Exhibit (4) a

Crestar Bank
P. O. Box 26665
Richmond, VA 23261-6665
(804) 782-5000

March 17, 1999

Mr. Robert E. Knowles
Executive Vice President
Chief Financial Officer
S & K Famous Brands, Inc.
P. O. Box 31800
Richmond, VA 23294

Dear Bob:

I am writing to document the  modifications  to the Credit Agreement dated March
10, 1994, and the subsequent  Amendment to the Credit  Agreement dated April 30,
1997, between S & K Famous Brands,  Inc. (the "Company"),  and Crestar Bank (the
"Bank")  related  to  the  $16,000,000  Revolver  offered  to the  Company.  The
revisions to the above  agreements  in order to permit the Company to pursue the
repurchase of its stock are as follows:

1. Section 7.3.3 Investments. Subsection (h) is added to the Credit Agreement to
permit the  repurchase of the  Company's  outstanding  shares,  if, after giving
effect thereto, there would not exist any Default hereunder.  Any previous Event
of Default prior to the addition of this clause,  as a result of the  repurchase
of the Company's  outstanding stock, is hereby waived, as long as the repurchase
meets  the  requirements  of  the  above  language.  2.  Section  7.1.3  Minimum
Consolidated  Tangible  Net Worth in the  Amendment  to the Credit  Agreement is
modified to require the Company to maintain at least $48,300,000 of Consolidated
Tangible Net Worth at January 30, 1999 and for each fiscal year  thereafter,  of
not  less  than  $48,300,000  plus 80% of each  successive  year's  net  income.
However,  during the fiscal  year  beginning  February  1, 1999 and all  periods
thereafter,  upon approval of the Company's Board of Directors and  notification
to Crestar,  S & K Famous Brands may repurchase up to an additional  $12,800,000
of its own stock.  Any such  repurchases  shall reduce the minimum  Consolidated
Tangible Net Worth requirement by 90% of the value of the stock repurchased. The
minimum Consolidated Net Worth will not be adjusted for any net loss reported by
the Company.

These revisions shall be incorporated into the Amendment to the Credit Agreement
dated April 30, 1997 and the Credit Agreement dated March 10, 1994. I hope these
modifications  will give you the flexibility needed to implement your repurchase
strategy. Thanks for allowing Crestar to meet the banking requirements of S & K.
Please give me a call should you have any questions.

Sincerely,

/s/ William A. Stratton

William A. Stratton
Senior Vice President

Approved and accepted this 31 day of March, 1999 S & K Famous Brands, Inc.

By:     /s/ Robert E. Knowles
      Executive Vice President