Contact:
                                                                   John Luttrell
                                                                  (949) 699-3918


                    THE WET SEAL, INC. ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENT
                                OF NEW DIRECTORS


     FOOTHILL RANCH, CA, March 6, 2006 -- Specialty  retailer The Wet Seal, Inc.
(Nasdaq:  WTSLA)  today  announced  the  appointment  of Michael  Zimmerman  and
Jonathan  Duskin to the Board of  Directors  of the  Company to serve along with
Sidney Horn,  Harold Kahn,  Kenneth Reiss,  Alan Siegel,  Joel Waller,  CEO, and
Henry  Winterstern,  Chairman of the Board.  All directors  will serve until the
annual  meeting  of  shareholders  scheduled  for late  May at which  time it is
expected  that  they  will be  submitted  to the  vote of the  shareholders  for
reelection to the board.

Mr. Zimmerman is the controlling principal and Mr. Duskin is a Managing Director
of Prentice Capital Management,  LP, an investment manager.  Prentice, formed in
2005, manages a large portfolio of investments in specialty retailers, including
The Wet Seal.

Joel Waller,  CEO of The Wet Seal,  Inc.,  said "Jon and Michael have  partnered
with us in the  turnaround of the Company.  Their  willingness to join our board
manifests  their  belief  in our  success  to date and their  commitment  to our
future."


Headquartered  in Foothill  Ranch,  California,  The Wet Seal, Inc. is a leading
specialty retailer of fashionable and contemporary  apparel and accessory items.
The Company currently  operates a total of 400 stores in 46 states, the District
of  Columbia  and Puerto  Rico,  including  308 Wet Seal  stores and 92 Arden B.
stores.  The Company's  products can also be purchased online at www.wetseal.com
or www.ardenb.com. For more company information, visit www.wetsealinc.com.


SOURCE: The Wet Seal, Inc.