<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