Ann Taylor

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Named not after a woman, but rather a best-selling dress from the company's original store, Ann Taylor was launched in New Haven in 1954. Since then, its name has grown synonymous with polished, classic women's apparel and accessories, cultivating a never-a-hair-out-of-place persona that goes perfectly with the brand's affordable, well-fitting professional apparel. Designed in classic colors like black, stone and navy, and made with durable fabrics like triacetate and wool, the suits and separates can carry over from season to season, which saves time for the droves of career women—from corporate executives to ambitious interns—who make this their outfitter of choice. Having put forth a fresher image in recent years, the stores now also house racks of Hampton-appropriate dresses, though the Ann Taylor casual wear is still more buttoned up than its more relaxed LOFT line. Since the retailer's merchandise encourages a put-together look from head to toe, shoppers will find an ample collection of understated accessories that will still be in vogue for decades to come. — Molly Noonan