual funds .................................    $14,565,832    $13,846,717
    Money market funds ...........................      3,013,836      2,608,914
    AnnTaylor Stores Corporation Common Stock ....        792,688        818,653
    Loans to Participants ........................        542,596        424,849
                                                       ----------     ----------
    Total investments ............................     18,914,952     17,699,133
                                                       ----------     ----------
Receivables:
    Employer contributions .......................         58,731         42,412
    Employee contributions .......................        362,704        263,288
    Loans to participants ........................         19,073         26,090
                                                       ----------     ----------
    Total receivables ............................        440,508        331,790
                                                       ----------     ----------

Cash: ............................................          5,519           --
                                                       ----------     ----------


Net assets available for benefits ................    $19,360,979    $18,030,923
                                                       ==========     ==========



                      See notes to financial statements.

================================================================================
<PAGE>3



ANNTAYLOR, INC. SAVINGS PLAN
----------------------------

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
-----------------------------------
AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS FOR THE YEARS
------------------------------------
ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2000 AND 1999
--------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------



                                                           2000        1999
                                                           ----        ----

ADDITIONS TO NET ASSETS ATTRIBUTED TO
INVESTMENT ACTIVITIES:

Dividend income .....................................  $ 1,492,864   $   923,192
Net appreciation in fair
   value of investments .............................         --       1,944,311
                                                       -----------   -----------
Total additions attributed to investment
   activities .......................................    1,492,864     2,867,503
                                                       -----------   -----------


ADDITIONS TO NET ASSETS ATTRIBUTED TO
CONTRIBUTION ACTIVITIES:

Employer contributions ..............................      793,829       696,326
Employee contributions ..............................    3,603,792     3,208,601
Rollover contributions ..............................      636,835       498,051
                                                       -----------   -----------

Total additions attributed to contribution activities    5,034,456     4,402,978
                                                       -----------   -----------

Loan repayments - interest...........................       25,630        45,463
                                                       -----------   -----------

Total additions .....................................    6,552,950     7,315,944
                                                       -----------   -----------


DEDUCTIONS FROM NET ASSETS:
Net depreciation in fair value of investments .......    2,984,442          --
Benefits paid to participants .......................    2,238,452     2,522,668
                                                       -----------   -----------

Total deductions ....................................    5,222,894     2,522,668
                                                       -----------   -----------

Net increase in net assets available for benefits....    1,330,056     4,793,276

NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS:

   Beginning of year ................................   18,030,923    13,237,647
                                                       -----------   -----------

   End of year ......................................  $19,360,979   $18,030,923
                                                       ===========   ===========



                      See notes to financial statements.

================================================================================

<PAGE>4





ANNTAYLOR, INC. SAVINGS PLAN
----------------------------

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
-----------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------



1. PLAN DESCRIPTION
-------------------

      The  following  description  of the  AnnTaylor,  Inc.  Savings  Plan (the
   "Plan")  provides  only general  information.  Participants  should refer to
   the  Summary   Plan   Description,   which  is   available   from  the  Plan
   administrator, for a more complete description of the Plan's provisions.


   GENERAL

      The Plan is a  contributory,  defined  contribution  plan  established by
   AnnTaylor,  Inc.  (the  "Company")  as of July 1, 1989.  The Plan covers all
   employees  of the Company  who have  completed  a twelve  consecutive  month
   period of employment  consisting  of at least 1,000 hours of service.  It is
   subject to the provisions of the Employee  Retirement Income Security Act of
   1974 ("ERISA").

   CONTRIBUTIONS

      Historically,  the  Company  has  contributed  to  the  Plan  50%  of the
   Participant's pre-tax contributions,  or after-tax  contributions,  or both,
   subject to an overall maximum Company  matching  contribution of 1.5% of the
   participant's compensation.

      Participants  may make pre-tax  contributions  in an amount not less than
   1%  or  more  than  10%  of  their   compensation   for  each  pay   period.
   Participants'  aggregate  pre-tax  contributions  may not exceed  $10,500 in
   2000 and  $10,000  in  1999.  A  participant  may  elect  to make  after-tax
   contributions  in an amount  not to exceed  10% of their  compensation  when
   combined  with  pre-tax  contributions.  Total  employee  contributions  are
   subject  to  limitations  imposed  by  the  Internal  Revenue  Service.  All
   employee  contributions  are remitted to the trustee and  invested  together
   with Company  contributions.  For the Plan years ended December 31, 2000 and
   1999, all  contributions  to the Plan by or on behalf of a participant  were
   invested  in one or all of the  following  Investment  Funds,  or such other
   Investment  Funds which the  administrative  committee  of the Plan may have
   from time to time specified:

   (a)  Fund A is the American  Express  Trust Income Fund II, a stable  capital
        fund, the  prospectus for which  indicates that the funds are invested
        in  insurance  investment  contracts  and stable  value  contracts  of
        varying maturity, size, and yield. The Fund's objective is to preserve
        principal and interest while maximizing current income.

   (b)  Fund B is the AXP Mutual Fund (Y), a balanced fund, the prospectus for
        which  indicates  that the funds are invested in a portfolio of common
        stocks and senior securities  (preferred stocks and bonds). The Fund's
        objective  is to  provide  shareholders  with a  balance  of growth of
        capital and current income.


   (c)  Fund C is the AXP Blue Chip Advantage Fund, a diversified mutual fund,
        the prospectus for which indicates that the funds are invested in U.S.
        and foreign  stocks that are included in the market  index  (currently
        the S&P 500). The Fund's objective is to provide  shareholders  with a
        long-term return exceeding that of the U.S. stock market.

================================================================================
<PAGE>5


ANNTAYLOR, INC. SAVINGS PLAN
----------------------------

Notes to Financial Statements
-----------------------------

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------



1. PLAN DESCRIPTION (continued)
-------------------------------

   CONTRIBUTIONS (CONTINUED)

   (d)  Fund D is the AXP New Dimension  Fund, a growth fund, the prospectus for
        which  indicates  that the  funds are  invested  in U.S.  and  foreign
        companies showing the potential for significant  growth. The objective
        of the  fund is to  provide  shareholders  with  long-term  growth  of
        capital.


   (e)  Fund E is the AIM  Constellation  Fund, an aggressive  growth fund,  the
        prospectus for which  indicates that the funds are primarily  invested
        in common  stocks,  with the  emphasis  on  medium-sized  and  smaller
        emerging  growth  companies.  The  objective  of the  fund  is to seek
        capital appreciation and increase shareholders' capital.


   (f)  Fund F is  the  Templeton  Foreign  Fund,  a  foreign  stock  fund,  the
        prospectus  for which  indicates that the funds are invested in stocks
        and debt obligations of companies and governments  outside of the U.S.
        The objective of the fund is to seek long-term capital growth.


   (g)  Fund G is the AnnTaylor Stock Fund, which invests in shares of AnnTaylor
        Stores Corporation common stock.


   (h)  Fund H is the RS Emerging  Growth Fund, a  diversified  mutual fund that
        seeks to achieve appreciation by investing in a diversified  portfolio
        of equity securities that have the potential for rapid growth.


   (i)  Fund I is the American Express Trust Equity Index Fund II, a diversified
        mutual fund that is invested  primarily in common  stocks.  The Fund's
        goal is to achieve a rate of return as close as  possible  to the rate
        of return of the S&P 500 Index.


   PARTICIPANT ACCOUNTS

      Each  participant's  account  is  credited  with  (a)  the  participant's
   contributions,   (b)  the  Company's  matching  contributions,  and  (c)  an
   allocable  share of Plan  earnings.  Allocations  of Plan earnings are based
   on  participant  account  balances.  A participant is entitled to the vested
   balance in their account.

   LOANS TO PARTICIPANTS

      Participants  may borrow from their fund  accounts a minimum of $1,000 up
   to a maximum of $50,000 or 50% of their vested  account  balance,  whichever
   is less.  Loan terms  range from one to five  years.  The loans are  secured
   by 50% of the balance in the  participant's  account and bear  interest at a
   rate as  determined  by the  Plan's  Administrative  Committee  based on the
   prevailing Prime Rate at the time of the loan.


================================================================================
<PAGE>6

ANNTAYLOR, INC. SAVINGS PLAN
----------------------------

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------


1. PLAN DESCRIPTION (CONTINUED)
-------------------

   VESTING

      The Plan provides that  participants  have no vested  interest in Company
   contributions  or Plan earnings  thereon  credited to their  accounts  until
   they  have  three  years of  service,  at which  time  they are 50%  vested.
   Vesting  increases  by 25% per year up to 100% after five years of  service.
   The Plan  provides  100%  vesting of a  participant's  account  balance upon
   their retirement, death or disability.

      Participants  are fully  vested at all times  with  respect  to  employee
   contributions and earnings thereon.

   PAYMENT OF BENEFITS

      Participants or their  beneficiaries are entitled to receive their entire
   account  balance,  in  accordance  with the vesting  provisions of the Plan,
   upon  retirement,   death,   disability  or  employment   termination.   All
   distributions  are lump sum payments.  Participants  whose account  balances
   are in excess of $5,000 may elect deferred payment.

   FORFEITURES

      Amounts forfeited by participants  shall be used to reduce future Company
   contributions.



2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
---------------------------------------------

   The significant accounting policies followed by the Plan are detailed below:


     o    The accompanying  financial  statements of the Plan have been prepared
          on the accrual basis of accounting.

     o    Investments are reported at fair value which,  for investments  traded
          publicly including mutual funds, is based on published market prices.

     o    Interest on investments is recorded as earned.


     o    Dividend income is recorded on ex-dividend dates.


     o    Security transactions are recorded as of the trade date.


     o    Benefits paid to participants are recorded upon distribution.


     o    The preparation of financial  statements in conformity with accounting
          principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires
          the Plan's administrator to make estimates and assumptions that affect
          the  reported  amounts  of assets and  liabilities  at the date of the
          financial  statements  and  the  reported  amounts  of  additions  and
          deductions  during the reported  period.  Actual  results could differ
          from these estimates.

     o    Certain  1999  amounts  have been  reclassed  to  conform  to the 2000
          presentation.
================================================================================
<PAGE>7



ANNTAYLOR, INC. SAVINGS PLAN
----------------------------

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
-----------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------


3. INVESTMENTS

      American  Express  Trust,  the Plan Trustee for the years ended  December
   31, 2000 and 1999, invested all employee and Company contributions,  as well
   as earnings  thereon,  pursuant to the terms of the Plan.  The Plan  Trustee
   has custody of all assets in the funds.

      Investments  that  represent  5% or more of the  Plan's  net  assets  are
   identified by an asterisk ("*").

                                                             December 31,
                                                         2000           1999
                                                         ----           ----
   Investments at fair value as determined by
     Quoted Market Prices:
     Mutual funds:
       AXP Mutual Fund (Y)......................     $1,736,941*    $ 1,822,896*
       AIM Constellation Fund...................      1,471,037*      1,129,430*
       AXP Blue Chip Advantage Fund.............      2,358,093*      2,078,269*
       AXP New Dimension Fund...................      8,038,341*      8,183,418*
       Templeton Foreign Fund...................        769,090         632,704
       RS Emerging Growth Fund..................        192,330             ---
                                                     ----------      ----------
       Total Mutual funds.......................     14,565,832      13,846,717
                                                     ----------      ----------

     Money Market fund:
       American Express Trust Income Fund II....      2,957,899*      2,608,914*
       American Express Trust Equity Index Fund II       55,937             ---
                                                     ----------      ----------
       Total Money Market funds.................      3,013,836       2,608,914
                                                     ----------      ----------

      AnnTaylor Stock Fund......................        792,688         818,653
                                                     ----------      ----------

      Loans to participants.....................        542,596         424,849
                                                     ----------      ----------
   Total Investments............................    $18,914,952     $17,699,133
                                                    ===========     ===========


    During 2000 and 1999 the Plan's investments, including investments bought
and sold, as well as held during each year, (depreciated)/appreciated in fair
value as follows:


                                                        2000           1999
                                                        ----           ----
American Express Trust Income Fund II ..........  $   158,520     $   135,800
AXP Mutual Fund (Y) ............................     (253,880)        (49,179)
AIM Constellation Fund .........................     (502,104)        248,238
AXP Blue Chip Advantage Fund Y .................     (529,277)        116,298
AXP New Dimension Fund Y .......................   (1,611,344)      1,478,571
Templeton Foreign Fund .........................      (45,580)        123,809
AnnTaylor Common Stock Fund ....................     (136,110)       (109,226)
American Express Trust Equity Index Fund II.....       (4,871)            ---

RS Emerging Growth Fund ........................      (59,796)            ---
                                                   -----------    -----------
Net (depreciation)/appreciation in fair
   value of investments ........................  $(2,984,442)    $ 1,944,311
                                                   ===========    ===========





================================================================================
<PAGE>8

      During  2000 and  1999,  participants  had the  option  to  invest in the
   American  Express  Trust  Income  Fund II. This fund  invests in  guaranteed
   investment contracts,  bank investment  contracts,  and synthetic investment
   contracts.  Plan  assets  invested  in this fund are  recorded  at  contract
   value  (which  represents   contributions  made  under  the  contract,  plus
   earnings,  less withdrawals and  administrative  expenses)  because they are
   fully benefit  responsive.  The average yield was approximately  6.0% during
   2000  and  1999.  The  crediting  interest  rate was  approximately  6.0% at
   December  31,  2000  and  1999.  Generally,  the fair  value of Plan  assets
   invested  approximates  contract  value.  The contract  value was $2,957,899
   and   $2,608,914   for  the  years  ended   December   31,  2000  and  1999,
   respectively.  According  to the  Trustee,  the  fair  value  of the  funds'
   assets  approximated  contract  value for the years ended  December 31, 2000
   and 1999.


4. PRIORITIES UPON TERMINATION OF THE PLAN

      The Company  expects and intends to continue the Plan  indefinitely,  but
   reserves the right under the Plan to discontinue  its  contributions  at any
   time  and to amend or  terminate  the  Plan.  In the  event of  termination,
   participants will become 100% vested in their accounts.


5. ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS

      Professional and  administrative  fees and other expenses of the Plan are
   paid by the Company.  Personnel  and  facilities  of the Company are used by
   the Plan for its accounting  and other  activities at no charge to the Plan.
   The Company,  at any time,  may elect to have all such  expenses paid by the
   Plan.


6. TAX STATUS

      The Plan  obtained its latest  determination  letter on February 4, 1999,
   in  which  the  Internal  Revenue  Service  stated  that the  Plan,  as then
   designed,  was  in  compliance  with  the  applicable  requirements  of  the
   Internal  Revenue  Code.  The Plan  has been  amended  since  receiving  the
   determination  letter.  However,  the plan  administrator  believes that the
   Plan is  currently  designed  and  being  operated  in  compliance  with the
   applicable   requirements  of  the  Internal  Revenue  Code.  Therefore,  no
   provision  for  income  taxes  has been  included  in the  Plan's  financial
   statements.


7. FORFEITURES

      During  the  years  ended  December  31,  2000 and 1999,  forfeitures  of
   $139,222  and  $149,607,  respectively,  were  allocated  to reduce  Company
   contributions.


8. PARTIES IN INTEREST TRANSACTIONS

      During  the  years  ended   December  31,  2000  and  1999,   there  were
   transactions  involving the  investment  of plan assets in investment  funds
   maintained by the Plan trustees,  parties-in-interest  as defined in section
   3(14) of ERISA.


================================================================================
<PAGE>9


   ANNTAYLOR, INC. SAVINGS PLAN
   ----------------------------

   FORM 5500, SCHEDULE H, LINE 4i - SCHEDULE OF ASSETS HELD AT END OF YEAR
   -----------------------------------------------------------------------
   December 31, 2000
   -----------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------



   Party in
   Interest                                                       (e) Current
     (a)   (b) Identity of Party    (c) Description of Investment       Value
     ---   ---------------------    -----------------------------       -----

      Yes  American Express Trust            143,807 shares          $2,957,899
              Income Fund II

      Yes  AXP Mutual Fund (Y)               157,760 shares           1,736,941

      No   AIM Constellation Fund             50,848 shares           1,471,037

      Yes  AXP Blue Chip Advantage           241,114 shares           2,358,093
              Fund

      Yes  AXP New Dimension Fund            276,612 shares           8,038,341

      No   Templeton Foreign Fund             74,380 shares             769,090
      Yes  AnnTaylor Stores Corporation        64,598 units             792,688
              Common Stock

      Yes  RS Emerging Growth Fund             4,370 shares             192,330

      Yes  American Express Trust Equity       1,545 shares              55,937
              Index Fund II

      Yes  Loans to Participants     132 loans between 8.75%
                                    and 10.5% interest rates            542,596
                                                                    -----------

                                                                    $18,914,952
                                                                    ===========





   Employer Identification Number:  51-0297083
                                    ----------
   Plan Number:  001
                 ---



================================================================================
<PAGE>10


                          SIGNATURES
                          ----------







    The Plan.  Pursuant to the  requirements of the Securities  Exchange Act of
1934,  the  Administrative  Committee  has duly caused this Annual Report to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                                       AnnTaylor, Inc. Savings Plan



                                       By:  /s/  James M. Smith
                                            ------------------------------
                                                 James M. Smith
                                            Senior Vice President - Chief
                                            Financial Officer and Treasurer,
                                            AnnTaylor, Inc.

June 28, 2001
