<PAGE>

                                                                      EXHIBIT 24

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     The undersigned, directors of Kellwood Company (the "Company"), do hereby
constitute and appoint Thomas H. Pollihan or Donald J. Gramke his/her true and
lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and
resubstitution, for him/her and in his/her name, place and stead, to sign the
Company's Form 10-K Annual Report pursuant to Section 13 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 as Amended for the fiscal year ended April 30, 1999, and to
file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto the
attorney-in-fact full power and authority to sign such document on behalf of the
undersigned and to make such filing, as fully to all intents and purposes as the
undersigned might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all
that the attorney-in-fact, or his substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be
done by virtue hereof.

Dated:   May 27, 1999


                                                 /s/ J C Jacobsen
--------------------------------            -----------------------------
      Raymond F. Bentele                        James C. Jacobsen


--------------------------------            -----------------------------
      Edward S. Bottum                          James S. Marcus


/s/ Kitty G. Dickerson                          /s/ William J. McKenna
--------------------------------            -----------------------------
    Kitty G. Dickerson                              William J. McKenna

                                               /s/ Hal J. Upbin
---------------------------------           -----------------------------
     Leonard A. Genovese                           Hal J. Upbin

                                               /s/ Fred W. Wenzel
---------------------------------           ------------------------------
     Jerry M. Hunter                               Fred W. Wenzel
<PAGE>


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     The undersigned, director of Kellwood Company (the "Company"), do hereby
constitute and appoint Thomas H. Pollihan or Donald J. Gramke his/her true and
lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and
resubstitution, for him/her and in his/her name, place and stead, to sign the
Company's Form 10-K Annual Report pursuant to Section 13 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 as Amended for the fiscal year ended April 30, 1999, and to
file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto the
attorney-in-fact full power and authority to sign such document on behalf of the
undersigned and to make such filing, as fully to all intents and purposes as the
undersigned might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all
that the attorney-in-fact, or his substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be
done by virtue hereof.

Dated:   5/28    , 1999
       ---------

                                            /s/ Leonard A. Genovese
                                            ----------------------------------
                                                LEONARD A. GENOVESE
<PAGE>


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     The undersigned, director of Kellwood Company (the "Company"), do hereby
constitute and appoint Thomas H. Pollihan or Donald J. Gramke his/her true and
lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and
resubstitution, for him/her and in his/her name, place and stead, to sign the
Company's Form 10-K Annual Report pursuant to Section 13 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 as Amended for the fiscal year ended April 30, 1999, and to
file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto the
attorney-in-fact full power and authority to sign such document on behalf of the
undersigned and to make such filing, as fully to all intents and purposes as the
undersigned might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all
that the attorney-in-fact, or his substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be
done by virtue hereof.

Dated: 5/28/ , 1999
      -------

                                                 /s/ Raymond F. Bentele
                                                 ---------------------------
                                                     RAYMOND F. BENTELE
<PAGE>


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     The undersigned, director of Kellwood Company (the "Company"), do hereby
constitute and appoint Thomas H. Pollihan or Donald J. Gramke his/her true and
lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and
resubstitution, for him/her and in his/her name, place and stead, to sign the
Company's Form 10-K Annual Report pursuant to Section 13 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 as Amended for the fiscal year ended April 30, 1999, and to
file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto the
attorney-in-fact full power and authority to sign such document on behalf of the
undersigned and to make such filing, as fully to all intents and purposes as the
undersigned might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all
that the attorney-in-fact, or his substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be
done by virtue hereof.

Dated: 6-1-99
      -------

                                           /s/ Edward S. Bottum
                                           -------------------------------
                                               EDWARD S. BOTTUM
<PAGE>


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     The undersigned, director of Kellwood Company (the "Company"), do hereby
constitute and appoint Thomas H. Pollihan or Donald J. Gramke his/her true and
lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and
resubstitution, for him/her and in his/her name, place and stead, to sign the
Company's Form 10-K Annual Report pursuant to Section 13 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 as Amended for the fiscal year ended April 30, 1999, and to
file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto the
attorney-in-fact full power and authority to sign such document on behalf of the
undersigned and to make such filing, as fully to all intents and purposes as the
undersigned might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all
that the attorney-in-fact, or his substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be
done by virtue hereof.


Dated: May 30, 1999
       ------

                                        /s/ Jerry M. Hunter
                                        ------------------------------
                                        JERRY M. HUNTER
<PAGE>


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     The undersigned, director of Kellwood Company (the "Company"), do hereby
constitute and appoint Thomas H. Pollihan or Donald J. Gramke his/her true and
lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and
resubstitution, for him/her and in his/her name, place and stead, to sign the
Company's Form 10-K Annual Report pursuant to Section 13 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 as Amended for the fiscal year ended April 30, 1999, and to
file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto the
attorney-in-fact full power and authority to sign such document on behalf of the
undersigned and to make such filing, as fully to all intents and purposes as the
undersigned might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all
that the attorney-in-fact, or his substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be
done by virtue hereof.

Dated: June 2, 1999
       ------------

                                            /s/ James S. Marcus
                                            ---------------------------
                                            JAMES S. MARCUS