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                                                                      EXHIBIT 24

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned V.F. Corporation,
a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania ("VF"), and the undersigned directors and officers of VF hereby
constitute and appoint M.J. McDonald and C.S. Cummings, and each of them,
severally, his or her true and lawful attorneys and agents at any time and from
time to time to do any and all acts and things and execute in his or her name
(whether on behalf of VF, or by attesting the seal of VF or otherwise), any and
all instruments and documents which said attorneys and agents, or any of them,
may deem necessary or advisable and may be required to enable VF and the Blue
Bell Savings, Profit Sharing and Retirement Plan (the "Plan") to comply with the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any rules, regulations or requirements
of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("Commission") in respect thereof, in
connection with the Plan and shares of Common Stock of VF offered pursuant to or
in connection with the Plan, including specifically, but without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, power of attorney to sign the name of VF and affix
the corporate seal and to sign the names of the undersigned directors and
officers to all registration statements, and all amendments and supplements
thereto, on Form S-8 or S-8/S-3 or on any other appropriate Form, hereafter
filed with the Commission and all instruments or documents filed as a part
thereof or in connection therewith, and each of the undersigned hereby ratifies
and confirms all that said attorneys, agents, or any of them, shall do or cause
to be done by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has subscribed to these
presents as of the 21st day of July, 1998.

ATTEST:                              V.F. CORPORATION


/s/ Candace S. Cummings              By:/s/ Mackey J. McDonald
Candace S. Cummings                        Mackey J. McDonald
Vice President - Administration,           President and Chief
General Counsel and Secretary              Executive Officer

Principal Executive Officer:         Principal Financial and Accounting Officer:


/s/ Mackey J. McDonald               /s/ Robert K. Shearer
Mackey J. McDonald                   Robert K. Shearer
President and Chief                  Vice President - Finance and
Executive Officer                    Chief Financial Officer
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/s/ Edward E. Crutchfield               /s/ Ursula F. Fairbairn
Edward E. Crutchfield, Director         Ursula F. Fairbairn, Director


/s/ Barbara S. Feigin                   /s/ George Fellows
Barbara S. Feigin, Director             George Fellows, Director


/s/ Robert J. Hurst                     /s/ William E. Pike
Robert J. Hurst, Director               William E. Pike, Director


/s/ Mackey J. McDonald                  /s/ M. Rust Sharp
Mackey J. McDonald, Director            M. Rust Sharp, Director


/s/ Lawrence R. Pugh                    /s/ L. Dudley Walker
Lawrence R. Pugh, Director              L. Dudley Walker, Director


/s/ Robert D. Buzzell
Robert D. Buzzell, Director