CLAIRE'S STORES REPORTS FIRST QUARTER RESULTS

     PEMBROKE  PINES,  FL.,  May  11, Claire's Stores, Inc. (NYSE:CLE), reported
today  net  income  for the first quarter of fiscal 2001 was $4,027,000, or $.08
per  diluted  share compared with net income of $13,800,000, or $.27 per diluted
share  for  the  first  quarter  of  fiscal  2000.

     Net  sales  for the first quarter ended April 29, 2000 increased 36 percent
to  $232,035,000 from $170,663,000 for the same period last year.  First quarter
same store comparisons decreased 4 percent on a consolidated basis.  The fashion
accessory  division decreased 5 percent while Mr. Rags increased 18 percent on a
same  store  sales  basis.

     Rowland  Schaefer,  Claire's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said "We
were  disappointed  with  the sales results for the first quarter of fiscal 2001
which resulted in lower earnings compared with the same period last year.  Gross
margins  were  negatively  impacted  by  the lack of leverage from rent and rent
support,  the  increase  in  apparel sales, which carry a lower gross margin, as
well  as our decision to write-down approximately $8 million of inventory.  I am
pleased  that in a tough sales environment, we controlled our expenses and total
SG&A  was  better than budget on a gross basis.  Our United Kingdom and European
subsidiaries  were  all  ahead  of budget from a profitability standpoint."  Mr.
Schaefer  added.

       Pursuant to the $50 million stock repurchase program authorized on May 3,
2000  by  the  Company's  Board  of Directors, the Company has purchased to date
approximately  200,000  shares of the Company's common stock at an average price
of  $17  9/16  per  share.

     The  Company  will  host  a conference call for the first quarter of fiscal
2001  today  at  10:00  a.m.  (EST).  The call in number is 888-769-8708 and the
password  is  Claires  (2524737).  A replay will be available through Monday May
22nd.  The  replay  number  is  888-568-0500  and  the  password  is  25247.

     Claire's  Stores,  Inc.,  the leading mall-based retailer of popular-priced
pre-teen  and  teen accessories, costume jewelry and apparel, currently operates
more  than  3,000  stores under the following trade names: Claire's Accessories,
Afterthoughts,  the  Icing,  Bijoux  One, Cleopatre, Velvet Pixies and Mr. Rags.
The  stores  are  located  throughout  the United States, the Caribbean, Canada,
Japan,  United  Kingdom,  Switzerland,  Austria,  Germany  and  France.

     SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF
1995:  This  release  contains  "forward-looking statements" which represent the
Company's  expectations  or  beliefs  with  respect  to  future  events.  These
forward-looking  statements  are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that
could  cause  actual results to differ materially from those anticipated.  Those
factors  include,  without  limitation,  changes  in  consumer  preferences  for
pre-teen  and teen apparel and accessories, competition, and economic conditions
in  the  United  States.


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For  additional  information:
At  Claire's  Stores,  Inc.
Sonia  Rohan
Associate  Director  of  Investor  Relations
Phone:  (212)  594-3127
Fax:     (212)  244-4237
E-mail:  sonia.rohan@claires.com

Note:  Other  Claire's Stores, Inc. press releases, a corporate profile and most
recent  10-K  and
10-Q  reports  are  available  by  fax  at  no  charge.  For a menu of available
material,  call 1-800-CLENYSE (1-800-253-6973).  For such materials via Claire's
Internet  home  page  :  http://www.clairestores.com


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<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                     CLAIRE'S STORES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                        CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                                   (UNAUDITED)

                                     THREE MONTHS     %    THREE MONTHS  %
                                         ENDED        OF      ENDED      OF
                                       29-APR-00    SALES   1-MAY-99    SALES
                                          (In thousands, except share data)
<S>                                    <C>       <C>         <C>       <C>
Net sales                              $232,035     100.00%  $170,663  100.00%
Cost of sales, occupancy
  and buying expenses                   128,313      55.30%    84,993   49.80%
                                       --------              --------

                                        103,722      44.70%    85,670   50.20%
Expenses:
  Selling, general & administrative       84,889      36.60%    59,111   34.60%
  Depreciation and amortization          10,495       4.50%     6,289    3.70%
  Interest expense (income), net          1,996       0.90%    -1,634   -1.00%
                                       --------              --------

                                         97,380      42.00%    63,766   37.40%

Income before income taxes                6,342       2.70%    21,904   12.80%

Income taxes                              2,315       1.00%     8,104    4.70%
                                       --------              --------

Net income                             $  4,027       1.70%  $ 13,800    8.10%


Net income per share:
    Basic                              $   0.08             $    0.27

    Diluted                            $   0.08             $    0.27

Weighted average shares outstanding:
    Basic                                51,139                50,854
                                       ========             =========

    Diluted                              51,331                51,332
                                       ========             =========
</TABLE>


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