FORM 10-Q
                SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                     WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549


(Mark One)
  ( X )Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                 Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the Quarterly Period Ended         November 2, 1996                         

                                OR

   (   )Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                 Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the transition period from       to                                        

Commission file numbe             1-8899                                        

                           CLAIRE'S STORES, INC.                                
           (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

   Delaware                                 59-0940416                          
(State or other jurisdiction of          (I.R.S. Employer
 incorporation or organization)         Identification No.)

3 S.W. 129th Avenue         Pembroke Pines, Florida        33027                
(Address of principal executive offices)                (Zip Code)

                            (954) 433-3900                                      
       (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

                                                                               
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last 
report)


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports 
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the  
registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to 
such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes X . No   .



The number of shares of the registrant's Common Stock and Class A Common 
Stock outstanding as of November 30, 1996 was 44,918,460 and 2,899,798 
respectively, excluding treasury shares.      

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              CLAIRE'S STORES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                              INDEX

                                                           PAGE NO.

PART I.    FINANCIAL INFORMATION

     Item 1.   Financial Statements

     Consolidated Balance Sheets at November 2, 1996 and
          February 3, 1996.                                  3

     Consolidated Statements of Income for the Three
          Months and Nine Months Ended November 2, 1996
          and October 28, 1995.                              4

     Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the
          Nine Months Ended November 2, 1996 and 
          October 28, 1995.                                  5

     Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements              6

     Item 2.   Management's Discussion and Analysis of
               Financial Conditions and Results of
               Operations                                    7-9


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<TABLE>
                          PART I.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION
                      CLAIRE'S STORES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                           CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                                   (Unaudited)
<CAPTION>
                                                  November 2,        February 3, 
ASSETS                                               1996               1996     
Current assets:
<S>                                              <C>                <C>
 Cash and cash equivalents                       $ 55,419,000       $ 59,323,000 
 Inventories                                       48,083,000         32,383,000 
 Prepaid expenses and other current assets         17,057,000         12,056,000 
      Total current assets                        120,559,000        103,762,000 

Property and equipment:
 Land and building                                  8,663,000          8,347,000 
 Furniture, fixtures and equipment                 73,491,000         63,957,000 
 Leasehold improvements                            72,289,000         74,156,000 
                                                  154,443,000        146,460,000 
 Less accumulated depreciation and
  amortization                                   ( 82,778,000)      ( 77,114,000)
                                                   71,665,000         69,346,000 

Other assets                                       17,744,000         14,674,000 
                                                 $209,968,000       $187,782,000 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
 Trade accounts payable                          $ 15,046,000       $ 10,745,000 
 Income taxes payable                                 467,000          6,800,000 
 Accrued expenses                                  14,038,000         11,991,000 
 Dividends payable                                  1,445,000            985,000 
      Total current liabilities                    30,996,000         30,521,000 
                                                              
Deferred credits                                    5,734,000          4,325,000 
Stockholders' equity:
 Preferred stock par value $1.00 per share;
  authorized 1,000,000 shares, issued and
  outstanding -0- shares                                    -                  - 
 Class A common stock par value $.05 per 
  share; authorized 20,000,000 shares,
  issued 2,900,834 and 2,872,941 shares               145,000             96,000 
 Common stock par value $.05 per share;
  authorized 50,000,000 shares, issued
  44,892,673 and 44,651,721 shares                  2,245,000          1,488,000 
 Additional paid-in capital                        17,256,000         16,126,000 
 Foreign currency translation adjustments             154,000       (     22,000)
 Retained earnings                                154,092,000        136,016,000 
                                                  173,892,000        153,704,000 
  Treasury stock, at cost, 158,644 and
   186,207 shares                                (    654,000)      (    768,000)
                                                  173,238,000        152,936,000 
Commitments and contingencies                               -                  - 
                                                 $209,968,000       $187,782,000 

</TABLE>
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<TABLE>
                                         
                      CLAIRE'S STORES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                        CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                    FOR THE THREE MONTHS AND NINE MONTHS ENDED
                      NOVEMBER 2, 1996 AND OCTOBER 28, 1995
                                   (Unaudited)
<CAPTION>
                                Three Months Ended    Nine Months Ended     

                            November 2,   October 28,  November 2,  October 28, 
                               1996          1995         1996          1995    

<S>                        <C>           <C>          <C>           <C>
Net sales                  $102,645,000  $ 79,842,000 $295,746,000  $225,192,000 
Cost of sales, occupancy 
 and buying expenses         50,326,000    37,974,000  143,322,000   108,091,000 

   Gross profit              52,319,000    41,868,000  152,424,000   117,101,000 

Other expenses:
 Selling, general and
  administrative             36,709,000    30,582,000  107,083,000    89,277,000 
 Depreciation and
  amortization                4,041,000     3,649,000   11,808,000    11,132,000 
 Interest income, net      (    656,000) (    454,000)(  2,146,000) (  1,379,000)
                             40,094,000    33,777,000  116,745,000    99,030,000 

   Income before income                  
    taxes                    12,225,000     8,091,000   35,679,000    18,071,000 
Income taxes                  4,647,000     3,075,000   13,559,000     6,868,000    

   Net income              $  7,578,000  $  5,016,000 $ 22,120,000  $ 11,203,000 

   Net income per share    $        .16  $        .11 $        .46  $        .24 

Dividends per common
 share                     $        .03  $       .013 $        .07  $        .04 
  
Dividends per Class A
 common share              $       .015  $       .007 $       .035  $        .02 


Average number of shares 
 of common stock and
 equivalents                 47,613,000    47,144,000   47,557,000    46,951,000 

</TABLE>
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<TABLE>

                      CLAIRE'S STORES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                            FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED
                      NOVEMBER 2, 1996 AND OCTOBER 28, 1995
                                   (Unaudited)

<CAPTION>
                                                       Nine Months Ended       

                                                  November 2,    October 28,   
                                                     1996           1995     

Cash flows from operating 
 activities:
<S>                                               <C>            <C>
  Net income                                      $22,120,000    $11,203,000 
  Adjustments to reconcile net
  income to net cash used in
  operating activities:
    Depreciation and amortization                  11,808,000     11,132,000 
    Loss on retirement of property
     and equipment                                  1,371,000        693,000 
    Changes in assets and 
      liabilities:                                            
   (Increase) in -
     Inventories                                  (15,700,000)   (11,847,000)
     Prepaid expenses and other
      assets                                      ( 8,382,000)   ( 9,187,000)
   Increase (decrease) in -
     Trade accounts payable                         4,301,000      2,277,000 
     Income taxes payable                         ( 6,333,000)   ( 6,424,000)
     Accrued expenses                               2,047,000      2,196,000 
     Deferred credits                               1,409,000        532,000 

Net cash provided by operating activities          12,641,000        575,000 

Cash flows from investing activities:
  Acquisition of property and
  equipment which represents net cash
    used in investing activities                  (15,187,000)   (11,507,000)

Cash flows from financing activities:
  Proceeds from stock options 
   exercised                                        1,253,000      1,875,000 
  Dividends paid                                  ( 2,787,000)   ( 1,818,000)

   Net cash (used in) provided by   
   financing activities                           ( 1,534,000)        57,000 
     
Effect of foreign currency exchange
  rate changes on cash and cash
 equivalents                                          176,000        157,000 

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents         ( 3,904,000)   (10,718,000)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning 
  of period                                        59,323,000     48,473,000 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of 
  period                                          $55,419,000    $37,755,000    

</TABLE>
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              CLAIRE'S STORES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS









1. The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements
   reflect all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring
   adjustments) which are, in the opinion of management,
   necessary to a fair statement of the results for the interim
   periods.  These financial statements have been prepared in
   accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and therefore do
   not include all of the information or footnotes necessary for
   a complete presentation.  They should be read in conjunction
   with the Company's audited financial statements included as
   part of the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
   February 3, 1996 filed with the Securities and Exchange
   Commission.

2. Due to the seasonal nature of the Company's business, the
   results of operations for the first nine months of the year
   are not indicative of the results of operations on an
   annualized basis.

3. Income per share is based on the weighted average number of
   shares of common stock and equivalents outstanding during the
   three and nine months ended November 2, 1996 and October 28,
   1995.  In August 1996, the Company's Board of Directors
   declared a 3-for-2 stock split of its Common Stock and Class
   A Common Stock in the form of a 50% stock dividend
   distribution.  The weighted average number of shares of common
   Stock and equivalents outstanding have been adjusted to
   reflect the stock split.


<PAGE>
 

Item 2.   Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
          and Results of Operations.         

Results of Operations

Net sales for the three and nine months ended November 2, 1996
increased approximately 29% and 31%, respectively, compared to the
comparable periods ended October 28, 1995.  The increases for the
periods resulted primarily from the addition of a net 221 stores and
same-store sales increases of 10% and 11% in the three and nine month
periods ended November 2, 1996, respectively.  The same-store sales
increases were primarily due to the Company refocusing its
merchandising strategy to its core customer - female teenagers.  In
addition, inventories were increased to offer a larger assortment of
merchandise for sale and to meet the anticipated increase in customer
demand.

Cost of sales, occupancy and buying expenses increased 33% for the
three and nine months ended November 2, 1996 over the comparable
periods ended October 28, 1995.  Principal reasons for this increase
were the rise in the number of stores and the volume of merchandise
sold.  As a percentage of net sales, these expenses increased to 49%
for the three months ended November 2, 1996 compared to 47.6% for the
three months ended October 28, 1995.  The increase as a percentage of
sales was due to a third quarter sales promotion and acquisitions made
during the first half of the Fiscal year ending February 1, 1997. 
During the third quarter of Fiscal 1997, the Company instituted a sales
promotion allowing the customer to purchase a miniature radio for $2.99
with the purchase of regular merchandise of $9.99 or more.  Sales of
the miniature radio were less than expected.  The Company decided to
reduce the price of the miniature radio to $1.99.  This price reduction
eliminated the margin the Company realized at the previous price of
$2.99.  The result was to reduce gross margin by approximately 80 basis
points.  The remaining gross margin decline is attributable to store
acquisitions discussed below.  These acquisitions included 95 stores in
the United States which operate under the trade names "The Icing",
"Claire's Etc." and "Accessory Place" and 52 stores in the United Kingdom
which operate under the trade name "Bow Bangles".  The merchandise
offered for sale by the stores operating in the United States includes
approximately 25% apparel compared to the typical merchandise mix of an
historical company-owned store that does not offer apparel for sale. 
Apparel is maintained in inventory at a lower initial markup and
therefore typically realizes a lower gross margin.  Also, the costs of
rent and common area maintenance are higher in these stores.  In
addition, rent paid for our stores acquired in the United Kingdom is
typically higher than rent paid per square foot in the United States. 
Cost of merchandise has also been higher in stores operating in the
United Kingdom during the period.  This was due to the fact that at the
time of acquisition, these stores were extremely low on inventory. 
Management decided to purchase merchandise locally which incurred a
higher cost compared to purchasing directly from vendors overseas. 
However, the merchandise was available immediately for shipment
compared to 60 days for purchases overseas.  The merchandise orders
that were made from vendors overseas were brought into the United
Kingdom by air freight, greatly increasing the cost of the merchandise. 
The increase in cost of sales would have been more acute except for the
same-store sales increase during the period which partially offset the
effect of the lower margins realized in the acquired stores. For the
nine months ended November 2, 1996 cost of sales, occupancy and buying
expenses as a percentage of sales increased to 48.5% compared to 48.0%
for the comparable period ended October 28, 1995. The reasons for the
increase are as discussed above. 
                                   
Selling, general and administrative expense (S,G&A), as a percentage of
sales for the three and nine months ended November 2, 1996 were 35.8%
and 36.2%, respectively, compared to 38.3% and 39.6%, respectively, 
for the comparable periods ended October 28, 1995.  The decrease in
SG&A as a percentage of sales is primarily attributable to the increase
in same-store sales as previously discussed and the leverage of fixed
expenses with the addition of 221 net stores.

Depreciation and amortization as a percentage of sales was
approximately 4% for the three and nine months ended November 2, 1996,
which was lower than the 4.6% and 5.0% realized during the three and
nine months ended October 28, 1995, respectively.  The decrease was
as expected given the same-store sales increases realized during these
periods.

Due to the increase in cash levels and the reduction of long-term
debt, interest income, net of interest expense, totaled $656,000 and
$2,146,000 for the three and nine month periods ended November 2,
1996, respectively, compared to interest income, net of interest
expense, of $454,000 and $1,379,000 for the three and nine month
periods ended October 28, 1995, respectively.  The Company carried no
debt balance  during the three and nine months ended November 2, 1996
compared to an average debt balance of $3,000,000 during the three and
nine months ended October 28, 1995.  Invested cash during the three
and nine months ended November 2, 1996 averaged approximately
$60,535,000 and $60,994,000, respectively.  During the three and nine
months ended October 28, 1995, invested cash averaged approximately
$39,543,000 and $40,203,000, respectively.

Inflation has not affected the Company as it has generally been able
to pass along inflationary increases in its costs through increased
sales prices.

<PAGE>

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Net cash decreased $3,904,000 for the nine months ended November 2,
1996 due to net cash used in the acquisition of property and equipment
totaling $15,187,000 and the payment of dividends of $2,787,000. These
cash expenditures were offset by net cash provided by operating
activities of 12,641,000 and the proceeds from stock options exercised
totalling $1,253,000.

Inventory at November 2, 1996 increased 48% compared to the inventory
balance at the end of the Company's February 3, 1996 fiscal year.  The
increase is mainly attributable to the increase in the number of
stores and the inventory buildup for the Christmas selling season. 
The Company believes overall inventory levels are appropriate given
the current economic environment and the level of sales currently
being achieved.

The Company opened 101 stores in the nine months ended November 2,
1996 and remodeled 60 stores.  In addition, the Company opened 147
stores which were related to various acquisitions during the period.

At November 2, 1996, the Company had available a $10 million credit
line with a bank to finance the Company's letters of credit and
working capital requirements.  This credit facility matures January
31, 1997.  The Company believes that internally generated funds and
borrowings available under its credit agreements will be sufficient
to meet its current operating needs and its presently anticipated
required capital expenditures.

<PAGE>

                            SIGNATURE



Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.



                                        CLAIRE'S STORES, INC.
                                        (Registrant)








Date: December 9, 1996                   /s/ Ira D. Kaplan    
                                         Ira D. Kaplan
                                         Chief Financial Officer and
                                         Treasurer

                                        (Mr. Kaplan is the Chief 
                                        Financial Officer and 
                                        Treasurer and has been duly
                                        authorized to sign on behalf of the 
                                        registrant)
                                        

                                                                 



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                            SIGNATURE



Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


                                        CLAIRE'S STORES, INC.
                                        (Registrant)








Date: December 9, 1996                  Ira D. Kaplan
                                        Chief Financial Officer and
                                        Treasurer

                                        (Mr. Kaplan is the Chief 
                                        Financial Officer and 
                                        Treasurer and has been duly
                                        authorized to sign on behalf of the 
                                        registrant)
                                        

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