Exhibit 24.2



                    POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each of the undersigned
directors and/or officers of FEDERATED DEPARTMENT STORES, INC., a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), does hereby constitute and
appoint DENNIS J. BRODERICK, JOHN R. SIMS and PADMA TATTA
CARIAPPA, or any of them, their true and lawful attorneys and
agents to do any and all acts and things and execute any and all
instruments which said attorneys and agents, or any of them, may
deem necessary or advisable or which said attorneys and agents,
or any of them, may deem necessary or advisable or which may be
required to enable the Company to comply with the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, and any rules, regulations or requirements
of the Securities and Exchange Commission in respect thereof, in
connection with the filing with the Securities and Exchange
Commission of one or more Registration Statements on Form S-8
relating to the Federated Department Stores, Inc. 1992 Incentive
Bonus Plan, as amended, including specifically but without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, the power and authority
to sign in the name and on behalf of the undersigned, in his or
her capacity as a director and/or officer of the Company, any
such Form S-8 and any and all amendments and supplements thereto
and any other instruments or documents filed as a part of or in
connection therewith, and each of the undersigned does hereby
ratify and confirm all that said attorneys and agents or any of
them, may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has subscribed his name as of
the 13th day of  December, 1997.

                                
                                                                
                                   /s/ Joseph A. Pichler   
                                   Joseph A. Pichler