<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 30, 1999 AND FOR THE QUARTER
AND YEAR ENDED JANUARY 30, 1999 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-30-1999             JAN-30-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             NOV-01-1998             FEB-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JAN-30-1999             JAN-30-1999
<CASH>                                         116,160                 116,160
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                    9,550                   9,550
<ALLOWANCES>                                     3,225                   3,225
<INVENTORY>                                     84,971                  84,971
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               209,051                 209,051
<PP&E>                                          43,442                  43,442
<DEPRECIATION>                                   7,247                   7,247
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 248,778                 248,778
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           77,502                  77,502
<BONDS>                                         70,000                  70,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                           108                     108
<OTHER-SE>                                      98,069                  98,069
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   248,778                 248,778
<SALES>                                        258,144                 459,372
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               258,144                 459,372
<CGS>                                          149,352                 303,501
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  194,809                 417,207
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 1,506                   4,454
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               2,148                   7,815
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 59,681                  29,896
<INCOME-TAX>                                    23,099                  11,719
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             36,582                  18,177
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                    36,582                  18,177
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     3.38                    1.75
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     3.31                    1.66
        

</TABLE>