<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE WET SEAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AND CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> FEB-01-1997 <PERIOD-START> MAY-05-1996 <PERIOD-END> AUG-03-1996 <CASH> 77,889,000 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 868,000 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 29,202,000 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 114,461,000 <PP&E> 80,964,000 <DEPRECIATION> 47,187,000 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 152,268,000 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 64,489,000 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 1,352,000 <OTHER-SE> 76,535,000 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 152,268,000 <SALES> 94,356,000 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 94,356,000 <CGS> 69,570,000 <TOTAL-COSTS> 19,695,000 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> (605,000) <INCOME-PRETAX> 5,696,000 <INCOME-TAX> 2,381,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 3,315,000 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 3,315,000 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.25 <EPS-DILUTED> 0