<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
COMPANY'S CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AT SEPTEMBER 26, 1998 AND FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS FOR THE THREE MONTHS AND THE NINE MONTHS
ENDED SEPTEMBER 26, 1998 CONTAINED IN THE COMPANY'S QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM
10-Q AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000910721
<NAME> DM MANAGEMENT COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-26-1998             DEC-26-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JUN-28-1998             DEC-28-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-26-1998             SEP-26-1998
<CASH>                                          18,806                  18,806
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                    3,594                   3,594
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0                       0
<INVENTORY>                                     29,083                  29,083
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                64,261                  64,261
<PP&E>                                          40,899                  40,899
<DEPRECIATION>                                       0                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 109,639                 109,639
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           56,243                  56,243
<BONDS>                                              0                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                            96                      96
<OTHER-SE>                                      49,882                  49,882
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   109,639                 109,639
<SALES>                                         46,580                 150,731
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                46,580                 150,731
<CGS>                                           20,283                  67,733
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   30,632                  97,910
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                13,699                  44,176
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                (58)                   (462)
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  2,307                   9,107
<INCOME-TAX>                                       900                   3,552
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              1,407                   5,555
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                     1,407                   5,555
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.15                    0.59
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.14                    0.53
        

</TABLE>