EXHIBIT 25.1.1
 

                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM T-1
                                    --------

                            STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY
                     UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939
                 OF A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE

                CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY
                   OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO SECTION 305(b)(2)

                          ____________________________

                       THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO
              (EXACT NAME OF TRUSTEE AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

     A NATIONAL BANKING ASSOCIATION                     36-0899825
                                                        (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
                                                        IDENTIFICATION NUMBER)

     ONE FIRST NATIONAL PLAZA, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS        60670-0126
     (ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)           (ZIP CODE)

                       THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO
                      ONE FIRST NATIONAL PLAZA, SUITE 0286
                         CHICAGO, ILLINOIS   60670-0286
            ATTN:  LYNN A. GOLDSTEIN, LAW DEPARTMENT (312) 732-6919
           (NAME, ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE NUMBER OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)

                         _____________________________

                                SAKS INCORPORATED
              (EXACT NAME OF OBLIGOR AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

     TENNESSEE                                          62-0331040
     (STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF                    (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
     INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION)                     IDENTIFICATION NUMBER)


     750 LAKESHORE PARKWAY
     BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA                                35211
     (ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)           (ZIP CODE)


                    SENIOR DEBT SECURITIES, WITH GUARANTEES
                        (TITLE OF INDENTURE SECURITIES)


 
ITEM 1.   GENERAL INFORMATION.  FURNISH THE FOLLOWING
          --------------------                       
          INFORMATION AS TO THE TRUSTEE:

          (a) NAME AND ADDRESS OF EACH EXAMINING OR
          SUPERVISING AUTHORITY TO WHICH IT IS SUBJECT.

          Comptroller of Currency, Washington, D.C.,
          Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation,
          Washington, D.C., The Board of Governors of
          the Federal Reserve System, Washington, D.C.

          (b) WHETHER IT IS AUTHORIZED TO EXERCISE
          CORPORATE TRUST POWERS.

          The trustee is authorized to exercise corporate
          trust powers.

ITEM 2.   AFFILIATIONS WITH THE OBLIGOR.  IF THE OBLIGOR
          ------------------------------                
          IS AN AFFILIATE OF THE TRUSTEE, DESCRIBE EACH
          SUCH AFFILIATION.

          No such affiliation exists with the trustee.

 
ITEM 16.  LIST OF EXHIBITS.   LIST BELOW ALL EXHIBITS FILED AS A
          -----------------                                     
          PART OF THIS STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY.

          1.  A copy of the articles of association of the
              trustee now in effect.*

          2.  A copy of the certificates of authority of the
              trustee to commence business.*

          3.  A copy of the authorization of the trustee to
              exercise corporate trust powers.*

          4.  A copy of the existing by-laws of the trustee.*

          5.  Not Applicable.

          6.  The consent of the trustee required by
              Section 321(b) of the Act.

          7.  A copy of the latest report of condition of the
              trustee published pursuant to law or the
              requirements of its supervising or examining
              authority.

 
          8.  Not Applicable.

          9.  Not Applicable.


     Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
amended, the trustee, The First National Bank of Chicago, a national banking
association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of
America, has duly caused this Statement of Eligibility to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of Chicago
and the State of Illinois, on this 22nd day of September, 1998.


            THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO,
            TRUSTEE

            By  /s/ John R. Prendiville
               John R. Prendiville
               Vice President

 


* EXHIBIT 1, 2, 3 AND 4 ARE HEREIN INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE TO EXHIBITS BEARING
IDENTICAL NUMBERS IN ITEM 16 OF THE FORM T-1 OF THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF
CHICAGO, FILED AS EXHIBIT 25.1 TO THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-3 OF
SUNAMERICA, INC., FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON OCTOBER
25, 1996 (REGISTRATION NO. 333-14201).

 
                                   EXHIBIT 6



                      THE CONSENT OF THE TRUSTEE REQUIRED
                          BY SECTION 321(b) OF THE ACT



                                                     September 22, 1998


Securities and Exchange Commission
Washington, D.C.  20549

Gentlemen:

         In connection with the qualification of an indenture between
Saks Incorporated and The First National Bank of Chicago, the undersigned, in
accordance with Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended,
hereby consents that the reports of examinations of the undersigned, made by
Federal or State authorities authorized to make such examinations, may be
furnished by such authorities to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon its
request therefor.


                   Very truly yours,

                   THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO
 
                    By   /s/ John R. Prendiville
                         John R. Prendiville
                         Vice President

 
                                   EXHIBIT 7


                                                                    
Legal Title of Bank:                 The First National Bank of Chicago   Call Date: 12/31/97  ST-BK:  17-1630 FFIEC 031
Address:                             One First National Plaza, Ste 0303                                        Page RC-1
City, State  Zip:                    Chicago, IL  60670
FDIC Certificate No.:                0/3/6/1/8
                                     ---------


CONSOLIDATED REPORT OF CONDITION FOR INSURED COMMERCIAL
AND STATE-CHARTERED SAVINGS BANKS FOR DECEMBER 31, 1997

All schedules are to be reported in thousands of dollars. Unless otherwise
indicated, report the amount outstanding as of the last business day of the
quarter.

SCHEDULE RC--BALANCE SHEET

 
 
                                                                            DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN         C400
                                                                                                    --------

                                                                                                                       
ASSETS
1.  Cash and balances due from depository institutions (from Schedule
    RC-A):
    a. Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin(1)                                          0081     4,267,336       1.a.
    b. Interest-bearing balances(2)                                                                   0071     6,893,837       1.b.
2.  Securities
    a. Held-to-maturity securities (from Schedule RC-B, column A)                                     1754             0       2.a.
    b. Available-for-sale securities (from Schedule RC-B, column D).........                          1773     5,691,722       2.b.
3.  Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to
    resell                                                                                            1350     6,339,940       3.
4.  Loans and lease financing receivables:
    a. Loans and leases, net of unearned income (from Schedule
    RC-C)                                                                      RCFD 2122 25,202,984                            4.a.
    b. LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses                               RCFD 3123    419,121                            4.b.
    c. LESS: Allocated transfer risk reserve                                   RCFD 3128          0                            4.c.
    d. Loans and leases, net of unearned income, allowance, and
       reserve (item 4.a minus 4.b and 4.c)                                                           2125    24,783,863       4.d.
5.  Trading assets (from Schedule RD-D)                                                               3545     6,703,332       5.
6.  Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases)                                          2145       743,426       6.
7.  Other real estate owned (from Schedule RC-M)                                                      2150         7,727       7.
8.  Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated
    companies (from Schedule RC-M)                                                                    2130       134,959       8.
9.  Customers' liability to this bank on acceptances outstanding                                      2155       644,340       9.
10. Intangible assets (from Schedule RC-M)                                                            2143       268,501      10.
11. Other assets (from Schedule RC-F)                                                                 2160     2,004,432      11.
12. Total assets (sum of items 1 through 11)                                                          2170    58,483,415      12.

_____________
(1)  Includes cash items in process of collection and unposted debits.
(2)  Includes time certificates of deposit not held for trading.

 

                                                                      
Legal Title of Bank:             The First National Bank of Chicago   Call Date:  09/30/97 ST-BK:  17-1630 FFIEC 031
Address:                         One First National Plaza, Ste 0303                                                  Page RC-2
City, State  Zip:                Chicago, IL  60670
FDIC Certificate No.:            0/3/6/1/8
                                 ---------
 

SCHEDULE RC-CONTINUED
                                                                 DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN
                                                                     THOUSANDS                          BIL MIL THOU
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LIABILITIES
                                                                                                               
13. Deposits:
    a. In domestic offices (sum of totals of columns A and C
       from Schedule RC-E, part 1)                                                        RCON 2200       21,756,846      13.a
       (1) Noninterest-bearing(1)                                 RCON 6631  9,197,227                                    13.a.1
       (2) Interest-bearing                                       RCON 6636  559,619                                      13.a.2
    b. In foreign offices, Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and
       IBFs (from Schedule RC-E, part II)                                                 RCFN 2200       14,811,410      13.b.
       (1) Noninterest bearing                                    RCFN 6631    332,801                                    13.b.1
       (2) Interest-bearing                                       RCFN 6636 14,478,609                                    13.b.2
14. Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements
    to repurchase:                                                                       RCFD 2800         4,535,422      14
15. a. Demand notes issued to the U.S. Treasury                                          RCON 2840            43,763      15.a
    b. Trading Liabilities (from Schedule RC-D).......................                   RCFD 3548         6,523,239      15.b
16. Other borrowed money:
    a. With a remaining maturity of one year or less                                     RCFD 2332         1,360,165      16.a
    b. With a remaining maturity of than one year through three years                         A547           576,492      16.b
    c.  With a remaining maturity of more than three years............                        A548           703,981      16.c
17. Not applicable
18. Bank's liability on acceptance executed and outstanding                              RCFD 2920           644,341      18
19. Subordinated notes and debentures (2)                                                RCFD 3200         1,700,000      19
20. Other liabilities (from Schedule RC-G)                                               RCFD 2930         1,322,077      20
21. Total liabilities (sum of items 13 through 20)                                       RCFD 2948        53,987,736      21
22. Not applicable
EQUITY CAPITAL
23. Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus                                        RCFD 3838                 0      23
24. Common stock                                                                         RCFD 3230           200,858      24
25. Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock)                             RCFD 3839         2,999,001      25
26. a. Undivided profits and capital reserves                                            RCFD 3632         1,273,239      26.a.
    b. Net unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale
       securities                                                                        RCFD 8434            24,096      26.b.
27. Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments                                  RCFD 3284            (1,515)     27
28. Total equity capital (sum of items 23 through 27)                                    RCFD 3210         4,495,679      28
29. Total liabilities and equity capital (sum of items 21 and 28)                        RCFD 3300        58,483,415      29



                                                                 
Memorandum
To be reported only with the March Report of Condition.
1. Indicate in the box at the right the number of the statement below that best describes the most
   comprehensive level of auditing work performed for the bank by independent external                        Number
   auditors as of any date during 1996 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . RCFD 6724.........N/A         M.1

1 = Independent audit of the bank conducted in accordance         4. = Directors' examination of the bank performed by other
     with generally accepted auditing standards by a certified         external auditors (may be required by state chartering
     public accounting firm which submits a report on the bank         authority)
2 = Independent audit of the bank's parent holding company         5 = Review of the bank's financial statements by external
     conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing          auditors
     standards by a certified public accounting firm which         6 = Compilation of the bank's financial statements by external
     submits a report on the consolidated holding company              auditors
     (but not on the bank separately)                              7 = Other audit procedures (excluding tax preparation work)
3 = Directors' examination of the bank conducted in                8 = No external audit work
     accordance with generally accepted auditing standards
     by a certified public accounting firm (may be required by
     state chartering authority)
 

____________________
(1) Includes total demand deposits and noninterest-bearing time and savings
deposits.
(2) Includes limited-life preferred stock and related surplus.