<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE WET
SEAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AND CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<RESTATED> 
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>                     <C>                     <C>
<C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR                   YEAR                   3-MOS                   3-MOS
3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JAN-30-1999             JAN-30-1999             JAN-30-1999             JAN-30-1999
             JAN-30-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-29-1995             FEB-04-1996             FEB-04-1996             MAY-05-1996
             AUG-04-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               FEB-03-1996             FEB-01-1997             MAY-04-1996             AUG-03-1996
             NOV-02-1996
<CASH>                                      57,153,000              71,483,000              56,370,000              77,889,000
              78,544,000
<SECURITIES>                                         0              17,700,000                       0                       0
                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  523,000               1,577,000                  81,000                 868,000
                 519,000
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0                       0                       0                       0
                       0
<INVENTORY>                                 16,241,000              22,589,000              24,672,000              29,202,000
              25,283,000
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                            75,445,000             114,042,000              87,696,000             114,461,000
             110,452,000
<PP&E>                                      79,062,000              80,515,000              81,393,000              80,964,000
              83,650,000
<DEPRECIATION>                              41,015,000              47,285,000              44,159,000              47,187,000
              49,807,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             117,564,000             154,752,000             128,969,000             152,268,000
             149,309,000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                       49,394,000              54,251,000              60,339,000              64,489,000
              57,566,000
<BONDS>                                              0                       0                       0                       0
                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0                       0                       0
                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0                       0                       0
                       0
<COMMON>                                     1,249,000               1,354,000               1,250,000               1,352,000
               1,353,000
<OTHER-SE>                                  56,486,000              89,766,000              57,234,000              76,535,000
              80,787,000
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               117,564,000             154,752,000             128,969,000             152,268,000
             149,309,000
<SALES>                                    266,695,000             374,942,000              80,575,000              94,356,000
              95,571,000
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                           266,695,000             374,942,000              80,575,000              94,356,000
              95,571,000
<CGS>                                      200,626,000             272,189,000              61,537,000              69,570,000
              69,152,000
<TOTAL-COSTS>                               57,531,000              79,238,000              18,264,000              19,695,000
              20,046,000
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0                       0                       0                       0
                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0                       0                       0
                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         (1,410,000)             (2,702,000)               (477,000)               (605,000)
               (834,000)
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              9,948,000              26,217,000               1,251,000               5,696,000
               7,207,000
<INCOME-TAX>                                 4,133,000              10,965,000                 529,000               2,381,000
               3,013,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          5,815,000              15,252,000                 722,000               3,315,000
               4,194,000
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0                       0                       0
                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0                       0                       0
                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                       0                       0
                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                 5,815,000              15,252,000                 722,000               3,315,000
               4,194,000
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.47                    1.15                    0.06                    0.25
                    0.31
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.47                    1.13                    0.06                    0.25
                    0.30
        

</TABLE>