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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 ND9vgoqN8mc2UcxlOHsFduDNO64wR1+38H5ARfFpOY5B53u3DciXW1B11T1oifo1
 qcJ5BIbMQqgGych6n2nLdg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000874214-09-000025.txt : 20090526
<SEC-HEADER>0000874214-09-000025.hdr.sgml : 20090525
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090526154854
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000874214-09-000025
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090522
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090526
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090526

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Gass Michelle
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001450262

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10738
		FILM NUMBER:		09851863

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2401 UTAH AVE. S., SUITE 800
		CITY:			SEATTLE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98134

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ANNTAYLOR STORES CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000874214
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-WOMEN'S CLOTHING STORES [5621]
		IRS NUMBER:				133499319
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0202

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7 TIMES SQUARE
		STREET 2:		15TH FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10036
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2125413300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7 TIMES SQUARE
		STREET 2:		15TH FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10036

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	TAYLOR ANN STORES CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19960221
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-05-22</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000874214</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ANNTAYLOR STORES CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ANN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001450262</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Gass Michelle</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O ANNTAYLOR STORES CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>7 TIMES SQUARE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10036</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-05-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>11250</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>39552</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This represents a grant of restricted stock.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Michelle Gass</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-05-26</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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