<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM WILSONS THE
LEATHER EXPERTS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES AS OF JANUARY 29, 2000 AND FOR THE THREE
AND TWELVE MONTH PERIODS ENDED JANUARY 29, 2000 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY
BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JAN-29-2000             JAN-29-2000
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-31-1999             JAN-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               JAN-29-2000             JAN-29-2000
<CASH>                                         124,926                 124,926
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                    8,670                   8,670
<ALLOWANCES>                                     1,123                   1,123
<INVENTORY>                                     79,221                  79,221
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               220,834                 220,834
<PP&E>                                          62,415                  62,415
<DEPRECIATION>                                  12,828                  12,828
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 272,554                 272,554
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           93,979                  93,979
<BONDS>                                         43,890                  43,890
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                           166                     166
<OTHER-SE>                                     131,041                 131,041
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   272,554                 272,554
<SALES>                                        317,335                 543,608
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               317,335                 543,608
<CGS>                                          173,525                 340,740
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  228,642                 477,007
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 2,160                   6,876
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 941                   4,993
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 85,592                  54,732
<INCOME-TAX>                                    33,794                  21,674
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             51,798                  33,058
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                   (958)
<CHANGES>                                            0                 (1,449)
<NET-INCOME>                                    51,798                  30,651
<EPS-BASIC>                                       3.13                    1.87
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.98                    1.80


</TABLE>