-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000919574-03-002488.txt : 20031210
<SEC-HEADER>0000919574-03-002488.hdr.sgml : 20031210
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031210165459
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000919574-03-002488
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031208
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031210

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PENINSULA CAPITAL ADVISORS LLC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001265816

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	333-13967
		FILM NUMBER:		031047806

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		404B EAST MAIN STREET
		CITY:			CHARLOTTESVILLE
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			2902

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PENINSULA INVESTMENT PARTNERS LP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001130325

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	333-13967
		FILM NUMBER:		031047807

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4048 EAST MAIN ST.
		STREET 2:		2ND FL.
		CITY:			CHARLOTTESVILLE
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			22902

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4048 EAST MAIN ST.
		STREET 2:		2ND FL.
		CITY:			CHARLOTTESVILLE
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			22902

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	PENINSULA PARTNERS LP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20001220

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WESCHLER R TED
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001130334

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	333-13967
		FILM NUMBER:		031047805

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4048 EAST MAIN ST.
		STREET 2:		2ND FL.
		CITY:			CHARLOTTESVILLE
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			22902

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4048 EAST MAIN ST.
		STREET 2:		2ND FL.
		CITY:			CHARLOTTESVILLE
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			22902

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WILSONS THE LEATHER EXPERTS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001016607
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-FAMILY CLOTHING STORES [5651]
		IRS NUMBER:				411839933
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MN
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0201

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7401 BOONE AVENUE NORTH
		STREET 2:		ST LOUIS PARK
		CITY:			BROOKLYN PARK
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55428
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6123914000
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>p448676_ex.xml
<DESCRIPTION>WESCHLER (12-10-03)
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!-- - EDGAR Ease Plus 1.0                                   07/25/03  TT    -->
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
   <periodOfReport>2003-12-08</periodOfReport>
   <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001016607</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WILSONS THE LEATHER EXPERTS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>WLSN</issuerTradingSymbol>
   </issuer>
   <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001130325</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PENINSULA INVESTMENT PARTNERS LP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>404B EAST MAIN ST.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>2ND FL.</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHARLOTTESVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>VA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>22902</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
         <isDirector>0</isDirector>
         <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
         <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
         <isOther>0</isOther>
      </reportingOwnerRelationship>
   </reportingOwner>
   <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001265816</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PENINSULA CAPITAL ADVISORS LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>404B EAST MAIN STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHARLOTTESVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>VA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>2902</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
         <isDirector>0</isDirector>
         <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
         <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
         <isOther>0</isOther>
      </reportingOwnerRelationship>
   </reportingOwner>
   <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001130334</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WESCHLER R TED</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>404B EAST MAIN ST.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>2ND FL.</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHARLOTTESVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>VA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>22902</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
         <isDirector>0</isDirector>
         <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
         <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
         <isOther>0</isOther>
      </reportingOwnerRelationship>
   </reportingOwner>
 <nonDerivativeTable>
   <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2003-12-08</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <deemedExecutionDate>
         <value>2003-12-08</value>
      </deemedExecutionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>75000</value>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionPricePerShare>
           <value>3.97</value>
         </transactionPricePerShare>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>A</value>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>2667000</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <value>I</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
         <natureOfOwnership>
            <value>See Footnote 1</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
         </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeTransaction>
 </nonDerivativeTable>
   <footnotes>
      <footnote id="F1"> These securities are held in the account of Peninsula Investment Partners, L.P. (the &quot;Partnership&quot;) for which Peninsula Capital Advisors, LLC (&quot;Peninsula Advisors&quot;) serves as investment manager.  Mr. R. Ted Weschler is the managing member of Peninsula Advisors.  Peninsula Advisors and Mr. Weschler may be deemed to beneficially own the securities held by the Partnership by virtue of Peninsula Advisor's position as investment manager of the Partnership and Mr. Weschler's status as the managing member of Peninsula Advisors.</footnote>
   </footnotes>
   <remarks>(+)  Each of the Reporting Persons and the joint filer (each, a &quot;Reporting Person&quot; and collectively, the &quot;Reporting Persons&quot;) disclaims beneficial ownership of the reported securities except to the extent of its pecuniary interest therein.  The Reporting Persons affirmatively disclaim being a &quot;group&quot; for purposes of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.</remarks>
   <ownerSignature>
      <signatureName>Peninsula Investment Partners, LP(+) by: Peninsula Capital Appreciation, LLC, its GP by /s/ R. Ted Weschler, Managing Member</signatureName>
      <signatureDate>2003-12-10</signatureDate>
   </ownerSignature>
   <ownerSignature>
      <signatureName>Peninsula Capital Advisors, LLC(+) by:  /s/ R. Ted Weschler, Managing Member</signatureName>
      <signatureDate>2003-12-10</signatureDate>
   </ownerSignature>
   <ownerSignature>
      <signatureName>/s/ R. Ted Weschler(+)</signatureName>
      <signatureDate>2003-12-10</signatureDate>
   </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----