The Dress Barn, Inc. Reports February Sales Results

Business Wire, March 3, 2005

SUFFERN, N.Y. -- The Dress Barn, Inc. (NASDAQ - DBRN), a nationally leading specialty apparel retailer offering quality career and casual fashions at value prices, today reported its fiscal February sales results.

Total sales for the four-week fiscal period ended February 26, 2005 increased 91% to $71.2 million compared to $37.3 million reported for comparable fiscal period ended February 21, 2004. February's monthly sales include sales for Maurices Incorporated ("Maurices"), which was acquired January 2, 2005. Same-store sales for The Dress Barn, Inc. (the "Company") increased 15% for the fiscal monthly period, and include same-store sales for Maurices in both years.

Same-store sales for the Company's fiscal month ended February 26, 2005 were as follows:

Fiscal
                              Four-Week Period
                                    Ended
                              February 26, 2005
                              -----------------

    Dress Barn                       +19%
                                     ----
    Maurices                         + 8%
                                     ----

    Total Company Same-Store Sales   +15%
                                     ====

As a result of the Company's fiscal year ended July 31, 2004 which contained a 53rd week, year over year sales comparisons are shifted one week later for reporting purposes during the current year. The fiscal February sales reporting calendar followed by many retailers compares the four-week period ended February 26, 2005 to the four-week reporting period ended February 28, 2004. On this reporting basis the Company's February same-store sales increased 8%.

As of February 26, 2005, the Company operated 774 Dress Barn stores in 45 states and 473 Maurices stores 39 states. Please visit www.dressbarn.com and www.maurices.com for more information about our companies.