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                                                          Exhibit 10.21




                       STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
                             UNDER THE
             ANGELICA CORPORATION 1999 PERFORMANCE PLAN


     Angelica Corporation, a Missouri corporation (the "Company"), and
the person designated in Section 1 below (the "Optionee") hereby agree
as follows:

SECTION 1.  BASIC TERMS.

Name of Optionee:                          _____________________________

Social Security Number of Optionee:        _____________________________

Number of Shares Subject to Option:        _____________________________

Option Price/Base Price Per Share:         _____________________________

Grant Date of Option:                      _____________________________

Expiration Date of Option:                 _____________________________


Table Regarding Exercisability:

      NUMBER               DATE OF FIRST              ISO
      OF SHARES            EXERCISABILITY             (YES OR NO)

1     ______________       ____________________       ______________
2     ______________       ____________________       ______________
3     ______________       ____________________       ______________
4     ______________       ____________________       ______________



SECTION 2.  ENTIRE AGREEMENT.  This Agreement consists of the provisions
set forth on this cover page and the further provisions set forth on the
following pages.  The Optionee represents that he or she has read and
understood such further provisions, which are binding on the parties as
if set forth on this cover page.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Stock Option
Agreement in duplicate as of the Grant Date.

ANGELICA CORPORATION



By
   ---------------------------------     ---------------------------------
   Chairman and CEO                      Optionee




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                        ANGELICA CORPORATION
                       1999 PERFORMANCE PLAN

                NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT


     This Stock Option Agreement (this "Agreement"), along with its
cover page, represents the agreement regarding the grant of a stock
option (the "Option") by and between the Company and the Optionee
pursuant to the Angelica Corporation 1999 Performance Plan (the
"Plan").

1.   GRANT OF OPTION.  The Company hereby grants to the Optionee the
     right, privilege and option to purchase the number of shares of
     common stock, $1.00 par value per share (the "Common Stock"), of
     the Company at a price per share, both as reflected in the cover
     page, in the manner and subject to the conditions provided herein.
     The Option is not intended to be an Incentive Stock Option, as
     defined in Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
     amended, with respect to any shares subject hereto.

2.   TIME OF EXERCISE OF OPTION.  The Option shall become exercisable
     as provided in the cover page.  Once exercisable, the Option shall
     remain exercisable until such Option terminates pursuant to
     Section 3.b. of this Agreement.

3.   INCORPORATION OF STOCK PLAN.  This Agreement is entered into
     pursuant to the Plan, which Plan is by this reference incorporated
     herein and made a part hereof.  The material provisions of the
     Plan applicable to the Option are as follows:

     A.   METHOD OF EXERCISE OF OPTION.  The Option shall be
          exercisable in whole or in part to the extent then
          exercisable by written notice delivered to the Office of
          General Counsel of the Company stating the number of shares
          with respect to which the Option is being exercised,
          accompanied by payment (i) by check or, in the discretion of
          the Compensation and Organization Committee, by either (ii)
          the delivery to the Company of shares of Common Stock then
          owned by the Optionee having a fair market value equal to
          the exercise price of all shares of Common Stock subject to
          such exercise or (iii) by any combination of the foregoing.

     B.   TERMINATION OF OPTION.  The Option shall terminate in all
          events on the earliest to occur of the following:

          (i)   the Expiration Date specified in the cover page; or

          (ii)  three months after the date on which the Optionee
                ceases to be an employee of the Company for any
                reason other than death or disability, or, if the
                Optionee dies within the three-month period after
                such termination of employment, then three months
                after his or her death; or

          (iii) twelve months after the date on which the Optionee
                ceases to be an employee of the Company due to
                death; or

          (iv)  twelve months after the date on which the Optionee
                ceases to be an employee of the Company due to
                disability or, if the Optionee dies within the
                twelve-month period



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                     after his or her termination of employment due to
                     disability, then three months after his or her
                     death.

     C.   NON-TRANSFERABILITY OF OPTION.  The Option is non-transferable
          by the Optionee except by will or the laws of descent and
          distribution or pursuant to a Qualified Domestic Relations Order
          (as defined in the Plan) or to a Permissible Transferee (as
          defined in the Plan), and shall be exercisable during the Optionee's
          lifetime only by the Optionee or by a Permissible Transferee.  In the
          event of the Optionee's death, a Permissible Transferee or the
          executor or administrator of the Optionee's estate, as applicable,
          may exercise the Option.

     D.   ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION, ETC.  If the
          Company shall at any time change the number of issued shares
          of Common Stock without new consideration to the Company
          (such as by stock dividends or stock splits), there shall be
          a corresponding adjustment as to the number of shares
          covered under the Option and in the purchase price per
          share, to the end that the Optionee shall retain the
          Optionee's proportionate interest without change in the
          total purchase price under the Option.

4.   OPTION CONDITIONED ON ACCEPTANCE.  This Agreement shall be void
     and of no effect unless a copy hereof is executed by the Optionee
     and returned to the Office of General Counsel of the Company not
     later than 30 days after the day this Agreement is mailed or
     delivered to the Optionee, provided, however, that if the Optionee
     dies within such 30-day period this Agreement shall be effective
     notwithstanding the fact that it is not executed by the Optionee.




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