<PAGE>

                                                                Exhibit 10.8

                            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 on the cover page. The portion(s) of the Option designated on
      the cover page will become exercisable on the date(s) set forth
      thereon only to the extent that the Optionee is employed by the
      Company on such date(s). 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, to the extent exercisable on
           the date that the Optionee ceases to be an employee of the
           Company, 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, retirement or disability; or



<PAGE>
<PAGE>

           (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
                   retirement or disability, provided, however, that, if
                   the Optionee dies within the twelve-month period after
                   his or her termination of employment due to retirement
                   or disability, then three months after his or her
                   death or the remainder of the twelve-month period,
                   whichever is longer.

      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.

                                    -2-