Exhibit 10(b)- Employment Agreement with Burt Steinberg


                                  EXHIBIT 10(b)


Employment Agreement with Burt Steinberg

August 15, 2001


     The following  agreement will take effect September 1, 2001. This agreement
will supercede all previous agreements.

1.   Employment  Status - To maintain  certain  benefits we will consider Burt a
     "Full time employee" for benefit purposes.

2.   Base  Compensation  - To be paid  $100,000 per year for 60 days of work per
     year.

3.   MIP Bonus - Bonus to be paid for FY2001,  but  ineligible  while working at
     this schedule.

4.   Stock  Options - All present  options will  continue to vest as  scheduled,
     provided  Burt works the agreed time and continues to serve on the Board of
     Directors. It is our intent to have all options vest.

5.   ERP - Deferred Comp - This plan  currently  matches 50% of 1st 5% plus 2.5%
     of base  salary.  (For a total of 5% of base  salary or  $5,000).  Burt may
     continue to defer compensation in this plan.

6.   ERP - Dress Barn $1.0 mil Split Dollar - Burt is now 100% vested due to age
     55 and  minimum of 10 years  service.  Dress Barn will  continue to fund at
     $53,989 regardless of status.

7.   J.  Hancock  Split Dollar Life Policy - Dress Barn will  administer  policy
     according to current written contract.  Burt will reimburse the annual cost
     of money (not compounded).

8.   Dress Barn Basic Life  Insurance  - Eligible  for one times base  salary in
     company paid life insurance.

9.   Aetna Life Insurance - Policy not renewed last year.

10.  Met Life Insurance - Policy will not be renewed this year.

11.  Company Car - Not eligible since not commuting daily. Would be paid regular
     mileage rate if travels by car on company business.

12.  Medical/Dental Plan - Eligible as approved by Aetna as a special situation.

13.  Short Term Disability - Eligibility based on New York State requirements.

14.  Supplementary Short Term Disability - Eligible

15.  Long Term Disability - Eligible on contributory basis.

16.  Vacations & Holidays - Not  eligible  for future  vacations  and  holidays,
     however  will be eligible  for  untaken  vacation  earned  January 1, 2001.
     (Estimated  to be 17 days as of  September  1, 2001) This will be "run out"
     during September.

17.  Personal Days & Sick Pay - Not eligible.

18.  Merchandise Discount - Eligible for normal discount privileges.

19.  Travel Accident Insurance - Eligible if traveling on Company business.

20.  Dress Barn Board of Directors - Will be nominated  for another 3 year term.
     Burt would not be eligible for Outside  Director's  Fee as long as employed
     under the above arrangement.

21.  Other Board of  Director's  positions  or  Employment  - Prior to accepting
     nomination for other Boards,  consultative assignments or employment,  Burt
     will request  approval from Chairman of Dress Barn.  This approval will not
     to be unreasonably  withheld and will be based on the competitive status of
     the other company to Dress Barn.

22.  This  employment  relationship  will be subject  to renewal in three  years
     (September  1, 2004).  The  employment  relationship  may not be changed by
     either party until the end of this three (3) year period.

Accepted by:


/S/ ELLIOT JAFFE           8/15/01            /S/ BURT STEINBERG       8/15/01
    Elliot Jaffe            Date                  Burt Steinberg        Date
    Chairman & CEO                                Vice Chairman