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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.9



                      FIRST AMENDMENT TO CHICO'S FAS, INC.
                             1993 STOCK OPTION PLAN

         This First Amendment to the Chico's FAS, Inc. 1993 Stock Option Plan,
which increases the number of shares covered by the Plan by 500,000 shares, is
hereby adopted, effective the 25th day of February, 1999, as follows:

         1. Section 1.5(a) of the Plan is hereby amended in its entirety to
            read as follows:

            a. The stock subject to the Options under the Plan shall be
               authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock. The aggregate
               number of shares that may be issued upon the exercise of Options
               granted under the Plan shall not exceed 1,180,000 shares of
               Common Stock, which limitation shall be subject to adjustment as
               provided in Section 4.1.