<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE NINE
WEST GROUP INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AS OF AUGUST 1, 1998 AND
THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME AND CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE TWENTY-SIX WEEKS THEN ENDED AND IS QUALIFIED IN
ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JAN-30-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               AUG-01-1998
<CASH>                                          27,522
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  181,860
<ALLOWANCES>                                  (57,229)
<INVENTORY>                                    516,930
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               730,132
<PP&E>                                         262,443
<DEPRECIATION>                                (90,683)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,320,241
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          210,291
<BONDS>                                        576,892
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           359
<OTHER-SE>                                     465,915
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,320,241
<SALES>                                        976,240
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               976,240
<CGS>                                          570,804
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  570,804
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               328,656
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                 1,293
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              28,079
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 47,408
<INCOME-TAX>                                    18,488
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             28,920
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    28,920
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.80
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.80