<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE NINE
WEST GROUP INC. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AS OF JANUARY 30, 1999 AND THE
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME AND CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR
THE FIFTY-TWO WEEKS THEN ENDED AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO
SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JAN-30-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             FEB-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JAN-30-1999
<CASH>                                          17,951
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  137,110
<ALLOWANCES>                                    50,616
<INVENTORY>                                    460,375
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               632,252
<PP&E>                                         256,827
<DEPRECIATION>                                  92,821
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,217,129
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          182,041
<BONDS>                                        510,804
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           359
<OTHER-SE>                                     457,705
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,217,129
<SALES>                                      1,916,707
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             1,916,707
<CGS>                                        1,126,860
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                1,126,860
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               669,300
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                 5,698
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              53,467
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 61,382
<INCOME-TAX>                                    23,937
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             37,445
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                  2,923
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    40,368
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.15
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.15