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     May 3, 1997                                 

                                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 number          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 May 31, 1997 was 45,247,322 and 2,916,495 
respectively, excluding treasury shares.      

<PAGE>

              CLAIRE'S STORES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                              INDEX

                                                           PAGE NO.

PART I.    FINANCIAL INFORMATION

     Item 1.   Financial Statements

     Consolidated Balance Sheets at May 3, 1997 and
          February 1, 1996.                                  3

     Consolidated Statements of Income for the Three
          Months Ended May 3, 1997 and May 4, 1996.          4

     Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the
          Three Months Ended May 3, 1997 and 
          May 4, 1996.                                       5

     Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements              6

     Item 2.   Management's Discussion and Analysis of
               Financial Conditions and Results of
               Operations                                    7-8

<PAGE>


<TABLE>
                              

                          PART I.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION
                      CLAIRE'S STORES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                           CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                                   (Unaudited)
<CAPTION>

                                                  May 3,          February 1, 
ASSETS                                            1997               1997     
Current assets
<S>                                           <C>                <C>
 Cash and cash equivalents                    $ 97,845,000       $ 93,400,000 
 Inventories                                    40,211,000         43,149,000 
 Prepaid expenses and other current assets      13,592,000         14,434,000 
      Total current assets                     151,648,000        150,983,000 

Property and equipment:
 Land and building                               8,718,000          8,714,000 
 Furniture, fixtures and equipment              79,073,000         76,634,000 
 Leasehold improvements                         71,940,000         71,993,000 
                                               159,731,000        157,341,000 
 Less accumulated depreciation and
  amortization                                ( 86,260,000)      ( 84,660,000)
                                                73,471,000         72,681,000 

Other assets                                    19,439,000         19,187,000 
                                              $244,558,000       $242,851,000 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
 Trade accounts payable                       $ 15,534,000       $ 16,892,000 
 Income taxes payable                            6,138,000          9,831,000 
 Accrued expenses                               14,053,000         14,693,000 
 Dividends payable                               1,453,000          1,450,000 
      Total current liabilities                 37,178,000         42,866,000 
                                                              
Deferred credits                                 6,093,000          5,473,000 

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 2,917,925 and 2,936,840 shares            146,000            146,000 
 Common stock par value $.05 per share;
  authorized 50,000,000 shares, issued
  45,245,897 and 44,833,047 shares               2,262,000          2,261,000 
 Additional paid-in capital                     16,957,000         16,786,000 
 Foreign currency translation adjustments     (     87,000)            61,000 
 Retained earnings                             182,461,000        175,710,000 
                                               201,739,000        194,964,000 
  Treasury stock, at cost, 109,882 shares     (    452,000)      (    452,000)
                                               201,287,000        194,512,000 
Commitments and contingencies                                                   
                                              $244,558,000       $242,851,000 
</TABLE>
<PAGE>



<TABLE>
                                        
                      CLAIRE'S STORES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                        CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                            FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED
                           MAY 3, 1997 AND MAY 4, 1996
                                   (Unaudited)

                                         
<CAPTION>
                                          THREE MONTHS ENDED

                                         May 3,            May 4,   
                                          1997              1996                

<S>                                   <C>               <C>
Net sales                             $108,029,000      $92,382,000 
Cost of sales, occupancy and 
  buying expenses                       53,606,000       44,605,000 

    Gross profit                        54,423,000       47,777,000 
    
Other expenses:
 Selling, general and
  administrative                        38,480,000       34,056,000 
 Depreciation and amortization           4,031,000        3,828,000 
 Interest (income), net               (  1,133,000)     (   833,000)
                                        41,378,000       37,051,000 

    Income before income taxes          13,045,000       10,726,000 
Income taxes                             4,892,000        4,076,000 

    Net income                        $  8,153,000      $ 6,650,000 

    Net income per share              $        .17      $       .14 

Dividends per common share            $        .03      $       .02 

Dividends per class A common
share                                 $       .015      $       .01 


Average number of shares of
common stock and equivalents            48,042,000       47,483,000 

</TABLE>
<PAGE>




<TABLE>
                      CLAIRE'S STORES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                            FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED
                           MAY 3, 1997 AND MAY 4, 1996
                                   (Unaudited)

<CAPTION>
                                                    THREE MONTHS ENDED       

                                                  May 3,             May 4,   
                                                  1997               1996     

<S>                                            <C>                <C>
Cash flows from operating activities:
  Net income                                   $ 8,153,000        $ 6,650,000 
  Adjustments to reconcile net
  income to net cash provided by
  operating activities:
    Depreciation and amortization                4,031,000          3,828,000 
    Loss on retirement of property
     and equipment                                 423,000            447,000 
    Changes in assets and 
      liabilities:                                            
   (Increase) decrease in -
     Inventories                                 2,939,000        (   937,000)
     Prepaid expenses and other
      assets                                       590,000        ( 1,710,000)
   Increase (decrease) in -
     Trade accounts payable                    ( 1,358,000)         4,086,000 
     Income taxes payable                      ( 3,693,000)       ( 3,024,000)
     Accrued expenses                          (   639,000)           108,000 
     Deferred credits                              620,000            281,000 

Net cash provided by operating activities       11,066,000          9,729,000 

Cash flows from investing activities:
  Acquisition of property and
  equipment which represents net cash
    used in investing activities               ( 5,246,000)       ( 4,336,000)

Cash flows from financing activities:
  Proceeds from stock options 
   exercised                                       171,000          1,035,000 
  Dividends paid                               ( 1,399,000)       (   926,000)

   Net cash (used in) provided by   
   financing activities                        ( 1,228,000)           109,000 
     
Effect of foreign currency exchange
  rate changes on cash and cash
 equivalents                                   (   147,000)            42,000 

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents        4,445,000          5,544,000 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning 
  of period                                     93,400,000         59,323,000 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of 
  period                                       $97,845,000        $64,867,000

</TABLE>
<PAGE>
                                         



              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 1, 1997 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 three 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 months ended May 3, 1997 and May 4, 1996. 

4. In February of 1997, the Financial Accounting Standards Board
   issued Statement No. 128, "Earnings per Share" ("SFAS 128"),
   which became effective for periods ending after December 15,
   1997, including interim periods.  This standard requires
   public companies to present basic earnings per share ("EPS")
   and, if applicable, diluted earnings per share, instead of
   primary and fully diluted EPS.  For the three months ended May
   3, 1997 and May 4, 1996, the effect of adopting SFAS 128 has
   not been determined.  The Company expects the presentation of
   basic EPS to mirror primary EPS as currently disclosed.  The
   computation of diluted EPS will include dilutive potential
   common shares.  Potential common shares are securities such as
   stock options outstanding under the Company's 1982 Plan, 1985
   Plan, 1991 Plan and 1996 Plan.  The number of potential common
   shares included in the computation of diluted EPS will be
   calculated using the treasury stock method as required by SFAS
   128.  The Company will begin disclosing EPS in accordance with
   Statement 128 beginning with the quarter ended January 31,
   1998.


<PAGE>
 




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

Results of Operations

Net sales for the three months ended May 3, 1997 increased
approximately 17% over the comparable period ended May 4, 1996.  The
increase for the period resulted primarily from the addition of a net
152 stores and same-store sales increases of 8%.  The same-store sales
increases were primarily due to the Company continuing to focus 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 20% for the
three months ended May 3, 1997 over the comparable period ended May 4,
1996.  The principal reason for this increase was the rise in the
number of stores and the volume of merchandise sold.  As a percentage
of net sales, these expenses increased to 49.6% for the three months
ended May 3, 1997 compared to 48.3% for the three months ended May 4,
1996.  The increase as a percentage of sales was due to a shift in
merchandise sold and acquisitions made during the twelve months ended
February 1, 1997 ("Fiscal 1997").  During Fiscal 1997, the Company
reacted to changes in customer demand for its product.  These changes
included a shift in merchandise focus to accessories, which carries a
lower gross margin from jewelry.  In the three months ended May 3,
1997, accessories were approximately 41% of total sales compared to 35%
in the three months ended May 4, 1996.  The remaining gross margin
decline is attributable to store acquisitions made during Fiscal 1997. 
These acquisitions included 95 stores in the United States which
operate under the trade names "The Icing", "Claire's Etc." and "Accessory
Place" and 55 stores in the United Kingdom which operate under the trade
name "Bow Bangles".  The merchandise offered for sale by some of 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.  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.  
                                   
Selling, general and administrative expense ("S,G&A"), as a percentage
of sales for the three months ended May 3, 1997 was 35.6% compared to
36.9% for the comparable period ended May 4, 1996.  The decrease in 
S,G&A as a percentage of net sales was primarily attributable to the
increase in same-store sales as previously discussed and the leveraging
of fixed expenses with the addition of 152 net stores.

<PAGE>


Depreciation and amortization as a percentage of sales was 3.7% for
the three months ended May 3, 1997 compared to 4.1% for the three
months ended May 4, 1996.  The decrease noted as a percentage of sales
was due to the recent store acquisitions by the Company.  The
favorable purchase prices paid have enabled the Company to increase
revenues significantly without incurring the level of depreciation and
amortization expense normally associated with opening new stores.

Interest income, net of interest expense, totaled $1,133,000 for the
three month period ended May 3, 1997 compared to $833,000 for the
comparable period ended May 4, 1996.  This increase was primarily due
to the increase in the average cash balance to $95,079,000 during the
three months ended May 3, 1997 compared to $62,913,000 during the same
period ended May 4, 1996.  Also increasing interest income was the
Federal Reserve increasing the key Federal Funds rate .25% in March
1997.

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

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Net cash increased $4,445,000 for the three months ended May 3, 1997
due to cash provided by operations of $11,066,000 and the proceeds
from stock options exercised of $171,000, partially offset by the
acquisition of property and equipment totaling $5,246,000 and the
payment of dividends of $1,399,000.

Inventory at May 3, 1997 was lower than the inventory level at the end
of the Company's February 1, 1997 fiscal year.  The Company believes
these inventory levels are appropriate given the current economic
environment and the level of sales currently being achieved.

The Company opened 42 stores in the three months ended May 3, 1997.
In addition, the Company remodeled 20 stores. 

At May 3, 1997, 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 July 31, 1999. 
No borrowings were outstanding under this line of credit at any time
during the three month period ended May 3, 1997.  The Company believes
that its cash on hand, internally generated funds and borrowings
available under its credit agreement will be sufficient to meet its
current operating needs and its minimum 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: June 4, 1997                      /s/ Ira D. Kaplan            
                                        Ira D. Kaplan
                                        Senior Vice President,
                                        Chief Financial Officer
                                        and Treasurer

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

                                                                 







                                        






<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: June 4, 1997                                                            
                                        Ira D. Kaplan
                                        Senior Vice President,
                                        Chief Financial Officer
                                        and Treasurer

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