Dressbarn was opened on the premise of providing well-made but inexpensive dress and work clothes with excellent style and fit for all women, regardless of their body type. The first store was opened in Stamford, Connecticut in 1962 by Rosalyn Jaffe. In addition to the obvious, Dressbarn sells sportswear, blazers of many styles, jewelry, shoes and a number of accessories.

Jones Studio is one of the names that you will find at Dressbarn stores with the line featuring a wide range of sportswear and suit separates that allow each woman to mix and match her pieces for greater versatility and a closer representation of her personal style.

More Than Just the Dressbarn

The company started by Rosalyn Jaffe has expanded several times over the years. It was finally reorganized and became the Ascena Retail Group with not only the Dressbarn but several other stores as part of that grouping. Other stores include Maurice’s (caters to teens through young adults) Justice (for pre-teens to teens) Lane Bryant (plus sized clothing) and Catherine’s.

Size Ranges at the Typical Dressbarn Store

Clothing lines at Dressbarn are divided into three categories: Misses, Plus Size and Petites. Misses are cut for the average woman with a regular frame, average torso length and average length arms and legs. Plus size is cut for women who are a little wider at the shoulder as well as in the larger sizes. Petites are designed for the women who are either narrower in the shoulder area, have shorter torsos or shorter arms and legs. The size ranges are as follows:

Misses: sizes 4 to 16
Plus Size: sizes 14-24
Petite: Sizes 2-16

Fit is an important aspect to the comfort and appearance of your clothes. If you are unfamilar with the clothing lines and the size ranges, it is a good idea to come into a local Dressbarn store and try on a few pieces so that you know where hems lie, how things fit across the back and other details. Remember: you can have a piece altered to fit more perfectly, but even the most gifted of tailors cannot make something fit you when it just does not.

The Ever So Versatile Blazer for Career, Casual and Even Nights Out on the Town

Every year, designers fall in love with a different item and the design whole lines and looks around it. This year, the classic blazer may be just that item. Whether you choose a traditionally styled blazer or opt for something with a little more attitude, you will have an almost magical item in your closet. A well fitted, nicely designed blazer can serve you from day to night whether you are at work or running errands. With the right accessories and other pieces, the blazer can even be the perfect nighttime look. Dressbarn carries blazers in virtually every color you can think of going way beyond the classic navy blue and black to rich jewel tones, pastels and even some seasonal colors that will make you dream of fall's crisp days or summer’s gentle beauty.

You can buy blazers in a wide range of materials from linen, silk to velvet and leather. A leather blazer over a little black dress can make it just a little edgier than you would normally wear. Here is how to take the same classic navy blazer from your business day to a night out on the town:

For work: Pair the blazer with a simple, white blouse and navy skirt or trousers. Keep your jewelry to a minimum.
After work: Swap the white blouse for a silkier tank in a pretty but basic color. Feel free to add more jewelry especially bolder choices. If you are going casual, you can wear jeans with your blazer.
For a dressy occasion: Opt for a jewel tone, silky top under your navy blazer and pair it with a skirt (the length that you use will depend on where you are going and your personal style) another option is to wear the blazer over a favorite dress.

Dressbarn Outlet Stores

While Dressbarn does strive to provide beautiful, fashion forward clothing for the business woman at reasonable prices, there are always ways to make the clothing budget stretch a little further. Of course, choosing simple, timeless pieces means that you never have to replace things at the end of a season or because the fad has simply fizzled away. Taking proper care of your clothing including following all recommendations on the tags also extends the wearing life of each item. And, finding things at outlet stores is one of the best ways to get the best price on all of the things that you are looking for. There are nearly 200 Dressbarn outlet stores across the United States. Three states have more Dressbarn outlet locations than any others. Those states are:

California and Pennsylvania each have 17 outlet stores.
Florida has 16 Dressbarn outlet stores.

The Advantage of an Outlet Store

When you go to a Dressbarn store, you know you are going to find the items typically carried there. When you go to an outlet store you might find a wider range of items including items from other stores in the group. For instance, a Dressbarn outlet might have a few items from Justice or Lane Byrant, which gives you a wider range of options for your shopping experience. You could get a few things for yourself and get some of your holiday shopping gifts out of the way.