EXHIBIT 99.1

                                  PRESS RELEASE

The following is the text of a press release issued by Genesco Inc.
on July 30, 2002.



FINANCIAL CONTACT:   JAMES S. GULMI (615) 367-8325
MEDIA CONTACT:       CLAIRE S. MCCALL (615) 367-8283



                 GENESCO REVISES SALES AND EARNINGS GUIDANCE FOR
                         SECOND QUARTER AND FISCAL 2003

NASHVILLE, Tenn., July 30, 2002 --- Genesco Inc. (NYSE: GCO) today announced
revised sales and earnings guidance for the second quarter ending August 3,
2002, and the current fiscal year. The Company also announced that it would
recognize professional fees and expenses of approximately $0.3 million, after
tax, or $0.01 per diluted share, associated with the discontinuation of work
related to a strategic acquisition in the second quarter.

         Genesco stated that it expects to report total sales for the quarter in
the range of $174 million to $176 million, compared to $166.5 million for the
second quarter ended August 4, 2001, and expects total same store sales gains to
be in the low single digits. Before the acquisition-related corporate expenses,
the Company expects diluted earnings per share in the range of $0.18 to $0.19,
compared to $0.26 in second quarter last year. Including the acquisition-related
expenses, it expects diluted earnings per share to be in the range of $0.17 to
$0.18.

         Hal N. Pennington, president and chief executive officer, said, "We
were tracking our previously announced guidance until our Journeys business
slowed last week. The last two weeks of July historically account for
approximately 20% to 25% of Journeys' sales for the quarter. The weakening of
Journeys' comparable sales coincided with what we believe to be a general
weakening in the retail environment, and with the beginning of an annual
end-of-summer promotion of a single product line which has boosted late July
sales for many years. With a sharper than expected shift in consumer preference
away from this line, this year's promotion did not drive sales to the extent we
had anticipated. We now expect low single-digit negative






comparable sales for Journeys for the quarter. Journeys' management team
believes they are well-positioned for the fall, once back-to-school gets fully
underway.

         "Johnston & Murphy's comparable sales should be slightly negative for
the quarter and wholesale sales have continued to be impacted by heavy
promotional activity in the department store channels and some lost sales due to
low inventory levels. The new product line for fall is being well-received by
retailers, and our efforts to strengthen this business continue.

         "On the positive side, the Jarman division continues to exceed our
expectations. We look for the combination of Jarman and Underground Station to
report comparable sales increases of about 18% to 20% for the quarter. In
addition, while inventory shortages in key styles and sizes caused Dockers to
perform below our expectations for the quarter, demand for its product continues
strong, and we expect to see improvement in this business the second half of the
year."

         Pennington further commented, "With regard to the corporate expense
charge, we had been carefully analyzing a potential acquisition over the past
few months, but after significant due diligence, we concluded that the
transaction was not in our best interests at this time."

         The Company also stated that it did not anticipate disclosing specific
information concerning the transaction formerly under consideration due to
confidentiality obligations to the target.

         "Given the current environment, we believe it is prudent to adopt a
more conservative stance with regard to the remainder of the year," Pennington
said. "Accordingly, we are also revising our guidance for the full fiscal year."

         The Company now expects the current fiscal year's sales to range from
$818 million to $833 million and diluted earnings per share to range from $1.50
to $1.57, including the acquisition-related expenses. For the third quarter, the
Company expects sales to range from $204 million to $210 million and diluted
earnings per share to range from $0.32 to $0.35. For the fourth quarter, the
Company expects sales to range from $248 million to $255 million and diluted
earnings per share to range from $0.68 to $0.71. Comparable sales gains in the
second half of the year are now expected to be low single digits for Journeys,
mid to high teens for Jarman, low single digits for Johnston & Murphy and
overall low to mid single digits for Genesco.

         The Company plans to release its second quarter earnings and host its
quarterly conference call on Wednesday, August 21, 2002.





         The forward-looking statements in this release involve a number of
risks and uncertainties. Actual results could be materially different. The
factors that could cause materially different results include lower than
expected consumer demand for the Company's products, whether caused by weakness
in the overall economy or changes in fashions or tastes that the Company fails
to anticipate or respond appropriately to, changes in buying patterns by
significant wholesale customers, disruptions in product supply or distribution,
including the impact of opening a new distribution center, the inability to
adjust inventory levels to sales and changes in business strategies by the
Company's competitors, among other factors. Other factors that could cause
results to differ from expectations include the Company's ability to open, staff
and support additional retail stores on schedule and at acceptable expense
levels, and the outcome of litigation and environmental matters involving the
Company. Forward-looking statements reflect the expectations of the Company at
the time they are made. The Company disclaims any obligation to update such
Company statements.

         Genesco, based in Nashville, sells footwear and accessories in more
than 940 retail stores in the U.S., principally under the names Journeys,
Journeys Kidz, Johnston & Murphy, Jarman and Underground Station, and on
internet websites www.journeys.com and www.johnstonmurphy.com The Company also
sells footwear at wholesale under its Johnston & Murphy brand and under the
licensed Dockers brand. Additional information on Genesco and its operating
divisions may be accessed at its website www.genesco.com.