Limited Brands Reports August Sales

September 5, 2002

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Sept. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Limited Brands (NYSE: LTD) reported a comparable store sales increase of 1% for the four weeks ended August 31, 2002 compared to the four weeks ended September 1, 2001. Net sales were $642.8 million, an increase of 5% compared to adjusted sales of $613.7 million last year. Adjusted sales in 2001 exclude sales from Lane Bryant, which was sold to Charming Shoppes, Inc. (Nasdaq: CHRS) in August 2001. Net sales for the four weeks ended September 1, 2001 including Lane Bryant were $641.0 million.

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

The Company reported a comparable store sales increase of 4% for the thirty weeks ended August 31, 2002 compared to the thirty weeks ended September 1, 2001. Net sales were $4.783 billion, an increase of 7% compared to adjusted sales of $4.465 billion last year. Net sales for the thirty weeks ended September 1, 2001 including Lane Bryant were $4.960 billion.

To hear Limited Brands' prerecorded August sales message, call 1-800-337-6551, followed by the passcode LTD (583), or log onto www.Limitedbrands.com for an audio replay.

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 Henri Bendel, presently operates 4,574 specialty stores. Victoria's Secret products are also available through the catalogue and www.VictoriasSecret.com .

LIMITED BRANDS August 2002

Comparable Store Sales Increase (Decrease):

Year Year August August to-Date to-Date 2002 2001 2002 2001

Victoria's Secret Stores 3% (4%) 6% (5%) Bath & Body Works (2%) (15%) (5%) (9%)

Express (3%) (2%) 5% (3%) Lerner New York 0% (3%) 4% (1%) Limited Stores 17% (2%) 12% (3%) Total Apparel 1% (2%) 6% (2%) Limited Brands 1% (4%) 4% (4%)

Total Stores:

Year-to-date Express Stores Stores Beginning Integration Operating Operating of Year Opened Closed (see note) at 8/31/02 at 9/1/01

Victoria's Secret Stores 1,002 22 (9) - 1,015 987 Bath & Body Works 1,615 35 (15) - 1,635 1,555

Express Women 667 2 (5) (25) 639 660 Express Men's 439 - (40) (16) 383 456 Express Dual Gender - 4 - 25 29 - Total Express 1,106 6 (45) (16) 1,051 1,116 Lerner New York 522 1 (11) - 512 545 Limited Stores 368 - (8) - 360 380 Total Apparel 1,996 7 (64) (16) 1,923 2,041 Henri Bendel 1 - - - 1 1 Total Limited Brands 4,614 64 (88) (16) 4,574 4,584 Note: "Express Integration" represents conversion of Express Women and Express Men stores to Express dual gender stores.

MAKE YOUR OPINION COUNT - Click Here http://tbutton.prnewswire.com/prn/11690X92847361 SOURCE Limited Brands Web site: http: //www.limitedbrands.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