1
 
                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
 
     We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Prospectus
constituting part of this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of our reports
dated March 12, 1993 appearing on pages 30 and 31 of Carter Hawley Hale Stores,
Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fifty-two week period ended January
30, 1993, as amended by the Company's Amended Annual Report on Form 10-K/A No. 1
dated May 14, 1993. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading
"Experts" in such Prospectus.
 
PRICE WATERHOUSE
 
Los Angeles, California
January 6, 1994