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                            FOLEY, HOAG & ELIOT LLP                  EXHIBIT 5.1

                            ONE POST OFFICE SQUARE
                       BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02109-2170

                                   --------

   TELEPHONE 617-832-1000                        1615 L STREET, N.W., SUITE 850
   FACSIMILE 617-832-7000                            WASHINGTON, D.C. 20036
     http://www.fhe.com                                 TEL: 202-775-0600
                                                        FAX: 202-857-0140

                                                          December 12, 1997

DM Management Company
25 Recreation Park Drive
Hingham, Massachusetts 02043

Ladies and Gentlemen:

      We are familiar with the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the "S-8
Registration Statement") filed today by DM Management Company, a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), with the Securities and Exchange Commission under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The S-8 Registration Statement relates
to the proposed offering by the Company of 500,000 shares (the "Shares") of its
Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share ("Common Stock"), issuable pursuant to
the Company's 1993 Incentive and Nonqualified Stock Option Plan, as amended (the
"1993 Stock Option Plan").

      In arriving at the opinion expressed below, we have examined and relied on
the following documents:

           (1)   the Restated Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws of the
      Company, each as amended as of the date hereof;

           (2)   the records of all meetings and consents of the Board of
      Directors and stockholders of the Company relating to the 1993 Stock
      Option Plan and the Shares; and

           (3)   the 1993 Stock Option Plan.

In addition, we have examined and relied on the originals or copies certified or
otherwise identified to our satisfaction of all such corporate records of the
Company and such other instruments and other certificates of public officials,
officers and representatives of the Company and such other persons, and we have
made such investigations of law, as we have deemed appropriate as a basis for
the opinion expressed below.




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DM Management Company
December 12, 1997
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      Based upon the foregoing, it is our opinion that:

      1.   The Company has corporate power adequate for the issuance of the
Shares in accordance with the S-8 Registration Statement. The Company has taken
all necessary corporate action required to authorize the issuance and sale of
the Shares. When certificates for the Shares have been duly executed and
countersigned, and delivered against due receipt of the exercise price for the
Shares as described in the options relating thereto and the 1993 Stock Option
Plan, the Shares will be legally issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

      We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the S-8
Registration Statement.

                                          Very truly yours,

                                          FOLEY, HOAG & ELIOT LLP

                                          By /s/ David R. Pierson
                                             --------------------
                                             A Partner