<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THE WET SEAL, INC. BANANCE SHEETS AND STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS. </LEGEND> <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> JAN-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> FEB-02-1997 <PERIOD-END> MAY-03-1997 <CASH> 65,631,000 <SECURITIES> 24,200,000 <RECEIVABLES> 1,812,000 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 30,271,000 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 128,807,000 <PP&E> 82,631,000 <DEPRECIATION> 50,072,000 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 168,837,000 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 65,261,000 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 1,354,000 <OTHER-SE> 93,281,000 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 168,837,000 <SALES> 95,563,000 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 95,563,000 <CGS> 70,122,000 <TOTAL-COSTS> 20,197,000 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> (714,000) <INCOME-PRETAX> 5,958,000 <INCOME-TAX> 2,443,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 3,515,000 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 3,515,000 <EPS-PRIMARY> $0.25 <EPS-DILUTED> $0.25