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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.40



                                 INDEMNIFICATION
                                    AGREEMENT


        This Indemnification Agreement ("Agreement") is made as of this 17th of
January, 1997, by and between THE CLOTHESTIME, INC., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), and Barry Herman ("Indemnitee").

        WHEREAS, Indemnitee is currently serving as an officer of the Company
and the parties wish Indemnitee to continue in such capacity. The Indemnitee is
willing, subject to certain conditions including, without limitation, the
execution and performance of this Agreement by the Company, to continue in that
capacity;

        WHEREAS, in addition to the indemnification to which the Indemnitee is
or may be entitled under the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (the
"Certificate") or the Bylaws of the Company (the "Bylaws"), the Company has
obtained at its sole expense insurance protecting its officers and directors
including Indemnitee against certain losses arising out of actual or threatened
actions, suits or proceedings to which such persons may be made or threatened to
be made parties. However, as a result of circumstances having no relation to,
and beyond the control of, the Company and Indemnitee, there can be no assurance
of the continuation or renewal of the insurance;

        WHEREAS, the Company and Indemnitee recognize the increasing difficulty
in obtaining directors' and officers' liability insurance, the significant
increases in the cost of such insurance and the general reductions in the
coverage of such insurance;

        WHEREAS, the Company and Indemnitee further recognize the substantial
increase in corporate litigation in general, subjecting directors, officers,
employees and other agents to expensive litigation risks;

        WHEREAS, the Company desires to attract and retain the services of
highly qualified individuals, such as Indemnitee, to serve as directors,
officers, employees and other agents of the Company and its subsidiaries; and

        WHEREAS, in recognition of Indemnitee's need for substantial protection
against personal liability in order to enhance Indemnitee's continued and
effective service to the Company, and in order to induce Indemnitee to provide
services to the Company as an officer or employee and to provide services in the
capacity of a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation
(including, without limitation, the Company's subsidiaries), partnership, joint
venture, trust or other enterprise in which he serves at the request of the
Company, the Company wishes to provide in this Agreement for the indemnification
of and the advancing of expenses to Indemnitee to the fullest extent (whether
partial or complete) permitted by law and as set forth in this Agreement, and,
to the extent insurance is maintained, for the coverage of Indemnitee under the
Company's directors' and officers' liability insurance policies.


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        NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the above premises and of
Indemnitee's promise to continue to serve the Company directly or, at its
request, with another enterprise, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the
parties agree as follows:

        1.     DEFINED TERMS AND CONSTRUCTION OF CERTAIN PHASES.  As used in 
this Agreement:

               (a) "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

               (b) References to the "Company" shall include, in addition to the
resulting corporation, any constituent corporation (including any constituent of
a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which, if its separate
existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its
directors, officers, employees or other agents, so that if Indemnitee is or was
a director, officer, employee or other agent of such constituent corporation, or
is or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director,
officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture,
trust or other enterprise, Indemnitee shall stand in the same position under the
provisions of this Agreement with respect to the resulting or surviving
corporation as Indemnitee would have with respect to such constituent
corporation if its separate existence had continued.

               (c) A "Change in Control" shall be deemed to have occurred if (i)
any "person" (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), other than a trustee or other fiduciary
holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company, a subsidiary
of the Company, or a corporation owned directly or indirectly by the
shareholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their
ownership of stock of the Company, is or becomes the "Beneficial Owner" (as
defined in Rule 13d-3 under said Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of
the Company representing 40% or more of the total voting power represented by
the Company's then outstanding Voting Securities; (ii) during a two-year period,
individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board and any new
director whose election or election was approved by a vote of at least
two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who either were directors
at the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for election was
previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute a majority thereof;
(iii) the stockholders of the Company approve a merger or consolidation of the
Company with any other corporation, other than a merger or consolidation that
would result in the Voting Securities of the Company outstanding immediately
prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by
being converted into Voting Securities of the surviving entity) at least 80% of
the total voting power represented by the Voting Securities of the Company or
such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or
consolidation, or (iv) the stockholders of the Company approve a plan of
complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement for the sale or disposition
by the Company (in one transaction or a series of transactions) of all or
substantially all of the Company's assets.

               (d) "Independent Counsel" shall be the person or body appointed
in connection with Section 4 of this Agreement.

               (e) "Other enterprises" shall include employee benefit plans.



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               (f) "Potential Change in Control" shall be deemed to have
occurred if (i) the Company enters into an agreement or arrangement, the
consummation of which would result in the occurrence of a Change in Control;
(ii) any person (including the Company) publicly announces an intention to take
or to consider taking actions that, if consummated, would constitute a Change in
Control; (iii) any "person" (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), other than a trustee or other
fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company, a
subsidiary of the Company, a corporation owned directly or indirectly by the
proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company, or a person who is a
party to an indemnification agreement (in a form similar to this Agreement) with
the Company, is or becomes the "Beneficial Owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3
under said Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company
representing 15% or more of the total voting power represented by the Company's
then outstanding Voting Securities; or (iv) the Board adopts a resolution to the
effect that, for purposes of this Agreement, a Potential Change in Control has
occurred.

               (g) "Serving at the request of the Company" shall include,
without limitation, any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries, which imposes duties on, or involves
services by, Indemnitee with respect to an employee benefit plan.

               (h) "Voting Securities" shall mean any securities of the Company
that are entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.

        2.     INITIAL INDEMNITY.

               (a) Indemnity in Third Party Proceedings. The Company shall
indemnify the Indemnitee when he was or is a party or is threatened to be made a
party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding,
whether civil, administrative, investigative, or criminal (other than an action
by or in the right of the Company), by reason of the fact that he is or was or
had agreed to become a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company, or
is or was serving or had agreed to serve at the request of the Company as a
director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust or other enterprise, or by reason of any action alleged to have
been taken or omitted in such capacity, against any and all costs, charges and
expenses (including without limitation attorneys' and others' fees and
expenses), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and
reasonably incurred by the Indemnitee in connection therewith and any appeal
therefrom if the Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably
believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, and with
respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe
his conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by
judgment, order, settlement, conviction or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its
equivalent shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the Indemnitee did
not satisfy the foregoing standard of conduct to the extent applicable thereto.

               (b) Indemnity in Proceedings By or In the Name of the
Corporation. The Company shall indemnify the Indemnitee when he was or is a
party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or
completed action, suit or proceeding by or in the right of the Company to
procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that he is or was or had
agreed to become a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company, or is or
was serving or had agreed to serve at the request of the Company as a director,
officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture,
trust or other enterprise against costs,


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charges and expenses (including attorneys' and others' fees and expenses)
actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the defense or
settlement thereof or any appeal therefrom if he acted in good faith and in a
manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of
the Company and except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any
claim, issue or matter as to which the Indemnitee shall have been adjudged to be
liable to the Company unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery
or the court in which such action, suit or proceeding was brought shall
determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in
view of all the circumstances of the case, the Indemnitee is fairly and
reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court Chancery or
such other court shall deem proper.

               (c) Indemnification of Expenses of Successful Party. To the
extent that the Indemnitee has been successful on the merits or otherwise,
including, without limitation the dismissal of an action without prejudice, in
defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in Sections 2(a) or 2(b)
hereof or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, he shall be
indemnified against costs, charges and expenses (including attorney's and
others' fees and expenses) actually and reasonably incurred by his in connection
therewith.

               (d) Determination of Right on Indemnitee to Indemnification. Any
indemnification under Sections 2(a) or 2(b) (unless ordered by a court) shall be
made by the Company only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination
in accordance with Section 4 hereof or any applicable provision of the
Certificate, Bylaws, other agreement, resolution or otherwise. Such
determination shall be made (i) by the Board by a majority vote of a quorum
consisting of directors who were not parties to such action, suit or proceeding
or (ii) if such a quorum of disinterested directors is not available or so
directs, by independent legal counsel (designated in the manner provided below
in this subsection (d)) in a written opinion or (iii) by the stockholders of the
Company (the "Stockholders"). Independent legal counsel shall be designated by
vote of a majority of the disinterested directors; provided, however, that if
the Board is unable or fails to so designate, such designation shall be made by
the Indemnitee subject to the approval of the Company (which approval shall not
be unreasonably withheld). Independent legal counsel shall not be any person or
firm who, under the applicable standards professional conduct then prevailing,
would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or the
Indemnitee in an action to determine the Indemnitee's rights under this
Agreement. The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such
independent legal counsel and to indemnify fully such counsel against costs,
charges and expenses (including attorneys' and others' fees and expenses)
actually and reasonably incurred by such counsel in connection with this
Agreement or the opinion of such counsel pursuant hereto.

               (e) Advancement of Expenses. All expenses (including attorneys'
and others' fees and expenses) incurred by the Indemnitee in his capacity as a
director, officer, or employee of the Company, or in his capacity as a director,
officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture,
trust or other enterprise in which he was serving at the request of the Company,
in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding shall be paid by the
Company in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding
in the manner prescribed by Section 4(b) hereof.


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        3.     Additional Indemnification.

               (a) Right to additional Indemnification. Pursuant to Section 145
(f) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the "GCL"), without
limiting any right which the Indemnitee may have pursuant to Section 2 hereof,
the Certificate, the Bylaws, the GCL, any policy of insurance or otherwise, but
subject to the limitations on the maximum permissible indemnity which may exist
under applicable law at the time of any request for indemnity hereunder
determined as contemplated by this Section 3(a), the Company shall indemnify the
Indemnitee against any amount which he is or becomes legally obligated to pay
relating to or arising out of any claim made against him because of any act,
failure to act or neglect or breach of duty, including any actual or alleged
error, misstatement or misleading statement, which he commits, suffers, permits
or acquiesces in while acting in his capacity as a director, an officer, an
employee or agent of the Company, or, at the request of the Company, as a
director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust or other enterprise, whether prior to or after the date of this
Agreement and whether or not the basis of the claim is alleged action or
inaction in an official capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent or in
any other capacity while serving as a director, officer, employee or agent or in
any other capacity while serving as a director, officer, employee or agent of
the Company. The payments which the Company is obligated to make pursuant to
this Section 3 shall include without limitation (i) damages, judgments,
settlements (in accordance with Section 6(d) of this Agreement), fines and
similar penalties, and excise taxes and penalties assessed on a person with
respect to an employee benefit plan, (ii) charges costs expenses (including
attorneys' and others' fees and related disbursements), expenses of
investigation, expenses of defense of legal actions, suits, proceedings or
claims and appeals therefrom, expenses relating to serving as a witness and
expenses of appeal, attachment or similar bonds, and (iii) any interest,
assessments, or other charges imposed thereon and any federal, state, local or
foreign taxes imposed as a result of the actual or deemed receipt of such
payments under this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall
not be obligated under this Section 3(a) to make any payment in connection with
any claim against the Indemnitee:

               (i) to the extent of any fine or similar governmental imposition
which the Company is prohibited by applicable law from paying which results in a
final, nonappealable order; or

               (ii) to the extent based upon or attributable to the Indemnitee
gaining in fact a personal profit to which he was not legally entitled,
including without limitation profits made from the purchase and sale by the
Indemnitee of equity securities of the Company which are recoverable by the
Company which are recoverable by the Company pursuant to Section 16(b) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and profits arising from
transactions in publicly traded securities of the Company which were effected by
the Indemnitee in violation of Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended, including Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder.

The determination of whether the Indemnitee shall be entitled to indemnification
under this section 3(a) shall be made in accordance with section 4(d) hereof.


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        (b) Advancement of Expenses Relating to Additional Indemnification.
Expenses (including without limitation attorneys' and others' fees and expenses)
incurred by Indemnitee in defending any actual or threatened civil or criminal
action, suit, proceeding or claim shall be paid by the Company in advance of the
final disposition thereof as authorized in accordance with Section 4(b) hereof.

        4.     Certain Procedures Relating to Indemnification and Advancement of
Expenses.

               (a) General. Except as otherwise permitted or required by the
GCL, for purposes of pursuing his rights to indemnification under Sections 2(a),
2(b), or 3(a) hereof, as the case may be, the Indemnitee may, but shall not be
required to, (i) submit to the Board a sworn statement of request for
indemnification substantially in the form of Exhibit 1 attached hereto and made
a part hereof (the "Indemnification Statement") averring that he is entitled to
indemnification hereunder; and (ii) present to the Company reasonable evidence
of all expenses for which payment is requested. Submission of an Indemnification
Statement to the Board shall create a presumption that the Indemnitee is
entitled to indemnification under Sections 2(a), 2(b) or 3(a) hereof, as the
case may be, and the Board shall be deemed to have determined that the
Indemnitee is entitled to such indemnification unless with in 30 calendar days
after submission of the Indemnification Statement the Board shall determine by
vote of a majority of the directors at a meeting at which a quorum is present,
based upon clear and convincing evidence (sufficient to rebut the foregoing
presumption), and the Indemnitee shall have received notice within such period
in writing of such determination that the Indemnification is not so entitled to
indemnification, which notice shall disclose with particularity the evidence in
support of the Board's determination. The foregoing notice shall be sworn to by
all persons who participated in the determination and voted to deny
indemnification. The provisions of this section 4(a) are intended to be
procedural only and shall not affect the right of the Indemnitee to
indemnification under this Agreement and any determination by the Board that the
Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification and any failure to make the
payments requested in the Indemnification Statement shall be subject to judicial
review as provided in Section 5 hereof.

               (b) Undertaking or Expense Request Regarding Advancement of
Expenses. For purposes of determining whether to authorize advancement of
expenses pursuant to Section 2(e) hereof, the Indemnitee shall submit to the
board a sworn statement of request for advancement of expenses substantially in
the form of Exhibit 2 attached hereto and made a part hereof (the
"Undertaking"), averring that (i) he has reasonably incurred or will reasonably
incur actual expenses in defending an actual civil or criminal action, suit,
proceeding or claim and (ii) he undertakes to repay such amount if it shall
ultimately be determined that he is not entitled to be indemnified by the
Company under this Agreement or otherwise. For purposes of requesting
advancement of expenses pursuant to Section 3(b) hereof, the Indemnitee (i) may,
but shall not be required to, submit an Undertaking or (ii) shall submit such
other form of request as he determines to be appropriate (an "Expense Request").
Upon receipt of an Undertaking or Expense Request, as the case may be, the Board
shall within 20 calendar days authorize immediate payment of the expenses stated
in the Undertaking or Expense Request, whereupon such payments shall immediately
be made by the Company. No security shall be required in connection with any
Undertaking or Expense Request and any Undertaking or Expense Request shall be
accepted without reference to the Indemnitee's ability to make repayment.


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               (c) Independent Counsel. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained in Sections 2(d) or 4(a) of this Agreement, after a Change of Control
and if requested by the Indemnitee at the time of making a claim for
indemnification, (i) any determination under Section 2(a) or 2(b) (unless
ordered by a court) shall be made by Independent Counsel (as defined below), and
(ii) after the submission of an Indemnification Statement, the determination
pursuant to Section 4(a) whether an Indemnitee shall be entitled to
indemnification under Sections 2(a), 2(b) or 3(a) hereof, as the case may be,
shall be made by Independent Counsel (as defined below) instead of by the Board.
For purposes of this Section 4(c) "Independent Counsel" shall be an attorney
selected by Indemnitee and approved by the Company (which approval shall not be
unreasonably withheld), (i) who has not otherwise performed services for the
Company or the Indemnitee (other than in connection with indemnification
matters) within the three years prior to the selection of the Independent
Counsel, and (ii) who shall not, under the applicable standards of professional
conduct then prevailing, have a conflict of interest in representing either the
Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee's rights under this
Agreement. Any determination by Independent Counsel as to whether and to what
extent the Indemnitee should be permitted to be indemnified under applicable law
shall be rendered by its written opinion to the Company and Indemnitee. The
Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees of the Independent Counsel and to
indemnify fully such counsel against any and all expenses (including attorneys'
and others' fees and expenses), claims, liabilities, loss, and damages arising
out of or relating to this Agreement, the engagement of Independent Counsel
pursuant hereto or the opinion of such counsel pursuant hereto.

        5.     Indemnification Process and Appeal.

               (a) Suit to Enforce Rights. If a claim for indemnification made
to the Company pursuant to Section 4 hereof is not paid in full by the Company
within 30 calendar days after a written claim has been received by the Company,
the Indemnitee may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Company to
recover the unpaid amount of the claim in any court having subject matter
jurisdiction thereof. The Company hereby consents to service of process and to
appear in any such proceeding. The remedy provided for in this Section 5 shall
be in addition to any other remedies available to Indemnitee in law or equity.

               (b) Defense to Indemnification, Burden of Proof and Presumptions.
In any action brought under Section 5(a) hereof, it shall be a defense to a
claim for indemnification pursuant to Sections 2(a) or 2(b) hereof (other than
an action brought to enforce a claim for expenses incurred in defending any
proceeding in advance of its final disposition where the Undertaking, if any is
required, has not met the standards of conduct which make it permissible under
the GCL for the Company to indemnify the Indemnitee for the amount claimed, but
the burden of proving such defense shall be on the Company. It shall be a
defense to any action brought by Indemnitee against the Company to enforce this
Agreement that it is not permissible under applicable law for the Company to
indemnify Indemnitee for the amount claimed, but the burden of proving such
defense shall be on the Company. Neither the failure of the Company (including
its Board, independent legal counsel or its stockholders) or Independent counsel
to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such action by
Indemnitee that indemnification of the claimant is proper under the
circumstances because he has met the standard of conduct set forth in applicable
law, nor an actual determination by the Company (including its Board,
independent legal counsel or its stockholders) or Independent Counsel that
Indemnitee had not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense
to the action or create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met the applicable
standard of conduct.


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               (c) Indemnification for Expenses Incurred in Enforcing Rights. It
is the intent of the Company that the Indemnitee not be required to incur the
expenses associated with the enforcement of his rights under this Agreement by
litigation or other legal action because the cost and expense thereof would
substantially detract from the benefits intended to be extended to the
Indemnitee hereunder. Accordingly, if it should appear to the Indemnitee that
the Company has failed to comply with any of its obligations under the Agreement
or in the event that the Company or any other person takes any action to declare
the Agreement void or proceeding designed (or having the effect of being
designed) to deny, or to recover from, the Indemnitee the benefits intended to
be provided to the Indemnitee hereunder, the Company irrevocably authorizes the
Indemnitee from time to time to retain counsel of his choice, at the expense of
the Company as hereafter provided, to represent the Indemnitee in connection
with the initiation or defense of any litigation or other legal action, whether
by or against the Company or any director, officer, stockholder or other person
affiliated with the Company, in any jurisdiction. Regardless of the outcome
thereof, the Company shall pay and be solely responsible for any and all costs,
charges and expenses (including without limitation attorneys' and others' fees
and (expenses) reasonably incurred by the Indemnitee (i) as a result of the
Company's failure to perform this Agreement or any provision thereof or (ii) as
a result of the Company or any other person contesting the validity or
enforceability of this Agreement or any provision thereof as aforesaid; provided
that, if and to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction determines (in
a final judicial determination as to which all rights of appeal therefrom have
been exhausted or waived or have lapsed) that each of the material assertions
made by Indemnitee in such litigation or other legal action was not made in good
faith or was frivolous, the Company shall not be obligated to pay any such
costs, charges and expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with such suit
and shall be entitled to be reimbursed by Indemnitee (who hereby agrees to
reimburse the Company) for all such amounts theretofore paid under this Section
5(c). Notwithstanding the procedure for selection of counsel in Section 6(c)
herein, in connection with the assertion of any claim under this Section 5(c),
Indemnitee from time to time may retain counsel of his choice to represent him.

        6.     Notification and Defense of Proceeding.

               (a) Notice/Cooperation by Indemnitee. Indemnitee shall give the
Company notice in writing as soon as practicable of any claim made against
Indemnitee for which indemnification will or could be sought under this
Agreement (for purposes of this Section 6, a "Claim"). Indemnitee shall also
provide the Company such information and cooperation as the Company from time to
time may reasonably request and as shall reasonably be within Indemnitee's power
to provide.

               (b) Notice to Insurers. If at the time of the receipt of a notice
of a Claim pursuant to Section 6(a) hereof the Company has directors' and
officers' liability insurance (or a similar policy covering key employees, if
applicable) in effect, the Company shall give prompt notice of such Claim to the
insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the respective policies.
The Company thereafter shall take all necessary or desirable action to cause
such insurers to pay, on behalf of Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result
of such Claim in accordance with the terms of such policies.

               (c) Selection of Counsel. With respect to any litigation or other
legal action relating to a Claim as to which Indemnitee notifies the Company
(for purposes of this Section 6, a "Proceeding"), the Company will be entitled
to participate in the Proceeding at its own expense and except as otherwise
provided below, to the extent the Company so wishes, it may assume the defense
thereof with counsel selected by the Company and approved by


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Indemnitee, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld. After notice from
the Company to Indemnitee of its election to assume the defense of any
Proceeding, the Company will not be liable to Indemnitee under this Agreement or
otherwise for any expenses subsequently incurred by Indemnitee in connection
with the defense of such Proceeding other than reasonable costs of investigation
or as otherwise provided below. Indemnitee shall have the right to employ his
own counsel in such Proceeding, but all expenses related thereto incurred after
notice from the Company of its assumption of the defense shall be at
Indemnitee's expense unless: (i) the employment of counsel by Indemnitee has
been authorized by the Company; (ii) Indemnitee has reasonably determined and
either the Company shall have agreed, or disinterested counsel (as defined in
this Section 6(c)) shall have determined, that there may be a conflict of
interest between Indemnitee and the Company in the defense of the Proceeding;
(iii) after a Change in Control, the employment of counsel by Indemnitee has
been approved by the Independent Counsel; or (iv) the Company shall not in fact
have employed counsel to assume the defense of such Proceeding, in each of which
case all expenses of the Proceeding shall be borne by the Company, and
Indemnitee's counsel shall have been approved by the Company (which approval may
not be unreasonably withheld) and any carrier of an applicable insurance policy
if required under the terms of that policy or under applicable law. As used in
this Section 6(c), "disinterested counsel" shall mean counsel selected and
compensated by the Company, and approved by Indemnitee (which approval may not
be unreasonably withheld), to determine whether a conflict of interest may
exist, which counsel shall not represent the Company, Indemnitee or any other
party to the Proceeding for which indemnification is sought. Disinterested
counsel shall be selected promptly following the notice from Indemnitee to the
Company of Indemnitee's belief that a conflict of interest may exist. The
company shall not be entitled to assume the defense of any Proceeding as to
which the determination provided for in (ii) above shall have been made. Nothing
herein shall limit the right of Indemnitee to employ counsel at Indemnitee's
sole expense.

               (d) Settlements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained in this Agreement, the Company shall not be liable to indemnify
Indemnitee under this Agreement or otherwise for any amounts paid in settlement
of any Proceeding effected without the Company's written consent; provided,
however, that if a Change in Control has occurred, the Company shall be liable
for indemnification of Indemnitee for amounts paid in settlement if the
Independent Counsel has approved the settlement. The Company shall not settle
any Proceeding in any manner that would impose any penalty or limitation on
Indemnitee without Indemnitee's written consent. Neither the Company nor the
Indemnitee will unreasonably withhold its consent to any proposed settlement.
The Company shall not be liable to indemnify Indemnitee under this Agreement
with regard to any judicial award if the Company was not given a reasonable and
timely opportunity, at its expense, to participate in the defense of such
action; the Company's liability hereunder shall not be excused if participation
in the Proceeding by the Company was barred by this Agreement.

        7.     Establishment of a Trust.

Immediately upon the occurrence of a Change in Control or a Potential Change in
Control, the Company shall, upon written request by Indemnitee, create a trust
(a "Trust") for the benefit of Indemnitee and from time to time upon written
request of Indemnitee shall fund the Trust in an amount sufficient to satisfy
any and all amounts reasonably anticipated at the time of each such request to
be incurred in connection with any claim made by Indemnitee. The amount or
amounts to be deposited in the Trust pursuant to the foregoing funding
obligation shall be determined (i) prior to the occurrence of a Change in
Control or a Potential Change in Control, (a) the Board by a majority vote of a
quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to the



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action, suit or proceeding serving as the basis of a claim by Indemnitee, or (b)
if such a quorum of disinterested directors is not available or so directs, by
independent legal counsel (designated in the manner provided in Section 2(d) in
a written opinion or (c) by the Stockholders, or (ii) after the occurrence of a
Change in Control or a Potential Change in Control, by Independent Counsel as
defined in Section 4(c) (for purposes of this Section 7, the "Reviewing Party").
The terms of the Trust shall provide that upon a Change in Control (i) the Trust
shall not be revoked or the principal thereof invaded without the written
consent of Indemnitee, (ii) the trustee of the Trust (the "Trustee") shall
advance within 20 business days of the request by Indemnitee, any and all
expenses to Indemnitee (and Indemnitee hereby agrees to reimburse the Trust
under the same circumstances for which Indemnitee would be required to reimburse
the Company under Section 4(b) of this Agreement), (iii) the Trust shall
continue to be funded by the Company in accordance with the funding obligation
set forth above, (iv) the Trustee shall promptly pay to Indemnitee all amounts
for which Indemnitee shall be entitled to indemnification pursuant to this
Agreement or otherwise, and (v) all unexpended funds in the Trust shall revert
to the Company upon a final determination by the Reviewing Party or a court of
competent jurisdiction, as the case may be, that Indemnitee has been fully
indemnified under the terms of this Agreement. The Trustee shall be chosen by
Indemnitee. Nothing in this Section 7 shall relieve the Company of any of its
obligations under this Agreement. All income earned on the assets held in the
Trust shall be reported as income by the Company for federal, state, local and
foreign tax purposes. The Company shall pay all costs of establishing and
maintaining the Trust and shall indemnify the Trustee against any and all
expenses (including attorneys' fees), claims, liabilities, loss and damages
arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the establishment and
maintenance of the Trust.

        8.     Exceptions.

Any other provision herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company shall
not be obligated pursuant to the terms of this Agreement:

               (a) Claims Initiated by Indemnitee. To indemnify Indemnitee for
any amounts or to advance expenses to Indemnitee with respect to any litigation
or other legal action initiated or brought voluntarily (and not by way defense
or counterclaim) by Indemnitee against the Company or any agent of the Company
unless (i) the Company has joined in or the Board has consented to the
initiation of such litigation or other legal action, (ii) the litigation or
other legal action is brought to establish or enforce a right to indemnification
under Section 5 of this Agreement, or (iii) the litigation or other legal action
is instituted after a Change of Control and Independent Counsel has approved its
initiation; or

               (b) No Duplication of Payments. To make any payment in connection
with any claim made against Indemnitee to the extent Indemnitee has otherwise
actually received payment (under any insurance policy, by law or otherwise) of
the amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder.

        9.     Scope; Nonexclusivity.

               (a) Scope. In accordance with Section 145(f) of the GCL, the
parties hereto intend that this Agreement shall provide for indemnification in
excess of that expressly permitted by statute, including, without limitation,
any indemnification provided by the Certificate, Bylaws, vote of its
stockholders or disinterested directors or applicable law. To the extent that a
change in applicable law (whether by statue, rule or judicial decision) permits
greater indemnification by agreement than would be afforded currently under the
Certificate,


                                       10
<PAGE>   11

Bylaws, applicable law or this Agreement, it is the intent of the parties that
Indemnitee enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits so afforded by such
change.

               (b) Nonexclusivity. Consistent with Section 145(f) of the GCL,
the indemnification provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of
any rights to which Indemnitee may be entitled under the Certificate, Bylaws,
any agreement, any vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or
otherwise, both as to actions in Indemnitee's official capacity and as to
actions in another capacity while holding such office, and shall continue after
Indemnitee has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent.

        10.    Mutual Acknowledgment.

Both the Company and Indemnitee acknowledge that in certain instances, federal
or state law or applicable public policy may prohibit the Company from
indemnifying its directors, officers, employees or other agents under this
Agreement or otherwise. Indemnitee understands and acknowledges that the Company
has undertaken or may be required in the future to undertake with the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission or applicable state securities agencies to
submit the question of indemnification to a court in certain circumstances for a
determination of the Company's right under public policy to indemnify
Indemnitee.

        11.    Directors' and Officers' Liability Insurance.

The Company shall, from time to time, make the good faith determination whether
or not it is practical for the Company to obtain and maintain a policy or
policies of insurance with reputable insurance companies providing the officers
and directors of the Company with coverage for losses from wrongful acts, or to
ensure the Company's performance of its indemnification obligations under this
Agreement. Among other considerations, the Company will weigh the costs of
obtaining such insurance coverage against the protection afforded by such
coverage. To the extent the Company maintains an insurance policy or policies
providing directors' and officers' liability insurance (or such other similar
insurance policy covering key employees, if applicable), Indemnitee shall be
covered by such policy or policies, in accordance with its or their terms, to
the maximum extent of the coverage available for any Company director or
officer. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall have no obligation to
obtain or maintain such insurance if the Company determines in good faith that
such insurance is not reasonably available, if the premium costs for such
insurance are disproportionate to the amount of coverage provided, if the
coverage provided by such insurance is limited by exclusions so as to provide an
insufficient benefit, or if Indemnitee is covered by similar insurance
maintained by a subsidiary or parent Company.

        12.    Effectiveness of Agreement.

This Agreement shall be effective as of the date set forth on the first page and
may apply to acts or omissions of Indemnitee which occurred prior to such date
if Indemnitee was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company, or was
serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent
of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise,
at the time such act or omission occurred.


                                       11
<PAGE>   12


        13.    Period of Limitation.

No legal action shall be brought and no cause of action shall be asserted by or
on behalf of the Company or any affiliate of the Company against Indemnitee,
Indemnitee's spouse, heirs, executors, or personal or legal representatives
after the expiration of two years from the date of accrual of such cause of
action, or such longer period as may be required by state law under the
circumstances (i.e., a minimum limitation period that expressly may not be
altered by agreement among the parties). Any claim or cause of action of the
Company or any of its affiliates shall be extinguished and deemed released
unless asserted by the timely filing of a legal action within such period;
provided, however, if any shorter period of limitation is otherwise applicable
to any such cause of action, the shorter period shall govern.

        14.    Ratification of Acts.

None of the provisions contained in this Agreement is intended to constitute, or
shall be construed in any manner as constituting, a ratification by the Company
(or by any of its directors, officers or other agents) of any action or inaction
on the part of Indemnitee.

        15.    Continued Employment.

No provision contained herein shall be construed as conferring upon Indemnitee
any right with respect to continuance of performance of services for the
Company, nor shall any such provisions interfere in any way with the right of
the Company to terminate Indemnitee's services as an officer, employee or other
agent at any time with or without cause.

        16.    Successors and Assigns.

This agreement shall be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable
by the parties hereto and their respective successors (including any direct or
indirect successor by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise to all or
substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company), assigns,
spouses, heirs and personal and personal and legal representatives. The Company
shall require and cause any successor (whether direct or indirect by purchase,
merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all, substantially all, or a substantial
part, of the business and/or assets of the Company, by written agreement in form
and substance satisfactory to Indemnitee, expressly to assume and agree to
perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the
Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place.
Nothing in this Section 16 shall be construed to limit the protections afforded
Indemnitee under this Agreement which would occur upon a Change in Control or a
Potential Change in Control. The indemnification provided under this Agreement
shall continue as to Indemnitee for any action taken or not taken while serving
in an indemnified capacity even though Indemnitee may have ceased to serve in
such capacity at the time of any litigation or other legal action relating to
events for which a claim for indemnification is made by Indemnitee hereunder.

        17.    Notice.

All notices, requests, demands and other communications under this Agreement
shall be in writing and shall be deemed duly given (i) if delivered by hand and
receipted for by the party addressed, on the date of such receipt, or (ii) if
mailed by domestic certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, on the
third business day after the date postmarked. Addresses for


                                       12
<PAGE>   13


notice to either party are as shown on the signature page of this Agreement, or
as subsequently modified by written notice.

        18.    Choice of Law.

This Agreement shall be governed by, and its provisions construed in accordance
with, the laws of the State of Delaware, including without limitation, all
matters of formation, construction, validity, performance and enforcement and
without giving effect to the principals of conflicts of laws.

        19.    Severability.

Nothing in this Agreement is intended to require or shall be construed as
requiring the Company to do or fail to do any act in violation of applicable
law. The Company's inability, pursuant to court order, to perform its
obligations under this Agreement shall not constitute a breach of this
Agreement. The provisions of this Agreement shall be severable as provided in
this Section 19. If this Agreement or any portion hereof shall be invalidated or
held unlawful or unenforceable on any ground by any court of competent
jurisdiction, then the Company shall nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee to the
full extent permitted by any applicable portion of this Agreement that shall not
have been invalidated or held unlawful or unenforceable, the provision(s) so
held to be invalid, unenforceable or otherwise illegal shall be reformed to the
extent (and only to the extent) necessary to make it enforceable, valid and
legal and the balance of this Agreement shall be enforceable in accordance with
its terms. Furthermore, to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this
Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of this Agreement
containing any provision held to be invalid, void, or otherwise unenforceable,
that is not itself invalid, void or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to
give effect to the intent manifested by the provision held invalid, void or
unenforceable.

        20.    Amendment and Waiver.

No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding
unless executed in writing by both of the parties hereto. No waiver of any of
the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of
any other provision hereof (whether or not similar), nor shall such waiver
constitute a continuing waiver. Except as specifically provided herein, no
failure to exercise or any delay in exercising any right or remedy hereunder
shall constitute a waiver thereof.

        21.    Subrogation.

In the event of payment under this Agreement, the Company shall be subrogated to
the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee, that
may be necessary to secure such rights, including the execution of such
documents necessary to enable the Company effectively to bring suit to enforce
such rights.

        22.    Future Agreements.

The Company shall not adopt any amendment to its Certificate or Bylaws the
effect of which would be to deny, diminish or encumber Indemnitee's rights to
indemnity pursuant to the Certificate, the Bylaws, the GCL or any other
applicable law as applied to any act or failure to act occurring in whole or in
part prior to the date (the "Effective Date") upon which the


                                       13
<PAGE>   14

amendment was approved by the Board or the stockholders, as the case may be. In
the event that the Company shall adopt any amendment to its Certificate or
Bylaws the effect of which is to so deny, diminish or encumber Indemnitee's
rights to indemnity, such amendment shall apply only to acts or failures to act
occurring entirely after the Effective Date thereof unless the Indemnitee shall
have voted in favor of such adoption as a director or holder of record of the
Company's Voting Securities, as the case may be.

        23.    Counterparts.

This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an
original but all of which counterparts taken together shall constitute one and
the same document.

        24.    Headings.

Section headings herein are for reference purposes only and shall not affect the
meaning or interpretation of any provision of this Agreement.


        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as
of the date first above written.

                                                     THE CLOTHESTIME, INC.


                                              By: /S/DAVID A. SEJPAL
                                                  ------------------------------
                                                     David A. Sejpal
                                                     Chairman of the Board and
                                                     Chief Executive Officer

                                    Address:         5325 E. Hunter Avenue
                                                     Anaheim, California 92807




AGREED TO AND ACCEPTED:

INDEMNITEE;


Barry Herman
-----------------------
(Type Name)

/S/BARRY HERMAN
-----------------------
(Signature)

245 Promontory Drive West
--------------------------------
Newport Beach, California  92660
------------------------------------
(Address)




                                       14
<PAGE>   15



                                    EXHIBIT 1

                            INDEMNIFICATION STATEMENT


STATE OF   _____________     )
                             )  SS
COUNTY OF  _____________     )


I, ____________________, BEING FIRST DULY SWORN, DO DEPOSE AND SAY AS FOLLOWS:

1.    THIS INDEMNIFICATION  STATEMENT IS SUBMITTED PURSUANT TO THE 
      INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT, DATED AS OF __________________________, 199__,
      BETWEEN THE CLOTHESTIME, INC. (THE "COMPANY"), A DELAWARE CORPORATION, AND
      THE UNDERSIGNED.

2.    I AM REQUESTING INDEMNIFICATION AGAINST CHARGES, COSTS, EXPENSES
      (INCLUDING ATTORNEYS' AND OTHERS' FEES AND EXPENSES), JUDGMENTS, FINES AND
      AMOUNTS PAID IN SETTLEMENT, ALL OF WHICH HAVE BEEN OR WILL BE INCURRED BY
      ME IN CONNECTION WITH AN ACTUAL OR THREATENED ACTION, SUIT, PROCEEDING OR
      CLAIM TO WHICH I AM A PARTY OR AM THREATENED TO BE MADE A PARTY.

3.    WITH RESPECT TO ALL MATTERS RELATED TO ANY SUCH ACTION, SUIT, PROCEEDING
      OR CLAIM, I AM ENTITLED TO BE INDEMNIFIED AS HEREIN CONTEMPLATED PURSUANT
      TO THE AFORESAID INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT.

4.    WITHOUT  LIMITING  ANY  OTHER  RIGHTS  WHICH  I  HAVE  OR  MAY  HAVE,  I  
      AM REQUESTING INDEMNIFICATION AGAINST LIABILITIES WHICH HAVE OR MAY ARISE
      OUT OF
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN TO BEFORE ME, A NOTARY PUBLIC IN AND FOR SAID COUNTY
      AND STATE, THIS _________ DAY OF ____________________, 19 ___.


      ----------------------------------
      NOTARY PUBLIC





      (SEAL)


      MY COMMISSION EXPIRES THE ______ DAY OF ___________________, 19 ___.



                                       15
<PAGE>   16



                                    EXHIBIT 2

                            INDEMNIFICATION STATEMENT


STATE OF   _____________     )
                             )  SS
COUNTY OF  ____________      )


I, __________________, BEING FIRST DULY SWORN TO DEPOSE AND SAY AS FOLLOWS:

1.    THIS UNDERTAKING IS SUBMITTED  PURSUANT TO THE  INDEMNIFICATION  
      AGREEMENT, DATED AS OF _________________, 19 __, BETWEEN THE CLOTHESTIME,
      INC. (THE "COMPANY"), A DELAWARE CORPORATION AND THE UNDERSIGNED.

2.    I AM REQUESTING ADVANCEMENT OF CERTAIN COSTS, CHARGES AND EXPENSES WHICH I
      HAVE INCURRED OR WILL INCUR IN DEFENDING AN ACTUAL OR PENDING CIVIL OR
      CRIMINAL ACTION, SUIT, PROCEEDING OR CLAIM.

3.    I HEREBY UNDERTAKE TO REPAY THIS ADVANCEMENT OF EXPENSES IF IT SHALL
      ULTIMATELY BE DETERMINED THAT I AM NOT ENTITLED TO BE INDEMNIFIED BY THE
      COMPANY UNDER THE AFORESAID AGREEMENT OR OTHERWISE.

4.    THE COSTS,  CHARGES AND EXPENSES  FOR WHICH  ADVANCEMENT  IS REQUESTED  
      ARE, IN GENERAL, ALL EXPENSES RELATED TO

      --------------------------------------------------------------------------

      --------------------------------------------------------------------------

      --------------------------------------------------------------------------

      --------------------------------------------------------------------------

      SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN TO BEFORE ME, A NOTARY PUBLIC IN AND FOR SAID COUNTY
      AND STATE, THIS _________ DAY OF ____________________, 19 ___.


      ----------------------------------
      NOTARY PUBLIC




      (SEAL)


      MY COMMISSION EXPIRES THE ______ DAY OF ___________________, 19 ___.



                                       16