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                                                                   Exhibit 10.9

                                                                  EXECUTION COPY

                              THE WHITE HOUSE, INC.

                             REGISTRATION AGREEMENT

          THIS REGISTRATION AGREEMENT (this "Agreement" )is made as of January
19, 1999, among The White House, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the "Company"),
each of the investors listed on the SCHEDULE OF INVESTORS attached hereto
(collectively, the "Investors"), and each of the executives listed on the
SCHEDULE OF EXECUTIVES attached hereto (collectively, the "Executives"). Unless
otherwise provided in this Agreement, capitalized terms used herein shall have
the meanings set forth in paragraph 8 hereof.

          WHEREAS, the Company and the Investors are parties to a Stock Purchase
Agreement of even date herewith (the "Purchase Agreement"). In order to induce
the Investors to enter into the Purchase Agreement, the Company has agreed to
provide the Investors the registration rights set forth in this Agreement. The
execution and delivery of this Agreement is a condition to the Initial Closing
under the Purchase Agreement.

          WHEREAS, the Executives are currently stockholders of the Company.

          NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained
herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of
which are hereby acknowledged, the parties to this Agreement hereby agree as
follows:

          1.      DEMAND REGISTRATIONS.

          (a)     REQUESTS FOR REGISTRATION. At any time after the earlier of
(i) the second anniversary of the Initial Closing under the Purchase Agreement
or (ii) the Company's initial public offering of its Common Stock under the
Securities Act, the holders of a majority of the Investor Registrable Securities
may request registration under the Securities Act of all or any portion of their
Investor Registrable Securities on Form S-I or any similar long-form
registration ("Long-Form Registrations"); provided, that if such Long-Form
Registration request is prior to the Company's initial public offering of its
Common Stock, such Long-Form Registration must qualify as a "Qualified Public
Offering" (as defined herein), and the holders of a majority of the Investor
Registrable Securities may request registration under the Securities Act of all
or any portion of their Investor Registrable Securities on Form S-2 or S-3 or
any similar short-form registration ("Short-Form Registrations"), if available.
All registrations requested pursuant to this paragraph 1(a) are referred to
herein as "Demand Registrations". Each request for a Demand Registration shall
specify the approximate number of Investor Registrable Securities requested to
be registered and the anticipated per share price range for such offering.
Within ten days after receipt of any such request, the Company shall give
written notice of such requested registration to all other holders of Investor
Registrable Securities and, subject to the terms of paragraph l(d) hereof,
shall include in such

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registration all Investor Registrable Securities with respect to which the
Company has received written requests for inclusion therein within 15 days after
the receipt of the Company's notice.

          (b)     LONG-FORM REGISTRATIONS. The holders of Investor Registrable
Securities shall as a group be entitled to request (i) two Long-Form
Registrations in which the Company shall pay all Registration Expenses as set
forth in paragraph 5 hereof ("Company-paid Long-Form Registrations") and (ii) an
unlimited number of Long-Form Registrations in which the Company shall not be
required to pay the Registration Expenses except as provided in paragraph 5 and
the holders of Investor Registrable Securities shall pay their share of the
Registration Expenses as set forth in paragraph 5 hereof. A registration shall
not count as one of the permitted Company-paid Long-Form Registrations until it
has become effective, and the Second Company-paid Long-Form Registration shall
not count as one of the permitted Company-paid Long-Form Registrations unless
the holders of Investor Registrable Securities are able to register at least 80%
of the Investor Registrable Securities requested to be included in such
registration; provided that in any event the Company shall pay all Registration
Expenses in connection with any registration initiated as a Company-paid
Long-Form Registration whether or not it has become effective and whether or not
such registration has counted as one of the permitted Company-paid Long-Form
Registrations. All Long-Form Registrations shall be underwritten registrations
unless otherwise agreed to by the holders of a majority of Investor Registrable
Securities.

          (c)     SHORT-FORM REGISTRATIONS. In addition to the Long-Form
Registrations provided pursuant to paragraph l(b), the holders of Investor
Registrable Securities shall be entitled to request an unlimited number of
Short-Form Registrations in which the Company shall pay all Registration
Expenses. Demand Registrations shall be Short-Form Registrations whenever the
Company is permitted to use any applicable short form and the managing
underwriters (if any) agree to the use of a Short-Form Registration. After the
Company has become subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act, the Company shall use its best efforts to make the Company
eligible to use Short-Form Registrations for the sale of Investor Registrable
Securities.

          (d)     PRIORITY ON DEMAND REGISTRATIONS. The Company shall not
include in any Demand Registration any securities which are not Investor
Registrable Securities without the prior written consent of the holders of a
majority of the Investor Registrable Securities initially requesting such
registration. If a Demand Registration is an underwritten offering and the
managing underwriters advise the Company in writing that in their opinion the
number of Investor Registrable Securities and, if permitted hereunder, other
securities requested to be included in such offering exceeds the number of
Investor Registrable Securities and other securities, if any, which can be sold
therein without adversely affecting the marketability of the offering, the
Company shall include in such registration prior to the inclusion of any
securities which are not Investor Registrable Securities the number of Investor
Registrable Securities requested to be included which in the opinion of such
underwriters can be sold without adversely affecting the marketability of the
offering, pro rata among the respective holders thereof on the basis of the
amount of Investor Registrable Securities owned by each such holder.

          (e)     RESTRICTIONS ON DEMAND REGISTRATIONS. The Company shall not be
obligated to effect any Demand Registration within 180 days after the effective
date of a previous Demand

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Registration or a previous registration in which the holders of Investor
Registrable Securities were given piggyback rights pursuant to paragraph 2. In
addition, the Company may postpone for up to 180 days the filing or the
effectiveness of a registration statement for a Demand Registration if the
Company's Board of Directors (including the Investor Directors (as defined in
the Stockholders Agreement)) reasonably determines in good faith that such
Demand Registration would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse
effect on any proposal or plan by the Company to engage in any acquisition of
assets (other than in the ordinary course of business) or any merger,
consolidation, tender offer, reorganization or similar transaction; provided
that in such event, the holders of Investor Registrable Securities initially
requesting such Demand Registration shall be entitled to withdraw such request
and, if such request is withdrawn, such Demand Registration shall not count as
one of the permitted Demand Registrations hereunder and the Company shall pay
all Registration Expenses in connection with such registration. The Company may
delay a Demand Registration hereunder only once in any twelve-month period.

          (f)     SELECTION OF UNDERWRITERS. The holders of a majority of the
Investor Registrable Securities included in any Demand Registration shall have
the right to select the investment banker(s) and manager(s) to administer the
offering, subject to the Company's prior written approval which shall not be
unreasonably withheld or delayed.

          (g)     OTHER REGISTRATION RIGHTS. Except as provided in this
Agreement, the Company is not a party, or otherwise subject, to any agreement
granting registration rights to any Person with respect to any securities of the
Company. Except as provided in this Agreement, the Company shall not grant to
any Persons the right to request the Company to register any equity securities
of the Company, or any securities convertible or exchangeable into or
exercisable for such securities, without the prior written consent of the
holders of a majority of the Investor Registrable Securities; provided that the
Company may grant rights to other Persons to participate in Piggyback
Registrations so long as such rights are subordinate to the rights of the
holders of Registrable Securities with respect to such Piggyback Registrations
as set forth in paragraphs 2(c) and 2(d).

          2.      PIGGYBACK REGISTRATIONS.

          (a)     RIGHT TO PIGGYBACK. Whenever the Company proposes to register
any of its securities under the Securities Act (other than pursuant to a Demand
Registration prior to the initial public offering by the Company of its Common
Stock) and the registration form to be used may be used for the registration of
Registrable Securities (a "Piggyback Registration"), the Company shall give
prompt written notice to all holders of Registrable Securities of its intention
to effect such a registration and, subject to the terms of paragraph 2(c) and
2(d) hereof, shall include in such registration all Registrable Securities with
respect to which the Company has received written requests for inclusion therein
within 20 days after the receipt of the Company's notice.

          (b)     PIGGYBACK EXPENSES. The Registration Expenses of the holders
of Registrable Securities shall be paid by the Company in all Piggyback
Registrations.

          (c)     PRIORITY ON PRIMARY REGISTRATIONS. If a Piggyback Registration
is an underwritten primary registration on behalf of the Company, and the
managing underwriters advise

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the Company in writing that in their opinion the number of securities requested
to be included in such registration exceeds the number which can be sold in such
offering without adversely affecting the marketability of the offering, the
Company shall include in such registration (i) first, the securities the Company
proposes to sell, (ii) second, the Investor Registrable Securities requested to
be included in such registration, pro rata among the holders of such Investor
Registrable Securities on the basis of the number of shares owned by each such
holder, (iii) third, the Executive Registrable Securities requested to be
included in such registration, pro rata among the holders of such Executive
Registrable Securities on the basis of the number of shares owned by each Such
holder, and (iv) fourth, other securities requested to be included in such
registration.

          (d)     PRIORITY ON SECONDARY REGISTRATIONS. If a Piggyback
Registration is an underwritten secondary registration on behalf of holders of
the Company's securities, and the managing underwriters advise the Company in
writing that in their opinion the number of securities requested to be included
in such registration exceeds the number which can be sold in such offering
without adversely affecting the marketability of the offering, the Company shall
include in such registration (i) first, the securities requested to be included
therein by the holders requesting such registration and the Investor Registrable
Securities requested to be included in such registration, pro rata among the
holders of such securities on the basis of the number of shares owned by each
such holder, (ii) second, the Executive Registrable Securities requested to be
included in such registration, pro rata among the holders of such securities on
the basis of the number of shares owned by each such holder, and (iii) third,
other securities requested to be included in such registration.

          (e)     SELECTION OF UNDERWRITERS AND COUNSEL. The Company's board of
directors shall select the investment banker(s) and manager(s) to administer the
offering, unless the offering is pursuant to paragraph 1 above.

          (f)     OTHER REGISTRATIONS. If the Company has previously filed a
registration statement with respect to Registrable Securities pursuant to
paragraph 1 or pursuant to this paragraph 2, and if such previous registration
has not been withdrawn or abandoned, the Company shall not file or cause to be
effected any other registration of any of its equity securities or securities
convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for its equity securities under
the Securities Act (except on Form S-8 or any successor form), whether on its
own behalf or at the request of any holder or holders of such securities, until
a period of at least 90 days has elapsed from the effective date of such
previous registration.

          3.      HOLDBACK AGREEMENTS.

          (a)     Each holder of Investor Registrable Securities shall not
effect any public sale or distribution (including sales pursuant to Rule 144) of
equity securities of the Company, or any securities convertible into or
exchangeable or exercisable for such securities, during a lockup period to be
negotiated between the Investors and the underwriters of any offering or
registration for any underwritten Demand Registration or any underwritten
Piggyback Registration in which Registrable Securities are included (except as
part of such underwritten registration).

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          (b)     The Company shall not effect any public sale or distribution
of their equity securities, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable
or exercisable for such securities, during the seven days prior to and during
the 180-day period beginning on the effective date of any underwritten Demand
Registration or any underwritten Piggyback Registration (except as part of such
underwritten registration or pursuant to registrations on Form S-8 or any
successor form), unless the underwriters managing the registered public offering
otherwise agree.

          4.      REGISTRATION PROCEDURES. Whenever the holders of Registrable
Securities have requested that any Registrable Securities be registered pursuant
to this Agreement, the Company shall use its best efforts to effect the
registration and the sale of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the
intended method of disposition thereof, and pursuant thereto the Company shall
as expeditiously as possible:

          (a)     prepare and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission a
registration statement with respect to such Registrable Securities and use its
best efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective (provided
that before filing a registration statement or prospectus or any amendments or
supplements thereto, the Company shall furnish to the counsel selected by the
holders of a majority of the Investor Registrable Securities covered by such
registration statement copies of all such documents proposed to be filed, which
documents shall be subject to the reasonable review and comment of such
counsel);

          (b)     notify each holder of Registrable Securities of the
effectiveness of each registration statement filed hereunder and prepare and
file with the Securities and Exchange Commission such amendments and supplements
to such registration statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith
as may be necessary to keep such registration statement effective for a period
of not less than 180 days and comply with the provisions of the Securities Act
with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such registration
statement during such period in accordance with the intended methods of
disposition by the sellers thereof set forth in such registration statement;

          (c)     furnish to each seller of Registrable Securities such number
of copies of such registration statement, each amendment and supplement thereto,
the prospectus included in such registration statement (including each
preliminary prospectus) and such other documents as such seller may reasonably
request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities
owned by such seller;

          (d)     use its best efforts to register or qualify such Registrable
Securities under such other securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as
any seller reasonably requests and do any and all other acts and things which
may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable such seller to consummate the
disposition in such jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities owned by such
seller (provided that the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify generally
to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to
qualify but for this subparagraph, (ii) subject itself to taxation in any such
jurisdiction or (iii) consent to general service of process in any such
jurisdiction);

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          (e)     notify each seller of such Registrable Securities, at any time
when a prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered under the
Securities Act, of the happening of any event as a result of which the
prospectus included in such registration statement contains an untrue statement
of a material fact or omits any fact necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading, and, at the request of any such seller, the Company shall
prepare a supplement or amendment to such prospectus so that, as thereafter
delivered to the purchasers of such Registrable Securities, such prospectus
shall not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading;

          (f)     cause all such Registrable Securities to be listed on each
securities exchange on which similar securities issued by the Company are then
listed and, if not so listed, to be listed on the NASD automated quotation
system and, if listed on the NASD automated quotation system, use its best
efforts to secure designation of all such Registrable Securities covered by such
registration statement as a NASDAQ "national market system security" within the
meaning of Rule 11Aa2-l of the Securities and Exchange Commission or, failing
that, to secure NASDAQ authorization for such Registrable Securities and,
without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to arrange for at least two
market makers to register as such with respect to such Registrable Securities
with the NASD;

          (g)     provide a transfer agent and registrar for all such
Registrable Securities not later than the effective date of such registration
statement;

          (h)     enter into such customary agreements (including underwriting
agreements in customary form) and take all such other actions as the holders of
a majority of the Registrable Securities being sold or the underwriters, if any,
reasonably request in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such
Registrable Securities (including effecting a stock split or a combination of
shares);

          (i)     make available for inspection by any seller of Registrable
Securities, any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to such
registration statement and any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by
any such seller or underwriter, all financial and other records, pertinent
corporate documents and properties of the Company, and cause the Company's
officers, directors, employees and independent accountants to supply all
information reasonably requested by any such seller, underwriter, attorney,
accountant or agent in connection with such registration statement;

          (j)     otherwise use its best efforts to comply with all applicable
rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and make
available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an
earnings statement covering the period of at least twelve months beginning with
the first day of the Company's first full calendar quarter after the effective
date of the registration statement, which earnings statement shall satisfy the
provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder;

          (k)     permit any holder of Registrable Securities which holder, in
its sole and exclusive judgment, might be deemed to be an underwriter or a
controlling person of the Company,

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to participate in the preparation of such registration or comparable statement
and to require the insertion therein of material, furnished to the Company in
writing, which in the reasonable judgment of such holder and its counsel should
be included;

          (1)     in the event of the issuance of any stop order suspending the
effectiveness of a registration statement, or of any order suspending or
preventing the use of any related prospectus or suspending the qualification of
any common stock included in such registration statement for sale in any
jurisdiction, the Company shall use its best efforts promptly to obtain the
withdrawal of such order; and

          (m)     use its reasonable efforts to obtain a cold comfort letter
from the Company's independent public accountants in customary form and covering
such matters of the type customarily covered by cold comfort letters as the
holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities being sold reasonably
request (provided that such Registrable Securities constitute at least 10% of
the securities covered by such registration statement).

          5.      REGISTRATION EXPENSES.

          (a)     All expenses incident to the Company's performance of or
compliance with this Agreement, including without limitation all registration
and filing fees, fees and expenses of compliance with securities or blue sky
laws, printing expenses, messenger and delivery expenses, fees and disbursements
of custodians, and fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and all
independent certified public accountants, underwriters (excluding discounts and
commissions) and other Persons retained by the Company (all such expenses being
herein called "Registration Expenses"), shall be borne as provided in this
Agreement, except that, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the
Company shall pay its internal expenses (including, without limitation, all
salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or
accounting duties), the expense of any annual audit or quarterly review, the
expense of any liability insurance and the expenses and fees for listing the
securities to be registered on each securities exchange on which similar
securities issued by the Company are then listed or on the NASD automated
quotation system.

          (b)     In connection with each Demand Registration and each Piggyback
Registration, the Company shall reimburse the holders of Registrable Securities
included in such registration for the reasonable fees and disbursements of one
counsel chosen by the holders of a majority of the Investor Registrable
Securities included in such registration.

          (c)     To the extent Registration Expenses are not required to be
paid by the Company, each holder of securities included in any registration
hereunder shall pay those Registration Expenses allocable to the registration of
such holder's securities so included, and any Registration Expenses not so
allocable shall be borne by all sellers of securities included in such
registration in proportion to the aggregate selling price of the securities to
be so registered.

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          (d)     Any Persons, other than holders of Investor Registrable
Securities, who participate in Demand Registrations which are not at the
Company's expense must pay their share of the Registration Expenses as provided
in paragraph 5(c) above.

          6.      INDEMNIFICATION.

          (a)     The Company agrees to indemnify, to the extent permitted by
law, each holder of Registrable Securities, its officers and directors and each
Person who controls such holder (within the meaning of the Securities Act)
against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses caused by any
untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact contained in any
registration statement, prospectus or preliminary prospectus or any amendment
thereof or supplement thereto or any omission or alleged omission of a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading, except insofar as the same are caused by or contained in any
information furnished in writing to the Company by such holder expressly for use
therein or by such holder's failure to deliver a copy of the registration
statement or prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto after the
Company has furnished such holder with a sufficient number of copies of the
same. In connection with an underwritten offering, the Company shall indemnify
such underwriters, their officers and directors and each Person who controls
such underwriters (within the meaning of the Securities Act) to the same extent
as provided above with respect to the indemnification of the holders of
Registrable Securities.

          (b)     In connection with any registration statement in which a
holder of Registrable Securities is participating, each such holder shall
furnish to the Company in writing such information and affidavits as the Company
reasonably requests for use in connection with any such registration statement
or prospectus and, to the extent permitted by law, shall indemnify the Company,
its directors and officers and each Person who controls the Company (within the
meaning of the Securities Act) against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities
and expenses resulting from any untrue or alleged untrue statement of material
fact contained in the registration statement, prospectus or preliminary
prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission or
alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
to make the statements therein not misleading, but only to the extent that such
untrue statement or omission is contained in any information or affidavit so
furnished in writing by such holder; provided that the obligation to indemnify
shall be individual, not joint and several, for each holder and shall be limited
to the net amount of proceeds received by such holder from the sale of
Registrable Securities pursuant to such registration statement.

          (c)     Any Person entitled to indemnification hereunder shall (i)
give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect
to which it seeks indemnification (provided that the failure to give prompt
notice shall not impair any Person's right to indemnification hereunder to the
extent such failure has not prejudiced the indemnifying party) and (ii) unless
in such indemnified party's reasonable judgment a conflict of interest between
such indemnified and indemnifying parties may exist with respect to such claim,
permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel
reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. If such defense is assumed,
the indemnifying party shall not be subject to any liability for any settlement
made by the indemnified party without its consent (but such consent shall not be
unreasonably

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withheld). An indemnifying party who is not entitled to, or elects not to,
assume the defense of a claim shall not be obligated to pay the fees and
expenses of more than one counsel for all parties indemnified by such
indemnifying party with respect to such claim, unless in the reasonable judgment
of any indemnified party a conflict of interest may exist between such
indemnified party and any other of such indemnified parties with respect to such
claim.

          (d)     The indemnification provided for under this Agreement shall
remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on
behalf of the indemnified party or any officer, director or controlling Person
of such indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of securities. The
Company also agrees to make such provisions, as are reasonably requested by any
indemnified party, for contribution to such party in the event the Company's
indemnification is unavailable for any reason.

          7.      PARTICIPATION IN UNDERWRITTEN REGISTRATIONS. Notwithstanding
any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, no Person may participate in
any registration hereunder which is underwritten unless such Person (i) agrees
to sell such Person's securities on the basis provided in any underwriting
arrangements approved by the Person or Persons entitled hereunder to approve
such arrangements and (ii) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of
attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents required
under the terms of such underwriting arrangements; provided that no holder of
Registrable Securities included in any underwritten registration shall be
required to make any representations or warranties to the Company or the
underwriters (other than representations and warranties regarding such holder
and such holder's intended method of distribution) or to undertake any
indemnification obligations to the Company or the underwriters with respect
thereto, except as otherwise provided in paragraph 6 hereof.

          8.      DEFINITIONS.

          (a)     "COMMON STOCK" means the Company's Class A Common, Class B
Common, or Class C Common, as applicable, and any securities into which such
Class A Common, Class B Common or Class C Common shall have been changed or any
securities resulting from any reclassification or recapitalization of such
Common Stock.

          "EXECUTIVE REGISTRABLE SECURITIES" means (i) any shares of Class A
Common issued to the Executives, (ii) any shares of Class A Common or other
Common Stock issued or issuable directly or indirectly with respect to the
securities referred to in clause (i) by way of stock dividend or stock split or
in connection with a combination of shares, recapitalization, merger,
consolidation or other reorganization, and (iii) any other shares of Class A
Common or other Common Stock held by Persons holding securities described in
clauses (i) and (ii), inclusive, above (including, but not limited to, shares of
Common Stock issued or issuable upon exercise of any options granted under the
Option Plan). As to any particular Executive Registrable Securities, such
securities shall cease to be Executive Registrable Securities when they have
been distributed to the public pursuant to a offering registered under the
Securities Act or sold to the public through a broker, dealer or market maker in
compliance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act (or any similar rule then in
force).

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          "INVESTOR REGISTRABLE SECURITIES" means (i) any shares of Class C
Common issued pursuant to the Purchase Agreement and the Secondary Purchase
Agreement, (ii) any shares of Class C Common or other Common Stock issued or
issuable with respect to the securities referred to in clause (i) by way of a
stock, dividend or stock split or in connection with a combination of shares,
recapitalization, merger, consolidation or other reorganization, and (iii) any
other shares of Common Stock held by Persons holding securities described in
clauses (i) and (ii), inclusive, above (including, but not limited to, shares of
Common Stock issued or issuable upon exercise of the Warrants). For purposes of
this Agreement, a Person shall be deemed to be a holder of Investor Registrable
Securities, and the Investor Registrable Securities shall be deemed to be in
existence, whenever such Person has the right to acquire directly or indirectly
such Investor Registrable Securities (upon conversion or exercise in connection
with a transfer of securities or otherwise), whether or not such acquisition has
actually been effected, and such Person shall be entitled to exercise the rights
of a holder of Investor Registrable Securities hereunder. As to any particular
Investor Registrable Securities, such securities shall cease to be Investor
Registrable Securities when they have been distributed to the public pursuant to
a offering registered under the Securities Act or sold to the public through a
broker, dealer or market maker in compliance with Rule 144 under the Securities
Act (or any similar rule then in force).

          "QUALIFIED PUBLIC OFFERING" means the sale in an underwritten public
offering registered under the Securities Act of shares of the Company's Common
Stock (i) having an aggregate offering value of at least $15 million and (ii) at
an offering price of at least $3.51 (as adjusted for stock splits, stock
combinations, recapitalizations and other similar transactions).

          "REGISTRABLE SECURITIES" means, collectively, the Executive
Registrable Securities and the Investor Registrable Securities.

          "STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT" means that certain Stockholders Agreement
dated as of the date hereof, by and among the Company and its stockholders
listed therein, as may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time.

          "WARRANTS" mean the Stock Purchase Warrants dated as of the date
hereof, issued to the Investors pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, as may be
amended, modified or supplemented from time to time.

          (b)     Unless otherwise stated, other capitalized terms contained
herein have the meanings set forth in the Purchase Agreement.

          9.      MISCELLANEOUS.

          (a)     NO INCONSISTENT AGREEMENTS. The Company shall not hereafter
enter into any agreement with respect to its securities which is inconsistent
with or violates the rights granted to the holders of Registrable Securities in
this Agreement.

          (b)     REMEDIES. Any Person having rights under any provision of this
Agreement shall be entitled to enforce such rights specifically to recover
damages caused by reason of any

                                      -10-
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breach of any provision of this Agreement and to exercise all other rights
granted by law. The parties hereto agree and acknowledge that money damages may
not be an adequate remedy for any breach of the provisions of this Agreement and
that, in addition to any other rights or remedies existing in its favor, any
party shall be entitled to seek specific performance and/or other injunctive
relief from any court of law or equity of competent jurisdiction (without
posting any bond or other security) in order to enforce or prevent violation of
the provisions of this Agreement.

          (c)     AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS. Except as otherwise provided herein,
the provisions of this Agreement may be amended or waived only upon the prior
written consent of the Company and the holders of a majority of the Investor
Registrable Securities; provided, that, no modification, amendment or waiver of
paragraph 2 of this Agreement, this paragraph 9(c) or any of the definitions
herein pertaining to "Executive Registrable Securities" which adversely affects
the holders of Executive Registrable Securities shall be effective against such
holders unless such modification, amendment or waiver is approved in writing by
the holders of a majority of the Executive Registrable Securities.

          (d)     SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. All covenants and agreements in this
Agreement by or on behalf of any of the parties hereto shall bind and inure to
the benefit of the respective successors and assigns of the parties hereto
whether so expressed or not. In addition, whether or not any express assignment
has been made, the provisions of this Agreement which are for the benefit of
purchasers or holders of Registrable Securities are also for the benefit of, and
enforceable by, any permitted subsequent holder of Registrable Securities.

          (e)     SEVERABILITY. Whenever possible, each provision of this
Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under
applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be prohibited
by or invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective only to
the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder
of this Agreement.

          (f)     COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously
in two or more counterparts (including by telecopied signature pages), any one
of which need not contain the signatures of more than one party, but all such
counterparts taken together shall constitute one and the same Agreement.

          (g)     RULES OF CONSTRUCTION. The word "including" (in its various
forms) means "including without limitation." Words, terms, and titles (including
terms defined herein) in the singular form shall be construed to include the
plural and vice versa, unless the context otherwise expressly requires. The
descriptive headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and do
not constitute a part of this Agreement.

          (h)     GOVERNING LAW. ALL ISSUES AND QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE
CONSTRUCTION, VALIDITY, INTERPRETATION AND ENFORCEMENT OF THIS AGREEMENT AND THE
EXHIBITS AND SCHEDULES HERETO SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE
WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF MARYLAND, WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ANY CHOICE OF
LAW OR

                                      -11-
<Page>

CONFLICT OF LAW RULES OR PROVISIONS (WHETHER OF THE STATE OF MARYLAND OR ANY
OTHER JURISDICTION) THAT WOULD CAUSE THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANY
JURISDICTION OTHER THAN THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

          (i)     NOTICES. All notices and other communications hereunder shall
be in writing and shall be deemed given if delivered personally, telecopied
(with a confirming copy sent by other permitted means), sent by Federal Express
or other reputable overnight courier, or mailed by registered or certified mail
(return receipt requested). Such notices, demands and other communications shall
be sent to each Investor at the address indicated on the Schedule of Investors
and to the Company at the address indicated below:

                  The White House, Inc.
                  7600 Energy Parkway
                  Baltimore, MD 21226-1733
                  Facsimile: (410) 439-4688
                  Attn: President

                  with a copy to:

                  Venable, Baetjer and Howard, LLP
                  1800 Mercantile Bank & Trust Building
                  Two Hopkins Plaza
                  Baltimore, MD 21201
                  Facsimile: (410) 244-7742
                  Attn: Robert J. Bolger, Jr., Esq.

Any address may be changed at any time by notice given as provided above;
provided, however, that any such notice of change of address shall be effective
only upon receipt. All notices and other communications given in accordance
herewith shall be deemed received on the date of delivery, if hand delivered; on
the date of receipt, if telecopied; three business days after the date of
mailing, if mailed by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested;
and one business day after the date of sending, if sent by Federal Express or
other reputable overnight courier.

                                    * * * * *

                                      -12-
<Page>

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

                                          THE WHITE HOUSE, INC.

                                          By:   /s/ Richard Sarmiento
                                               ---------------------------------
                                          Name: Richard Sarmiento
                                               ---------------------------------
                                          Its:  President
                                               ---------------------------------

                                          PHILLIPS-SMITH SPECIALTY RETAIL
                                          GROUP III, L.P.

                                          By:  Phillips-Smith Management Company
                                               L.P.
                                          Its: General Partner

                                          By:   /s/ Cece Smith
                                               ---------------------------------
                                          Name: Cece Smith
                                               ---------------------------------
                                          Its: General Partner

                                          /s/ Craig Foley
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Craig Foley

                                          CHANCELLOR PRIVATE CAPITAL
                                          PARTNERS III, L.P.

                                          By:  CPCP Associates, L.P.
                                          Its: General Partner

                                          By:  INVESCO Private Capital, Inc.
                                          Its: General Partner

                                          By:   /s/ Howard Goldstein
                                               ---------------------------------
                                          Name: Howard Goldstein
                                               ---------------------------------
                                          Its:
                                               ---------------------------------

<Page>

           [Continuation of Signature Page to Registration Agreement]

                                          CITIVENTURE 96 PARTNERSHIP, L.P.

                                          By:  INVESCO (NY), Inc.
                                          Its: Investment Advisor

                                          By:   /s/ Howard Goldstein
                                               ---------------------------------
                                          Name: Howard Goldstein
                                               ---------------------------------
                                          Its:
                                               ---------------------------------

                                          CHANCELLOR PRIVATE CAPITAL
                                          OFFSHORE PARTNERS II, L.P.

                                          By:  CPCO Associates, L.P.
                                          Its: Investment General Partner

                                          By:  INVESCO Private Capital, Inc.
                                          Its: General Partner

                                          By:   /s/ Howard Goldstein
                                               ---------------------------------
                                          Name: Howard Goldstein
                                               ---------------------------------
                                          Its:
                                               ---------------------------------

                                          CHANCELLOR PRIVATE CAPITAL
                                          OFFSHORE PARTNERS I, C.V.

                                          By:  Chancellor KME IV Partner, L.P.
                                          Its: Investment General Partner

                                          By:  INVESCO Private Capital, Inc.
                                          Its: General Partner

                                          By:   /s/ Howard Goldstein
                                               ---------------------------------
                                          Name: Howard Goldstein
                                               ---------------------------------
                                          Its:
                                               ---------------------------------

<Page>

           (Continuation of Signature Page to Registration Agreement]

                                          /s/ Richard Sarmiento
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Richard Sarmiento

                                          /s/ Patricia Darrow-Smith
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Patricia Darrow-Smith

                                          /s/ Michael Smith
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Michael Smith

<Page>

                              SCHEDULE OF INVESTORS

Phillips-Smith Specialty Retail Group III, L.P.
c/o Phillips-Smith Management Company, L.P.
5080 Spectrum Drive
Suite 700 West
Dallas, TX 75248

Craig Foley
c/o Phillips-Smith Management Company, L.P.
5080 Spectrum Drive
Suite 700 West
Dallas, TX 75248

Chancellor Private Capital Partners III, L.P.
c/o Invesco (NY), Inc.
1166 Avenue of the Americas
27th Floor
New York, NY 10036
Attn: Howard E. Goldstein

Citiventure 96 Partnership, L.P.
c/o Invesco (NY), Inc.
1166 Avenue of the Americas
27th Floor
New York, NY 10036
Attn: Howard E. Goldstein

Chancellor Private Capital Offshore Partners II, L.P.
c/o Invesco (NY), Inc.
1166 Avenue of the Americas
27th Floor
New York, NY 10036
Attn: Howard E. Goldstein

Chancellor Private Capital Offshore Partners I, C.V.
c/o Invesco (NY), Inc.
1166 Avenue of the Americas
27th Floor
New York, NY 10036
Attn: Howard E. Goldstein

<Page>

                             SCHEDULE OF EXECUTIVES

Richard Sarmiento
c/o The White House, Inc.
7600 Energy Parkway
Baltimore, MD 21226-1733

Patricia Darrow-Smith
c/o The White House, Inc.
7600 Energy Parkway
Baltimore, MD 21226-1733

Michael Smith
c/o The White House, Inc.
7600 Energy Parkway
Baltimore, MD 21226-1733<Page>

                                                                  Exhibit 10.10

                              THE WHITE HOUSE, INC.

                             2003 STOCK OPTION PLAN

                        EFFECTIVE ______________ __, 2003

Copyright Venable, Baetjer & Howard, LLP

<Page>

                              THE WHITE HOUSE, INC.
                             2003 STOCK OPTION PLAN

1. ESTABLISHMENT, PURPOSE AND TYPES OF AWARDS

The White House, Inc. hereby establishes The White House, Inc. 2003 Stock Option
Plan (the "Plan") effective upon the termination of The White House, Inc. 1999
Stock Option Plan (the "1999 Plan"). The purpose of the Plan is to promote the
long-term growth and profitability of The White House, Inc. (the "Corporation")
by (i) providing key people with incentives to improve stockholder value and to
contribute to the growth and financial success of the Corporation, and (ii)
enabling the Corporation to attract, retain and reward the best available
persons for positions of substantial responsibility.

         The Plan permits the granting of stock options (including nonqualified
stock options and incentive stock options qualifying under Section 422 of the
Code) and stock appreciation rights (including free-standing, tandem and limited
stock appreciation rights) or any combination of the foregoing (collectively,
"Awards").

2. DEFINITIONS

         Under this Plan, except where the context otherwise indicates, the
following definitions apply:

         (a) "BOARD" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Corporation.

         (b) "CHANGE IN CONTROL" shall mean: (i) any sale, exchange or other
disposition of substantially all of the Corporation's assets or over 50% of its
Common Stock; or (ii) any merger, share exchange, consolidation or other
reorganization or business combination in which the Corporation is not the
surviving or continuing corporation, or in which the Corporation's stockholders
become entitled to receive cash, securities of the Corporation other than voting
common stock, or securities of another issuer.

         (c) "CODE" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended,
and any regulations issued thereunder.

         (d) "COMMITTEE" shall mean the Board or committee of Board members
appointed pursuant to Section 3 of the Plan to administer the Plan.

         (e) "COMMON STOCK" shall mean shares of the Corporation's common stock.

         (f) "EXCHANGE ACT" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.

<Page>

         (g) "FAIR MARKET VALUE" of a share of the Corporation's Common Stock
for any purpose on a particular date shall be determined as follows: (1) if
there is a public market for the Common Stock, the Fair Market Value per share
shall be the average of the bid and asked prices of the Common Stock for such
day if the Common Stock is then included for quotation on the Nasdaq Small-Cap
Market or, the Fair Market Value per share shall be the closing price of the
Common Stock for such day if the Common Stock is then included on the Nasdaq
National Market or listed on the New York, American or Pacific Stock Exchange,
or (2) if there is no public market for the Common Stock, the Fair Market Value
of the Common Stock shall be determined in good faith by the Board or Committee
in such manner as it may deem equitable for Plan purposes. The Board or the
Committee may rely upon published quotations in The Wall Street Journal or a
comparable publication for purposes of the calculation of the Fair Market Value
per share as set forth above.

         (h) "GRANT AGREEMENT" shall mean a written agreement between the
Corporation and a grantee memorializing the terms and conditions of an Award
granted pursuant to the Plan.

         (i) "GRANT DATE" shall mean the date on which the Committee formally
acts to grant an Award to a grantee or such other date as the Committee shall so
designate at the time of taking such formal action.

         (j) "PARENT" shall mean a corporation, whether now or hereafter
existing, within the meaning of the definition of "parent corporation" provided
in Section 424(e) of the Code, or any successor thereto of similar import.

         (k) "RULE 16b-3" shall mean Rule 16b-3 as in effect under the Exchange
Act on the effective date of the Plan, or any successor provision prescribing
conditions necessary to exempt the issuance of securities under the Plan (and
further transactions in such securities) from Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act.

         (l) "SUBSIDIARY" AND "SUBSIDIARIES" shall mean only a corporation or
corporations, whether now or hereafter existing, within the meaning of the
definition of "subsidiary corporation" provided in Section 424(f) of the Code,
or any successor thereto of similar import.

3. ADMINISTRATION

         (a) PROCEDURE. The Plan shall be administered by the Board. In the
alternative, the Board may appoint a Committee composed of member(s) of the
Board to administer the Plan subject to such terms and conditions as the Board
may prescribe. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, the Committee shall
consist solely of two (2) or more members of the Board who are "nonemployee
directors" within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 and "outside directors" within the
meaning of Code Section 162(m). Once appointed, the Committee shall continue to
serve until otherwise directed by the Board.

                                       2
<Page>

From time to time, the Board may increase the size of the Committee and appoint
additional members thereof, remove members (with or without cause) and appoint
new members in substitution therefor, fill vacancies, however caused, and remove
all members of the Committee and, thereafter, directly administer the Plan. In
the event that the Board is the administrator of the Plan in lieu of a
Committee, the term "Committee" as used herein shall be deemed to mean the
Board.

         Members of the Board or Committee who are either eligible for Awards or
have been granted Awards may vote on any matters affecting the administration of
the Plan or the grant of Awards pursuant to the Plan, except that no such member
shall act upon the granting of an Award to himself or herself, but any such
member may be counted in determining the existence of a quorum at any meeting of
the Board or the Committee during which action is taken with respect to the
granting of an Award to him or her.

         The Committee shall meet at such times and places and upon such notice
as it may determine, consistent with the Bylaws of the Company. A majority of
the Committee shall constitute a quorum. Any acts by the Committee may be taken
at any meeting at which a quorum is present and shall be by majority vote of
those members entitled to vote. Additionally, any acts reduced to writing or
approved in writing by all of the members of the Committee shall be valid acts
of the Committee. Notwithstanding the above, the Committee may act in such other
manner as is determined by the Board.

         (b) POWERS OF THE COMMITTEE. The Committee shall have all the powers
vested in it by the terms of the Plan, such powers to include authority, in its
sole and absolute discretion, to grant Awards under the Plan, prescribe Grant
Agreements evidencing such Awards and establish programs for granting Awards.
The Committee shall have full power and authority to take all other actions
necessary to carry out the purpose and intent of the Plan, including, but not
limited to, the authority to:

                  (i) determine the eligible persons to whom, and the time or
         times at which Awards shall be granted,

                  (ii) determine the types of Awards to be granted,

                  (iii) determine the number of shares to be covered by or used
         for reference purposes for each Award,

                  (iv) impose such terms, limitations, restrictions and
         conditions upon any such Award as the Committee shall deem appropriate,

                  (v) modify, extend or renew outstanding Awards, accept the
         surrender of outstanding Awards and substitute new Awards, provided
         that no such action shall be taken with respect to any outstanding
         Award which would adversely affect the grantee without the grantee's
         consent, and

                                       3

<Page>

                  (vi) accelerate or otherwise change the time in which an Award
         may be exercised or becomes payable and to waive or accelerate the
         lapse, in whole or in part, of any restriction or condition with
         respect to such Award, including, but not limited to, any restriction
         or condition with respect to the vesting or exercisability of an Award
         following termination of any grantee's employment, or in the case of a
         member of the Board, service on the Board.

The Committee shall have full power and authority to administer and interpret
the Plan and to adopt such rules, regulations, agreements, guidelines and
instruments for the administration of the Plan and for the conduct of its
business as the Committee deems necessary or advisable and to interpret same,
all within the Committee's sole and absolute discretion.

         (c) LIMITED LIABILITY. To the maximum extent permitted by law, no
member of the Board or Committee shall be liable for any action taken or
decision made in good faith relating to the Plan or any Award thereunder.

         (d) INDEMNIFICATION. To the maximum extent permitted by law, the
members of the Board and Committee shall be indemnified by the Corporation in
respect of all their activities under the Plan.

         (e) EFFECT OF COMMITTEE'S DECISION. All actions taken and decisions and
determinations made by the Committee on all matters relating to the Plan
pursuant to the powers vested in it hereunder shall be in the Committee's sole
and absolute discretion and shall be conclusive and binding on all parties
concerned, including the Corporation, its stockholders, any participants in the
Plan and any other employee of the Corporation, and their respective successors
in interest.

4. SHARES AVAILABLE FOR THE PLAN; MAXIMUM AWARDS

         Subject to adjustments as provided in Section 10 of the Plan, the
shares of stock that may be delivered or purchased or used for reference
purposes (with respect to stock appreciation rights) under the Plan, including
with respect to incentive stock options intended to qualify under Section 422 of
the Code, shall not exceed an aggregate of (i) Six Hundred Fifteen Thousand
Three Hundred Eighty Four (615, 384) shares of Common Stock plus (ii) the number
of shares of Common Stock available for issuance pursuant to future awards under
the 1999 Plan at the date of its termination plus (iii) any shares of Common
Stock subject to stock options, or portions of stock options, granted under the
1999 Plan which are forfeited, surrendered or canceled or otherwise expire or
terminate after the date of the 1999 Plan's termination without being exercised.
The Corporation shall reserve said number of shares of Common Stock for issuance
pursuant to the Plan. If any Award, or portion of an Award, under the Plan
expires or terminates unexercised, becomes unexercisable or is forfeited or
otherwise terminated, surrendered or canceled as

                                       4
<Page>

to any shares, the shares subject to such Award shall thereafter be available
for further Awards under the Plan.

         The maximum number of shares of Common Stock subject to Awards of any
combination that may be granted during any one calendar year to any one
individual shall be limited to Two Hundred Thousand (200,000). To the extent
required by Section 162(m) of the Code and so long as Section 162(m) of the Code
is applicable to persons eligible to participate in the Plan, shares of Common
Stock subject to the foregoing limit with respect to which the related Award is
terminated, surrendered or canceled shall not again be available for grant under
this limit.

5. PARTICIPATION

         Participation in the Plan shall be open to all employees, officers,
directors, subcontractors and outside consultants of the Corporation, or of any
Parent or Subsidiary of the Corporation, as may be selected by the Committee
from time to time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, participation in the Plan with
respect to Awards of incentive stock options shall be limited to employees of
the Corporation, or of any Parent or Subsidiary of the Corporation.

         Awards may be granted to such eligible persons and for or with respect
to such number of shares of Common Stock as the Committee shall determine,
subject to the limitations in Section 4 of the Plan. A grant of any type of
Award made in any one year to an eligible person shall neither guarantee nor
preclude a further grant of that or any other type of Award to such person in
that year or subsequent years.

6. STOCK OPTIONS

         Subject to the other applicable provisions of the Plan, the Committee
may from time to time grant to eligible participants nonqualified stock options
or incentive stock options as that term is defined in Section 422 of the Code.
The stock options granted shall be subject to the following terms and
conditions.

         (a) GRANT OF OPTION. The grant of a stock option shall be evidenced by
a Grant Agreement, executed by the Corporation and the grantee, stating the
number of shares of Common Stock subject to the stock option evidenced thereby
and the terms and conditions of such stock option, in such form as the Committee
may from time to time determine.

         (b) PRICE. The price per share payable upon the exercise of each stock
option ("exercise price") shall be determined by the Committee.

         (c) PAYMENT. Stock options may be exercised in whole or in part by
payment of the exercise price of the shares to be acquired in accordance with
the provisions of the Grant Agreement, and/or such rules and regulations as the
Committee may have

                                       5
<Page>

prescribed, and/or such determinations, orders, or decisions as the Committee
may have made. Payment may be made in cash (or cash equivalents acceptable to
the Committee) or, if approved by the Committee, in shares of Common Stock which
have been held by grantee for over 6 months or a combination of cash and such
shares of Common Stock, or by such other means as the Committee may prescribe.
The Fair Market Value of shares of Common Stock delivered on exercise of stock
options shall be determined as of the date of exercise. Any fractional share
will be paid in cash. If approved by the Board of Directors, the Corporation may
make or guarantee loans to grantees to assist grantees in exercising stock
options and satisfying any related withholding tax obligations.

         If the Common Stock is registered under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the
Exchange Act, the Committee, subject to such limitations as it may determine,
may authorize payment of the exercise price, in whole or in part, by delivery of
a properly executed exercise notice, together with irrevocable instructions, to:
(i) a brokerage firm designated by the Corporation to deliver promptly to the
Corporation the aggregate amount of sale or loan proceeds to pay the exercise
price and any withholding tax obligations that may arise in connection with the
exercise, and (ii) the Corporation to deliver the certificates for such
purchased shares directly to such brokerage firm.

         (d) TERMS OF OPTIONS. The term during which each stock option may be
exercised shall be determined by the Committee; provided, however, that in no
event shall a stock option be exercisable more than ten years from the date it
is granted. Prior to the exercise of the stock option and delivery of the shares
certificates represented thereby, the grantee shall have none of the rights of a
stockholder with respect to any shares represented by an outstanding stock
option.

         (e) RESTRICTIONS ON INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS. Incentive Stock Options
granted under the Plan shall comply in all respects with Code Section 422 and,
as such, shall meet the following additional requirements.

                  (i) Grant Date. An incentive stock option must be granted
         within 10 years of the earlier of the Plan's adoption by the Board of
         Directors or approval by the Corporation's shareholders.

                  (ii) Exercise Price and Term. The exercise price of an
         incentive stock option shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market
         Value of the shares on the date the stock option is granted and the
         term of the stock option shall not exceed ten years. Also, the exercise
         price of any incentive stock option granted to a grantee who owns
         (within the meaning of Section 422(b)(6) of the Code, after the
         application of the attribution rules in Section 424(d) of the Code)
         more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of
         shares of the Corporation or its Parent or Subsidiary corporations
         (within the meaning of Sections 422 and 424 of the Code) shall be not
         less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the
         grant date and the term of such stock option shall not exceed five
         years.

                                       6
<Page>

                  (iii) Maximum Grant. The aggregate Fair Market Value
         (determined as of the Grant Date) of shares of Common Stock with
         respect to which all incentive stock options first become exercisable
         by any grantee in any calendar year under this or any other plan of the
         Corporation and its Parent and Subsidiary corporations may not exceed
         $100,000 or such other amount as may be permitted from time to time
         under Section 422 of the Code. To the extent that such aggregate Fair
         Market Value shall exceed $100,000, or other applicable amount, such
         stock options shall be treated as nonqualified stock options. In such
         case, the Corporation may designate the shares of Common Stock that are
         to be treated as stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of an
         incentive stock option by issuing a separate certificate for such
         shares and identifying the certificate as incentive stock option shares
         in the stock transfer records of the Corporation.

                  (iv) Grantee. Incentive stock options shall only be issued to
         employees of the Corporation, or of a Parent or Subsidiary of the
         Corporation.

                  (v) Designation. No stock option shall be an incentive stock
         option unless so designated by the Committee at the time of grant or in
         the Grant Agreement evidencing such stock option.

                  (vi) Stockholder Approval. No stock option issued under the
         Plan shall be an incentive stock option unless the Plan is approved by
         the shareholders of the Corporation within 12 months of its adoption by
         the Board in accordance with the Bylaws and Articles of the Corporation
         and governing law relating to such matters.

         (f) OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS. Stock options may contain such other
provisions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as the Committee
shall determine appropriate from time to time.

7. STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

         (a) AWARD OF STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS. Subject to the other applicable
provisions of the Plan, the Committee may at any time and from time to time
grant stock appreciation rights ("SARs") to eligible participants, either on a
free-standing basis (without regard to or in addition to the grant of a stock
option) or on a tandem basis (related to the grant of an underlying stock
option), as it determines. SARs granted in tandem with or in addition to a stock
option may be granted either at the same time as the stock option or at a later
time; provided, however, that a tandem SAR shall not be granted with respect to
any outstanding incentive stock option Award without the consent of the grantee.
SARs shall be evidenced by Grant Agreements, executed by the Corporation and the
grantee, stating the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the SAR
evidenced thereby and the terms and conditions of such SAR, in such form as the
Committee may from time to time determine. The term during which each SAR may be
exercised shall be

                                       7
<Page>

determined by the Committee. In no event shall a SAR be exercisable more than
ten years from the date it is granted. The grantee shall have none of the rights
of a stockholder with respect to any shares of Common Stock represented by a
SAR.

         (b) RESTRICTIONS OF TANDEM SARs. No incentive stock option may be
surrendered in connection with the exercise of a tandem SAR unless the Fair
Market Value of the Common Stock subject to the incentive stock option is
greater than the exercise price for such incentive stock option. SARs granted in
tandem with stock options shall be exercisable only to the same extent and
subject to the same conditions as the stock options related thereto are
exercisable. The Committee may, in its discretion, prescribe additional
conditions to the exercise of any such tandem SAR.

         (c) AMOUNT OF PAYMENT UPON EXERCISE OF SARs. A SAR shall entitle the
grantee to receive, subject to the provisions of the Plan and the Grant
Agreement, a payment having an aggregate value equal to the product of (i) the
excess of (A) the Fair Market Value on the exercise date of one share of Common
Stock over (B) the base price per share specified in the Grant Agreement, times
(ii) the number of shares specified by the SAR, or portion thereof, which is
exercised. In the case of exercise of a tandem SAR, such payment shall be made
in exchange for the surrender of the unexercised related stock option (or any
portion or portions thereof which the grantee from time to time determines to
surrender for this purpose).

         (d) FORM OF PAYMENT UPON EXERCISE OF SARs. Payment by the Corporation
of the amount receivable upon any exercise of a SAR may be made by the delivery
of Common Stock or cash, or any combination of Common Stock and cash, as
determined in the sole discretion of the Committee from time to time. If upon
settlement of the exercise of a SAR a grantee is to receive a portion of such
payment in shares of Common Stock, the number of shares shall be determined by
dividing such portion by the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the
exercise date. No fractional shares shall be used for such payment and the
Committee shall determine whether cash shall be given in lieu of such fractional
shares or whether such fractional shares shall be eliminated.

8. WITHHOLDING OF TAXES

         The Corporation may require, as a condition to the grant of any Award
under the Plan or exercise pursuant to such Award or to the delivery of
certificates for shares issued or payments of cash to a grantee pursuant to the
Plan or a Grant Agreement (hereinafter collectively referred to as a "taxable
event"), that the grantee pay to the Corporation, in cash or, if approved by the
Corporation, in shares of Common Stock, including shares acquired upon grant of
the Award or exercise of the Award, valued at Fair Market Value on the date as
of which the withholding tax liability is determined, any federal, state or
local taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld with respect to any
taxable event under the Plan. The Corporation, to the extent permitted or
required by law, shall have the right to deduct from any payment of any kind
(including salary or bonus) otherwise due to a grantee any federal, state or
local taxes of any kind required by law to be

                                       8
<Page>

withheld with respect to any taxable event under the Plan, or to retain or sell
without notice a sufficient number of the shares to be issued to such grantee to
cover any such taxes.

9. TRANSFERABILITY

         No Award granted under the Plan shall be transferable by a grantee
otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. Unless otherwise
determined by the Committee in accord with the provisions of the immediately
preceding sentence, an Award may be exercised during the lifetime of the
grantee, only by the grantee or, during the period the grantee is under a legal
disability, by the grantee's guardian or legal representative.

         Notwithstanding the above, a nonqualified stock option may be assigned
in whole or in part during the grantee's lifetime to one or more members of the
grantee's family or to such other person as the Committee shall permit in its
sole discretion. For purposes of this section, the grantee's "family" means any
child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, former
spouse, sibling, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law,
daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law, including adoptive
relationships, any person sharing the employee's household (other than a tenant
or employee), a trust in which these persons have more than fifty percent of the
beneficial interest, a foundation in which these persons (or the grantee)
control the management of assets, and any other entity in which these persons
(or the grantee) own more than fifty percent of the voting interests. The terms
applicable to the assigned portion shall be the same as those in effect for the
option immediately prior to such assignment and shall be set forth in such
documents issued to the assignee as the Committee may deem appropriate.

10. ADJUSTMENTS; BUSINESS COMBINATIONS

         In the event of a reclassification, recapitalization, stock split,
reverse stock split, stock dividend, combination of shares, or other similar
event, the maximum number and kind of shares reserved for issuance or with
respect to which Awards may be granted under the Plan as provided in Section 4
shall be adjusted to reflect such event, and the Committee shall make such
adjustments as it deems appropriate and equitable in the number, kind and price
of shares covered by outstanding Awards made under the Plan, and in any other
matters which relate to Awards and which are affected by the changes in the
Common Stock referred to above.

         In the event of any proposed Change in Control, the Committee shall
take such action as it deems appropriate and equitable to effectuate the
purposes of this Plan and to protect the grantees of Awards, which action may
include, but without limitation, any one or more of the following: (i)
acceleration or change of the exercise and/or expiration dates of any Award to
require that exercise be made, if at all, prior to the Change in Control; (ii)
cancellation of any Award upon payment to the holder in cash of the Fair

                                       9
<Page>

Market Value of the Common Stock subject to such Award as of the date of (and,
to the extent applicable, as established for purposes of) the Change in Control,
less the aggregate exercise price, if any, of the Award; and (iii) in any case
where equity securities of another entity are proposed to be delivered in
exchange for or with respect to Common Stock of the Corporation, arrangements to
have such other entity replace the Awards granted hereunder with awards with
respect to such other securities, with appropriate adjustments in the number of
shares subject to, and the exercise prices under, the award.

         The Committee is authorized to make adjustments in the terms and
conditions of, and the criteria included in, Awards in recognition of unusual or
nonrecurring events (including, without limitation, the events described in the
preceding two paragraphs of this Section 10) affecting the Corporation, or the
financial statements of the Corporation or any Subsidiary, or of changes in
applicable laws, regulations, or accounting principles, whenever the Committee
determines that such adjustments are appropriate in order to prevent dilution or
enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available
under the Plan.

         In the event the Corporation dissolves and liquidates (other than
pursuant to a plan of merger or reorganization), then notwithstanding any
restrictions on exercise set forth in this Plan or any Grant Agreement, or other
agreement evidencing a stock option or stock appreciation right: (i) each
grantee shall have the right to exercise his stock option or stock appreciation
right at any time up to ten (10) days prior to the effective date of such
liquidation and dissolution; and (ii) the Committee may make arrangements with
the grantees for the payment of appropriate consideration to them for the
cancellation and surrender of any stock option or stock appreciation right that
is so canceled or surrendered at any time up to ten (10) days prior to the
effective date of such liquidation and dissolution. The Committee may establish
a different period (and different conditions) for such exercise, delivery,
cancellation, or surrender to avoid subjecting the grantee to liability under
Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act. Any stock option or stock appreciation right
not so exercised, canceled, or surrendered shall terminate on the last day for
exercise prior to such effective date.

         Except as hereinbefore expressly provided, issuance by the Corporation
of shares of stock of any class or securities convertible into shares of stock
of any class, for cash, property, labor or services, upon direct sale, upon the
exercise of rights or warranty to subscribe therefore, or upon conversion of
shares or obligations of the Corporation convertible into such shares or other
securities, and in any case whether or not for fair value, shall not affect, and
no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number of
shares of Common Stock subject to Awards theretofore granted or the purchase
price per share of Common Stock subject to Awards.

11. TERMINATION AND MODIFICATION OF THE PLAN

         The Board, without further approval of the stockholders, may modify or
terminate the Plan or any portion thereof at any time, except that no
modification shall become

                                       10
<Page>

effective without prior approval of the stockholders of the Corporation to
increase the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the Plan or if
stockholder approval is necessary to comply with any tax or regulatory
requirement or rule of any exchange or Nasdaq System upon which the Common Stock
is listed or quoted (including for this purpose stockholder approval that is
required for continued compliance with Rule 16b-3 or stockholder approval that
is required to enable the Committee to grant incentive stock options pursuant to
the Plan).

         The Committee shall be authorized to make minor or administrative
modifications to the Plan as well as modifications to the Plan that may be
dictated by requirements of federal or state laws applicable to the Corporation
or that may be authorized or made desirable by such laws. The Committee may
amend or modify the grant of any outstanding Award in any manner to the extent
that the Committee would have had the authority to make such Award as so
modified or amended. No modification may be made that would materially adversely
affect any Award previously made under the Plan without the approval of the
grantee.

12. NON-GUARANTEE OF EMPLOYMENT

         Nothing in the Plan or in any Grant Agreement thereunder shall confer
any right on an employee to continue in the employ of the Corporation or shall
interfere in any way with the right of the Corporation to terminate an employee
at any time.

13. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT

         For purposes of maintaining a grantee's continuous status as an
employee and accrual of rights under any Award, transfer of an employee among
the Corporation and the Corporation's Parent or Subsidiaries shall not be
considered a termination of employment. Nor shall it be considered a termination
of employment for such purposes if an employee is placed on military or sick
leave or such other leave of absence which is considered as continuing intact
the employment relationship; in such a case, the employment relationship shall
be continued until the date when an employee's right to reemployment shall no
longer be guaranteed either by law or contract.

14. WRITTEN AGREEMENT

         Each Grant Agreement entered into between the Corporation and a grantee
with respect to an Award granted under the Plan shall incorporate the terms of
this Plan and shall contain such provisions, consistent with the provisions of
the Plan, as may be established by the Committee.

15. NON-UNIFORM DETERMINATIONS

         The Committee's determinations under the Plan (including without
limitation determinations of the persons to receive Awards, the form, amount and
timing of such

                                       11
<Page>

Awards, the terms and provisions of such Awards and the agreements evidencing
same) need not be uniform and may be made by it selectively among persons who
receive, or are eligible to receive, Awards under the Plan, whether or not such
persons are similarly situated.

16. LIMITATION ON BENEFITS

         With respect to persons subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act,
transactions under this Plan are intended to comply with all applicable
conditions of Rule 16b-3. To the extent any provision of the Plan or action by
the Committee fails to so comply, it shall be deemed null and void, to the
extent permitted by law and deemed advisable by the Committee.

17. LISTING AND REGISTRATION

         If the Corporation determines that the listing, registration or
qualification upon any securities exchange or upon any listing or quotation
system established by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
("Nasdaq System") or under any law, of shares subject to any Award is necessary
or desirable as a condition of, or in connection with, the granting of same or
the issue or purchase of shares thereunder, no such Award may be exercised in
whole or in part and no restrictions on such Award shall lapse, unless such
listing, registration or qualification is effected free of any conditions not
acceptable to the Corporation.

18. COMPLIANCE WITH SECURITIES LAW

         Common Stock shall not be issued with respect to an Award granted under
the Plan unless the exercise of such Award and the issuance and delivery of
share certificates thereunder for such Common Stock pursuant thereto shall
comply with all relevant provisions of law, including, without limitation, the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Exchange Act, the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder, and the requirements of any national securities exchange
or Nasdaq System upon which the Common Stock may then be listed or quoted, and
shall be further subject to the approval of counsel for the Corporation with
respect to such compliance to the extent such approval is sought by the
Committee.

         Stock certificates evidencing unregistered shares acquired upon the
exercise of Options shall contain a restrictive securities legend substantially
as follows:

         "THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED
         UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR UNDER THE SECURITIES
         LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION. THE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD
         OR OFFERED FOR SALE IN THE ABSENCE OF AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION
         STATEMENT FOR THE SECURITIES UNDER THE

                                       12
<Page>

         SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF
         ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION, OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL SATISFACTORY
         TO THE COMPANY THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED."

19. NO TRUST OR FUND CREATED

         Neither the Plan nor any Award shall create or be construed to create a
trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the
Corporation and a grantee or any other person. To the extent that any grantee or
other person acquires a right to receive payments from the Corporation pursuant
to an Award, such right shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured
general creditor of the Corporation.

20. NO LIMIT ON OTHER COMPENSATION ARRANGEMENTS

         Nothing contained in the Plan shall prevent the Corporation or its
Parent or Subsidiary corporations from adopting or continuing in effect other
compensation arrangements (whether such arrangements be generally applicable or
applicable only in specific cases) as the Committee in its discretion determines
desirable, including without limitation the granting of stock options or stock
appreciation rights otherwise than under the Plan.

21. NO RESTRICTION OF CORPORATE ACTION

         Nothing contained in the Plan shall be construed to prevent the
Corporation or any Parent or Subsidiary from taking any corporate action which
is deemed by the Corporation or such Parent or Subsidiary to be appropriate or
in its best interest, whether or not such action would have an adverse effect on
the Plan or any Award issued under the Plan. No employee, beneficiary or other
person shall have any claim against the Corporation or any Parent or Subsidiary
as a result of such action.

22. GOVERNING LAW

         The validity, construction and effect of the Plan, of Grant Agreements
entered into pursuant to the Plan, and of any rules, regulations, determinations
or decisions made by the Board or Committee relating to the Plan or such Grant
Agreements, and the rights of any and all persons having or claiming to have any
interest therein or thereunder, shall be determined exclusively in accordance
with applicable federal laws and the laws of the State of Maryland without
regard to its conflict of laws rules and principles.

23. PLAN SUBJECT TO ARTICLES AND BY-LAWS

         This Plan is subject to the Articles and By-Laws of the Corporation, as
they may be amended from time to time.

                                       13
<Page>

24. EFFECTIVE DATE; TERMINATION DATE

         The Plan is effective as of the date on which the Plan was adopted by
the Board; provided that no stock options issued hereunder shall be treated as
incentive stock options, regardless of the designation in the Grant Agreement,
unless the Plan is approved by the shareholders of the Corporation as provided
in Section 6(e)(vi). No Award shall be granted under the Plan after the close of
business on the day immediately preceding the tenth anniversary of the effective
date of the Plan. Subject to other applicable provisions of the Plan, all Awards
made under the Plan prior to such termination of the Plan shall remain in effect
until such Awards have been satisfied or terminated in accordance with the Plan
and the terms of such Awards.

Date Approved by the Board:          MAY   2003
Date Approved by the Shareholders:   MAY   2003

                                       14
<Page>

                              THE WHITE HOUSE, INC.
                             2003 STOCK OPTION PLAN

                      FORM OF STOCK OPTION GRANT AGREEMENT

         This Grant Agreement (the "Agreement") is entered into this ____ day of
______________, 2003, by and between The White House, Inc. (the "Corporation"),
a Maryland corporation, and ________________________ ("Grantee").

                                    ARTICLE 1
                                 GRANT OF OPTION

         SECTION 1.1 GRANT OF OPTIONS. Subject to the provisions of the
Agreement, and pursuant to the provisions of The White House, Inc. 2003 Stock
Option Plan (the "Plan"), Corporation hereby grants to Grantee, as of the Grant
Date specified in Attachment A, a Stock Option (the "Option") of the type stated
in Attachment A to purchase all or any part of the number of shares of Common
Stock set forth on Attachment A at the exercise price per share ("Option Price")
set forth on Attachment A.

         SECTION 1.2 TERM OF OPTIONS. Unless the Option granted pursuant to
Section 1.1 terminates earlier pursuant to other provisions of the Agreement,
the Option shall expire at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on the expiration
date specified in Attachment A. If earlier, the Option shall terminate on the
date specified in Article 4 following the termination of Grantee's employment or
affiliation (as a Director, subcontractor or outside consultant) with the
Corporation. In no event will the Option expire later than the day prior to the
tenth (10th) anniversary of its Grant Date.

                                    ARTICLE 2
                                     VESTING

         SECTION 2.1 VESTING SCHEDULE. Unless the Option has earlier terminated
pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, Grantee shall become vested on the
dates specified on Attachment A in a portion of the Option with respect to a
percentage or number of the underlying shares in accordance with the vesting
schedule specified on Attachment A; provided that Grantee shall have been in the
continuous employ of or affiliation (as a Director, subcontractor or outside
consultant) with the Corporation from the Grant Date through any such date.

                                    ARTICLE 3
                               EXERCISE OF OPTION

         SECTION 3.1 EXERCISABILITY OF OPTION. No portion of the Option granted
to Grantee shall be exercisable by Grantee prior to the time such portion of the
Option has vested.

<Page>

         SECTION 3.2 MANNER OF EXERCISE. The vested portion of the Option may be
exercised, in whole or in part, by delivering written notice to the Committee in
the form attached hereto as Attachment B or in such other form as the Committee
may require from time to time. Such notice shall specify the number of shares of
Common Stock subject to the Option as to which the Option is being exercised,
and shall be accompanied by full payment of the Option Price of the shares of
Common Stock as to which the Option is being exercised. Payment of the Option
Price shall be made in cash (or cash equivalents acceptable to the Committee in
the Committee's discretion). In the Committee's sole and absolute discretion,
the Committee may authorize payment of the Option Price to be made, in whole or
in part, by such other means as the Committee may prescribe. The Option may be
exercised only in multiples of whole shares and no partial shares shall be
issued.

         SECTION 3.3 ISSUANCE OF SHARES AND PAYMENT OF CASH UPON EXERCISE. Upon
exercise of the Option, in whole or in part, in accordance with the terms of the
Agreement and upon payment of the Option Price for the shares of Common Stock as
to which the Option is exercised, the Corporation shall issue to Grantee or, in
the event of Grantee's death, to Grantee's executor, personal representative or
the person to whom the Option shall have been transferred by will or the laws of
descent and distribution, as the case may be, the number of shares of Common
Stock so paid for, in the form of fully paid and nonassessable Common Stock. The
stock certificates for any shares of Common Stock issued hereunder shall, unless
such shares are registered or an exemption from registration is available under
applicable federal and state law, bear a legend restricting transferability of
such shares.

                                    ARTICLE 4
                            TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT

         SECTION 4.1 EARLY TERMINATION OF UNVESTED PORTION. Unless the Option
has earlier terminated pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, the
unvested portion of the Option shall terminate immediately upon termination of
Grantee's employment or affiliation (as a Director, subcontractor or outside
consultant) with the Corporation for any reason.

         SECTION 4.2 EARLY TERMINATION OF VESTED PORTION UPON TERMINATION OF
EMPLOYMENT OR AFFILIATION FOR REASON OTHER THAN DEATH OR DISABILITY. Unless the
Option has earlier terminated pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, the
vested portion of the Option shall terminate (i) immediately upon a termination
of Grantee's employment or affiliation (as a Director, subcontractor or outside
consultant) with the Corporation by resignation or for "cause" or (ii) thirty
(30) days after the termination of Grantee's employment or affiliation (as a
Director, subcontractor or outside consultant) with the Corporation for any
other reason except the Grantee's death or Disability. If Grantee is a party to
a written employment agreement with the Corporation which contains a definition
of "cause", "termination for cause" or any other similar term or phrase, whether
such Grantee is terminated for "cause" pursuant to this Section 4.2 shall be

                                      -2-
<Page>

determined according to the terms of and in a manner consistent with the
provisions of such written employment agreement. If Grantee is not party to such
a written employment agreement with the Corporation, then for purposes of this
Section 4.2, "cause" shall mean the failure by the Grantee to perform his or her
duties as assigned by the Corporation in a reasonable manner; any act by the
Grantee of dishonesty or bad faith with respect to the Corporation; or the
commission by the Grantee of any act, misdemeanor, or crime reflecting
unfavorably upon the Grantee or the Corporation. The good faith determination by
the Committee of whether the Grantee's employment was terminated by the
Corporation for "cause" shall be final and binding for all purposes hereunder.

         SECTION 4.3 EARLY TERMINATION OF VESTED PORTION UPON TERMINATION OF
EMPLOYMENT OR AFFILIATION BY REASON OF GRANTEE'S DEATH. Unless the Option has
earlier terminated pursuant to the provisions of the Agreement, upon termination
of Grantee's employment or affiliation (as a Director, subcontractor or outside
consultant) with the Corporation by reason of Grantee's death, Grantee's
executor, personal representative or the person to whom the Option shall have
been transferred by will or the laws of descent and distribution, as the case
may be, may exercise all or any part of the vested portion of the Option as of
the date of Grantee's death, provided such exercise occurs within twelve (12)
months after the date Grantee dies, but not later than the end of the stated
term of the Option.

         SECTION 4.4 EARLY TERMINATION OF VESTED PORTION UPON TERMINATION OF
EMPLOYMENT OR AFFILIATION BY REASON OF DISABILITY. Unless the Option has earlier
terminated pursuant to the provisions of the Agreement, in the event that
Grantee ceases, by reason of Disability, to be an employee of or affiliated (as
a Director, subcontractor or outside consultant) with the Corporation, the
vested portion of the Option as of the date of termination may be exercised in
whole or in part at any time within twelve (12) months after the date of
Disability, but not later than the end of the stated term of the Option. For
purposes of this Agreement, Disability shall be as defined in Code Section
22(e)(3) and shall be determined by the Committee, with its determination on the
matter being final and binding.

                                    ARTICLE 5
                                  MISCELLANEOUS

         SECTION 5.1 NON-GUARANTEE OF EMPLOYMENT. Nothing in the Plan or the
Agreement shall be construed as a contract of employment between the Corporation
(or an affiliate) and Grantee, or as a contractual right of Grantee to continue
in the employ of the Corporation or an affiliate, or as a limitation of the
right of the Corporation or an affiliate to discharge Grantee at any time.

         SECTION 5.2 NO RIGHTS OF STOCKHOLDER. Grantee shall not have any of the
rights of a stockholder with respect to the shares of Common Stock that may be
issued upon the exercise of the Option until such shares of Common Stock have
been issued to him upon the due exercise of the Option.

                                      -3-

<Page>

         SECTION 5.3 NOTICE OF DISQUALIFYING DISPOSITION. If Grantee makes a
disposition (as that term is defined in ss.424(c) of the Code) of any shares of
Common Stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option
within two (2) years of the Grant Date or within one (1) year after the shares
of Common Stock are transferred to Grantee, Grantee shall notify the Committee
of such disposition in writing.

         SECTION 5.4 WITHHOLDING OF TAXES. The Corporation or any affiliate
shall have the right to deduct from any compensation or any other payment of any
kind (including withholding the issuance of shares of Common Stock) due Grantee
the amount of any federal, state or local taxes required by law to be withheld
as the result of the exercise of the Option or the disposition (as that term is
defined in ss.424(c) of the Code) of shares of Common Stock acquired pursuant to
the exercise of the Option; provided, however, that the value of the shares of
Common Stock withheld may not exceed the statutory minimum withholding amount
required by law. In lieu of such deduction, the Committee may require Grantee to
make a cash payment to the Corporation or an affiliate equal to the amount
required to be withheld. If Grantee does not make such payment when requested,
the Corporation may refuse to issue any Common Stock certificate under the Plan
until arrangements satisfactory to the Committee for such payment have been
made.

         SECTION 5.5 NONTRANSFERABILITY OF OPTION. The Option shall be
nontransferable otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution.
During the lifetime of Grantee, the Option may be exercised only by Grantee or,
during the period Grantee is under a legal disability, by Grantee's guardian or
legal representative. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a nonqualified stock option
shall be transferable to members of Grantee's "family" as defined in Section 9
of the Plan or otherwise as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.

         SECTION 5.6 AGREEMENT SUBJECT TO CHARTER AND BYLAWS. This Agreement is
subject to the Charter and Bylaws of the Corporation, and any applicable Federal
or state laws, rules or regulations, including without limitation, the laws,
rules, and regulations of the State of Maryland.

         SECTION 5.7 GENDER. As used herein the  masculine  shall  include the
feminine as the circumstances may require.

         SECTION 5.8  HEADINGS. The headings in the Agreement are for reference
purposes only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of the
Agreement.

         SECTION 5.9 NOTICES. All notices and other communications made or given
pursuant to the Agreement shall be in writing and shall be sufficiently made or
given if hand delivered or mailed by certified mail, addressed to Grantee at the
address contained in the records of the Corporation, or addressed to the
Committee, care of the Corporation for the attention of its Secretary at its
principal office or, if the receiving party consents in

                                      -4-

<Page>

advance, transmitted and received via telecopy or via such other electronic
transmission mechanism as may be available to the parties.

         SECTION 5.10 ENTIRE AGREEMENT; MODIFICATION. The Agreement contains the
entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter
contained herein and may not be modified, except as provided in the Plan or in a
written document signed by each of the parties hereto.

         SECTION 5.11 CONFORMITY WITH PLAN. This Agreement is intended to
conform in all respects with, and is subject to all applicable provisions of,
the Plan, which is incorporated herein by reference. Unless stated otherwise
herein, capitalized terms in this Agreement shall have the same meaning as
defined in the Plan. Inconsistencies between this Agreement and the Plan shall
be resolved in accordance with the terms of the Plan. In the event of any
ambiguity in the Agreement or any matters as to which the Agreement is silent,
the Plan shall govern including, without limitation, the provisions thereof
pursuant to which the Committee has the power, among others, to (i) interpret
the Plan and Grant Agreements related thereto, (ii) prescribe, amend and rescind
rules and regulations relating to the Plan, and (iii) make all other
determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan.
The Grantee acknowledges by signing this Agreement that he or she has received
and reviewed a copy of the Plan.

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

ATTEST:                                 THE WHITE HOUSE, INC.

                                        By:
--------------------------                  ------------------------------

WITNESS:                                    GRANTEE

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

                                      -5-
<Page>

                                  ATTACHMENT A

GRANTEE:                   _________________________________________

TYPE OF OPTION:            _________________________________________
                           [INSERT INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION ("ISO")
                           OR NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION]

GRANT DATE:                _________________________________________

NUMBER AND CLASS
OF SHARES:                 _________________________________________

EXERCISE PRICE PER SHARE:  _________________________________________
                           [IF AN ISO, INSERT A PRICE WHICH IS AT LEAST
                           100% OF THE FAIR MARKET VALUE, OR FOR A 10%
                           OWNER, AT LEAST 110%]

EXPIRATION DATE:           _________________________________________
                           [INSERT A DATE THAT IS NO LATER THAN THE
                           10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE GRANT DATE OR, FOR
                           AN ISO GRANTED TO A 10% OWNER, THE 5TH SUCH
                           ANNIVERSARY]

TERMINATION DATE:          If earlier than the Expiration Date, the Option
                           terminates at the following times after your
                           termination of employment or affiliation with the
                           Corporation:

                           IMMEDIATELY - following resignation or termination
                           for cause

                           12 MONTHS - following termination due to death or
                           disability

                           30 DAYS - following termination for any other reason.

VESTING SCHEDULE:

The Option shall become vested and exercisable with respect to

1.     TWENTY PERCENT (20%)         of the shares subject to the Option on the
     [INSERT PERCENT OR FRACTION]   first anniversary of the Grant Date; and an
                                    additional

2.     TWENTY PERCENT (20%)         of the shares subject to the Option on each
    [INSERT PERCENT OR FRACTION]    succeeding anniversary of the Grant Date,

provided Grantee has been in continuous employment or affiliation (as a
consultant or director) with the Corporation from the Grant Date through any
such vesting date.

<Page>

                                  ATTACHMENT B
                                  EXERCISE FORM

The White House, Inc.
6711 Baymeadow Drive, Suite A
Glen Burnie, Maryland  21060

Gentlemen:

         1. EXERCISE OF STOCK OPTION. I hereby exercise the [Insert Type]
______________Stock Option (the "Stock Option") granted to me on
____________________, 200_, by The White House, Inc. (the "Corporation"),
subject to all the terms and provisions thereof and of the The White House, Inc.
2003 Stock Option Plan (the "Plan"), and notify you of my desire to purchase
____________ shares (the "Shares") of Common Stock of the Corporation at a price
of $___________ per share pursuant to the exercise of said Stock Option.

         2. TAX CONSEQUENCES. I am not relying upon the Corporation for any tax
advice in connection with this option exercise, but rather am relying on my own
personal tax advisors in connection with the exercise of the Stock Option and
any subsequent disposition of the Shares.

         3. TAX WITHHOLDING. I understand that, in the case of a nonqualified
stock option, I must submit upon demand from the Corporation an amount in cash
or cash equivalents sufficient to satisfy any federal, state or local tax
withholding applicable to this Stock Option exercise, in addition to the
purchase price enclosed, or make such other arrangements for such tax
withholding that are satisfactory to the Corporation, in its sole discretion, in
order for this exercise to be effective.

Total Amount Enclosed:  $__________

Date:________________________               ____________________________________
                                            (Optionee)

                                            Received by The White House, Inc.

                                            On:_________________________, 20___

                                            By:_________________________________

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