Exhibit 99.1

Contacts:
Pete Michielutti	Stacy Kruse
Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer	Vice President Finance, Treasurer
Wilsons The Leather Experts Inc.	Wilsons The Leather Experts Inc.
(763) 391-4000	(763) 391-4000

For Immediate Release

Wilsons The Leather Experts Inc. Announces
Third Quarter 2005 Operating Results

     MINNEAPOLIS — (BUSINESS WIRE) — November 15, 2005 — Wilsons The Leather Experts Inc. (NASDAQ: WLSN) today reported third quarter and year-to-date operating results.

     Net sales for the third quarter ended October 29, 2005 decreased 13.1% to $76.4 million compared to $87.9 million for the same period last year. Comparable store sales decreased 11.3% compared to an increase of 7.2% in the same period last year.

     Wilsons Leather reported a net loss for the 2005 third quarter of $11.7 million, or $0.30 per basic and diluted share. This compares to a net loss for the 2004 third quarter of $8.5 million, or $0.22 per basic and diluted share. Included in the results for the 2004 third quarter is a net loss of $2.7 million, or $0.07 per basic and diluted share, primarily related to lease termination costs, severance, and other restructuring charges related to the closing of 111 stores. Net loss for the 2004 third quarter, when adjusted to remove the $2.7 million in charges related to store closings and restructuring, was $5.8 million, or $0.15 per basic and diluted share.

     Year-to-date sales decreased 9.1% to $219.1 million compared to $241.0 million for the same period last year. Sales for the prior year-to-date period included approximately $20.8 million in liquidation sales resulting from the transfer of inventory to an independent liquidator in conjunction with the closing of approximately 111 stores. Comparable store sales for the nine-month period increased 3.1% compared to an increase of 4.7% in the same period last year. Comparable store sales for the prior year-to-date period do not include sales from stores that were liquidated.

     The net loss for the current nine-month period was $29.5 million, or $0.76 per basic and diluted share. This compares to a net loss of $65.7 million, or $2.29 per basic and diluted share, in the first three quarters of 2004. Included in the results for the 2004 fiscal year is a net loss of $25.1 million, or $0.88 per basic and diluted share, related to the transfer of inventory to an independent liquidator in conjunction with the closing of 111 stores, accelerated depreciation, fixed asset write-offs, lease termination costs related to store closings, severance, and other restructuring charges. Net loss for the 2004 nine-month period, when adjusted to remove the $25.1 million in charges related to store closings and restructuring, was $40.6 million, or $1.41 per basic and diluted share.

7401 Boone Avenue North Brooklyn Park, Minnesota 55428
763.391.4000 phone, 763.391.4906 fax, www.wilsonsleather.com

     A reconciliation of the net loss and basic and diluted loss per share for the 2004 periods with and without the charges related to the 2004 restructuring appears in an accompanying table. Net loss and basic and diluted loss per share excluding these restructuring charges are measures of performance that are not defined by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and should be viewed in addition to, and not in lieu of, the net loss and basic and diluted loss per share as reported on a GAAP basis.

     Michael Searles, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “We are disappointed in our operating performance during the third quarter of 2005. Our performance was out of step with the momentum we built during the fist six months of the year. Sales during the quarter were significantly affected by weather, which resulted in weak performance across the board. The men’s division was down 14.5%, women’s was down 22.4%, and accessories were up 0.4%. Mall comparable store sales were down 10.0% during the quarter and outlets were down 14.3%.”

     Searles continued, “While our third quarter performance was disappointing, we are satisfied with our performance year-to-date. For the year, our comparable store sales performance has been positive, margin rates are running 260 basis points ahead of last year and SG&A expenses as a percentage of sales are in line with last year. Our balance sheet remains strong. Our revolving line of credit balance of $13.0 million at the end of the quarter is the lowest it has been during this time of year since going public. Total inventory at the end of the quarter, including in transit inventory, is 140 basis points below last year.”

     Searles concluded by commenting on the Company’s outlook for the fourth quarter. “Unfavorable weather patterns have continued into November and our early November sales have been impacted. With that said, we will be implementing a number of initiatives to drive sales during the fourth quarter. Near term, we expect to be able to maintain our pricing so that we can drive improved margins during the upcoming quarter as compared to last year. We’ve learned from previous fall seasons with similar weather patterns that lowering prices only serves to give back margin rather than significantly improving sales. We are working hard to ensure that we will have the right merchandise mix in place between fashion and basics when weather becomes less of a factor. We believe our performance thus far provides our company with a financial foundation that enables any flexibility needed during the ever important holiday selling season.”

About Wilsons Leather

     Wilsons Leather is the leading specialty retailer of leather outerwear, accessories and apparel in the United States. As of October 29, 2005, Wilsons Leather operated 430 stores located in 45 states, including 306 mall stores, 110 outlet stores and 14 airport stores. The Company regularly

7401 Boone Avenue North Brooklyn Park, Minnesota 55428
763.391.4000 phone, 763.391.4906 fax, www.wilsonsleather.com

supplements its permanent mall stores with seasonal stores during its peak selling season from October through January.

     Except for historical information, matters discussed in this press release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results may be materially different. Such statements are based on information available to management as of the time of such statements, and relate to, among other things, expected results of operations and operating performance, including our financial ability to respond to changes, pricing and gross margins, and demand for the Company’s products. Factors that could cause actual results to differ include: changes in customer shopping patterns; competition in our markets; uncertainty in general economic conditions, including rising energy prices; our inability to effectively respond to changes in fashion trends and consumer demands; failure of results of operations to meet expectations of research analysts; our inability to grow the business as planned; decreased availability and increased cost of leather; risks associated with foreign sourcing and international business; seasonality of our business; risks associated with our debt service; risks associated with estimates made by management based on our critical accounting policies; changes to financial accounting standards that may affect our results of operations; loss of key members of our senior management team; the sale into the market of the shares issued in our 2004 equity financing or issuable upon exercise of warrants delivered in connection with our equity financing; concentration of our common stock; volatility of the market price of our common stock; reliance on third parties for upgrading and maintaining our management information systems; war, acts of terrorism or the threat of either; interruption in the operation of our corporate offices and distribution center; and the sale into the market of our common stock by existing shareholders, including shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding vested options. The information included in this press release is operative as of this date only. Wilsons Leather does not undertake any obligation to update its forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. In order to ensure that all investors continue to have equal access to the same information, Wilsons Leather will refrain from updating projections made in this press release unless it does so through means designed to provide broad distribution of the information to the public.

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7401 Boone Avenue North Brooklyn Park, Minnesota 55428
763.391.4000 phone, 763.391.4906 fax, www.wilsonsleather.com

WILSONS THE LEATHER EXPERTS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands)

	October 29,		January 29,		October 30,
	2005		2005(1)		2004(2)
	(Unaudited)				(Unaudited)
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	—	$	48,821	$	—
Accounts receivable, net		6,409		3,643		4,463
Inventories		122,988		86,059		124,760
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		5,091		3,246		7,725
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS		134,488		141,769		136,948
Property and equipment, net		42,733		44,606		48,501
Other assets, net		1,733		2,205		2,393
TOTAL ASSETS	$	178,954	$	188,580	$	187,842
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	$	34,260	$	17,697	$	35,144
Notes payable		13,642		—		21,557
Current portion of long-term debt		—		5,000		—
Accrued expenses		18,967		22,959		22,553
Liabilities of discontinued operations		—		—		296
Income taxes payable		2,504		4,307		3,585
Deferred income taxes		5,585		5,585		8,203
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES		74,958		55,548		91,338
Long-term debt		20,000		20,000		25,000
Other long-term liabilities		17,774		17,925		18,652
Total shareholders’ equity		66,222		95,107		52,852
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY	$	178,954	$	188,580	$	187,842

1.	Derived from audited consolidated financial statements.
2.	Reclassified for the presentation of certain lease accounting issues clarified by the Office of the Chief Accountant of the Securities and Exchange Commission in a letter to the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants on February 7, 2005.

Note: The Company’s inventories are determined by the retail method on the last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) basis. The difference in inventories between the LIFO method and the first-in, first-out method was not material as of October 29, 2005, January 29, 2005 or October 30, 2004.

WILSONS THE LEATHER EXPERTS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)

	For the three months ended
	October 29,			October 30,
	2005			2004(1)
NET SALES	$	76,389		$	87,923
COST OF GOODS SOLD, BUYING AND OCCUPANCY COSTS		56,232			62,356
Gross margin		20,157			25,567
SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES		27,226			28,851
DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION		3,275			3,824
Operating loss		(10,344	)		(7,108	)
INTEREST EXPENSE, net		949			1,385
Loss before income taxes		(11,293	)		(8,493	)
INCOME TAX PROVISION		423			—
Net loss	$	(11,716	)	$	(8,493	)
BASIC AND DILUTED LOSS PER SHARE:
Basic and diluted loss per share	$	(0.30	)	$	(0.22	)
Weighted average shares outstanding — basic and diluted		39,021			38,843

1. Reclassified for the presentation of certain lease accounting issues clarified by the Office of the Chief Accountant of the Securities and Exchange Commission in a letter to the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants on February 7, 2005.

WILSONS THE LEATHER EXPERTS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)

	For the year-to-date period ended
	October 29,			October 30,
	2005			2004(1)
NET SALES	$	219,135		$	241,004
COST OF GOODS SOLD, BUYING AND OCCUPANCY COSTS		160,165			183,810
Gross margin		58,970			57,194
SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES		76,598			90,606
DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION		10,567			26,235
Operating loss		(28,195	)		(59,647	)
INTEREST EXPENSE, net		2,295			6,082
Loss before income taxes		(30,490	)		(65,729	)
INCOME TAX BENEFIT		(988	)		—
Net loss	$	(29,502	)	$	(65,729	)
BASIC AND DILUTED LOSS PER SHARE:
Basic and diluted loss per share	$	(0.76	)	$	(2.29	)
Weighted average shares outstanding — basic and diluted		38,973			28,743

1. Reclassified for the presentation of certain lease accounting issues clarified by the Office of the Chief Accountant of the Securities and Exchange Commission in a letter to the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants on February 7, 2005.

WILSONS THE LEATHER EXPERTS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)

Reconciliation of the GAAP net loss and loss per basic and diluted share to the adjusted net loss and loss per basic and diluted share:

	For the three months ended October 30, 2004
				Basic and diluted
	Net loss			loss per share
As reported	$	(8,493	)	$	(0.22	)
Restructuring and other charges (1)		2,731			0.07
Adjusted	$	(5,762	)	$	(0.15	)

(1) Includes $2.7 million related to lease termination costs, severance, and other restructuring charges.

	For the year-to-date period ended October 30, 2004
				Basic and diluted
	Net loss			loss per share
As reported	$	(65,729	)	$	(2.29	)
Restructuring and other charges (1)		25,128			0.88
Adjusted	$	(40,601	)	$	(1.41	)

(1) Includes $25.1 million related to the transfer of inventory to an independent liquidator in conjunction with the closing of approximately 111 stores, lease termination costs, accelerated depreciation, asset write-offs related to store closings, severance, and other restructuring charges.