Limited Brands Reports July Sales

August 8, 2002

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Aug. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --- Limited Brands (NYSE: LTD) reported a comparable store sales increase of 2% for the four weeks ended August 3, 2002 compared to the four weeks ended August 4, 2001. Net sales were $582.9 million, an increase of 6% compared to adjusted sales of $548.5 million last year. Adjusted sales in 2001 exclude sales from Lane Bryant, which was sold to , Inc. (Nasdaq: CHRS) in August 2001. Net sales for the four weeks ended August 4, 2001 including Lane Bryant were $612.3 million.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020520/CLM001LOGO )

The Company reported a comparable store sales increase of 4% for the twenty-six weeks ended August 3, 2002 compared to the twenty-six weeks ended August 4, 2001. Net sales were $4.140 billion, an increase of 8% compared to adjusted sales of $3.851 billion last year. Net sales for the twenty-six weeks ended August 4, 2001 including Lane Bryant were $4.319 billion.

The Company plans to file its CEO/CFO statements with the SEC on the scheduled due date of September 17, 2002.

To hear Limited Brands' prerecorded July sales message, call 1-800-337-6551, followed by the passcode LTD (583), or log onto www.Limitedbrands.com for an audio replay. The Company will report second quarter earnings on August 22, 2002.

ABOUT LIMITED BRANDS:

Limited Brands, through Victoria's Secret, Bath & Body Works, Express, Express Men's (Structure), Lerner New York, Limited Stores, White Barn Candle Co. and , presently operates 4,564 specialty stores. Victoria's Secret products are also available through the catalogue and www.VictoriasSecret.com .

LIMITED BRANDS July 2002

Comparable Store Sales Increase (Decrease):

Second Second Year- Year- July July Quarter Quarter to-date to-date 2002 2001 2002 2001 2002 2001 Victoria's Secret Stores 4% (5%) 5% (3%) 6% (5%) Bath & Body Works 0% (11%) (2%) (9%) (5%) (8%)

Express (2%) (5%) 5% (6%) 6% (3%) Lerner New York 7% (13%) 7% (8%) 5% (1%) Limited Stores 11% (7%) 13% (5%) 11% (3%) Total Apparel 2% (7%) 7% (6%) 7% (3%) Limited Brands 2% (6%) 4% (5%) 4% (4%)

Total Sales (Millions):

Second Second Year-to-date Year-to-date Quarter 2002 Quarter 2001 2002 2001 Victoria's Secret Stores $ 615.3 $ 563.0 $ 1,151.5 $ 1,042.7 Victoria's Secret Direct 249.2 229.1 475.0 455.2 Total Victoria's Secret $ 864.5 $ 792.1 $ 1,626.5 $ 1,497.9 Bath & Body Works $ 374.3 $ 358.9 $ 694.6 $ 678.7

Express $ 449.5 $ 434.4 $ 931.6 $ 885.7 Lerner New York 200.4 193.5 428.8 421.8 Limited Stores 141.6 131.4 297.5 276.8 Total Apparel $ 791.5 $ 759.3 $ 1,657.9 $ 1,584.3 Total Other $ 82.5 $ 281.8 $ 161.0 $ 558.1 Limited Brands $ 2,112.8 $ 2,192.1 $ 4,140.0 $ 4,319.0 Total Stores:

Express Stores Stores Beginning Year-to-date Integration Operating Operating of Year Opened Closed (see note) at 8/3/02 at 8/4/01 Victoria's Secret Stores 1,002 15 (8) - 1,009 982 Bath & Body Works 1,615 26 (12) - 1,629 1,539

Express Women 667 2 (5) (20) 644 661 Express Men's 439 - (37) (16) 386 456 Express Dual Gender - 3 - 20 23 - Total Express 1,106 5 (42) (16) 1,053 1,117 Lerner New York 522 - (10) - 512 547 Limited Stores 368 - (8) - 360 382 Total Apparel 1,996 5 (60) (16) 1,925 2,046 Henri Bendel 1 - - - 1 1 Lane Bryant - - - - - 650 Total Other Businesses 1 - - - 1 651 Total Limited Brands 4,614 46 (80) (16) 4,564 5,218

Note: "Express Integration" represents conversion of Express Women and Express Men stores to Express dual gender stores.

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SOURCE Limited Brands Web site: http: //www.limitedbrands.com http://www.VictoriasSecret.com Photo: http: //www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020520/CLM001LOGO AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org PRN Photo Desk, 888-776-6555 or 212-782-2840 CONTACT: Tom Katzenmeyer, Vice President, Communications and Investor Relations of Limited Brands, +1-614-415-7076 CAPTION: CLM001LOGO LIMITED BRANDS LOGO Limited Brands logo. (PRNewsFoto)[AS] COLUMBUS, OH USA 05/20/2002