The White House, Inc. operates retail stores featuring private brand women's apparel and accessories in the colors of white and black. The company utilizes both natural and synthetic fabrics, including cotton, linen, tencel, microfibers, and matte jersey, in the making of the apparel, which have textures and patterns, ranging from solids to prints, stripes, and color blocking. As of April 30, 2003, it operated 96 stores located throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. These stores, which are located in mid- to large-sized metropolitan markets, target educated, middle-to-upper income, women between the ages of 30 and 50. The company's competitors include Ann Taylor, Anthropologie, Banana Republic, bebe, Caché, Chico's, Christopher & Banks, Coldwater Creek, J. Jill, and Talbots. It also competes with national and regional department stores, including Bloomingdale's, Marshall Field's, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, and Saks Fifth Avenue.As of July 2003, White House | Black Market, Inc. operates as a subsidiary of Chico's FAS Inc.