LOFT

Profile

If Ann Taylor is your go-to girl for tailored suits, the brand's more affordable LOFT line will outfit your post-work playtime. The store is a retail hub for everyone from soccer moms to young sophisticates searching for casual basics. Coordinated sweater sets, grown-up denim skirts and pants, and streamlined outerwear occupy the bulk of the sales floor. With its beaded chandelier earrings and charm bracelets, LOFT's jewelry line is indicative of how the brand's style is more relaxed and fashion-forward than the traditional Ann Taylor collections. Hanging among the shop's clean white walls is a broad selection of colorful tote bags and clutch purses equipped to endure manic work commutes, while the preppy and practical line of footwear is largely made-up of flats, loafers, and sandals. Petites will feel at home here, too, since a significant amount of the designs cater to smaller frames. — Molly Noonan