EXHIBIT 5

                                  May 18, 1999

WESTPOINT STEVENS INC.
507 WEST TENTH STREET
WEST POINT, GEORGIA  31833

GENTLEMEN:

     I have acted as counsel to WestPoint Stevens Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), in connection with the preparation and filing by the Company
with the Securities and Exchange Commission of a Registration Statement on Form
S-3 (the "Registration Statement") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
with respect to the offering and sale of up to 1,390,000 shares (the "Shares")
of the Company's common stock, par value $0.01 per share ("Common Stock"). Terms
defined in the Registration Statement and not otherwise defined herein are used
herein with the meanings as so defined.

     In so acting, I have examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise
identified to my satisfaction, of the Registration Statement and such corporate
records, agreements, documents and other instruments, and such certificates or
comparable documents of public officials and of officers and representatives of
the Company as I have deemed relevant and necessary as a basis for the opinion
hereinafter set forth. I have also made such inquiries of such officers and
representatives as I have deemed relevant and necessary as a basis for the
opinion hereinafter set forth.

     In such examination, I have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the
authenticity of all documents submitted to me as originals, the conformity to
original documents of documents submitted to me as certified or photostatic
copies and the authenticity of the originals of such latter documents.

     Based on the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications stated herein, I
am of the opinion that the Shares are or, in the case of Shares to be issued
subject to option agreements, will be when issued in accordance with the
respective option agreements, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

     The opinion herein is limited to the corporate laws of the State of
Delaware, and I express no opinion as to the effect on the matters covered by
this opinion of the laws of any other jurisdiction.

     I consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement. I also consent to any and all references to myself in the Prospectus
which is part of said Registration Statement. I further consent to the use of
this opinion as an exhibit to applications to securities commissioners of
various states of the United States for registration or qualification of the
Common Stock under the securities (or "blue sky") laws of such states.

     This opinion is rendered solely for your benefit in connection with the
transactions described above. This opinion may not be used or relied upon by any
other person and may not be



disclosed, quoted, filed with a governmental agency or otherwise referred to
without my prior written consent except as noted above.



                                           Very truly yours,

                                           /s/ Christopher N. Zodrow
                                           ----------------------------------
                                           Christopher N. Zodrow