POWER OF ATTORNEY


For Executing and Filing Forms 3, 4 and 5

       KNOW ALL BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned
hereby constitutes and appoints Sheamus Toal, in addition
to any and all previous appointments, his/her true and
lawful attorney-in-fact to:

(1)  Execute for and on behalf of the undersigned a
Form 3, Form 4 or Form 5 relating to the securities
of New York & Company, Inc., in accordance with
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 and the rules thereunder;

(2) Do and perform any and all acts for and on behalf
of the undersigned which may be necessary or
desirable to complete the execution of such Form 3,
Form 4 or Form 5 and the timely filing of such form
with the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission and any other authority; and

(3)  Take any other action of any type whatsoever in
connection with the foregoing which, in the opinion
of such attorney-in-fact, may be of benefit to, in
the best interest of, or legally required by, the
undersigned, it being understood that the documents
executed by such attorney-in-fact on behalf of the
undersigned pursuant to this Power of Attorney
shall be in such form and shall contain such terms
and conditions as such attorney-in-fact may approve
in his discretion.

       The undersigned hereby grants to such attorney-in-fact
full power and authority to do and perform all and every
act and thing whatsoever requisite, necessary and proper to
be done in the exercise of any of the rights and powers
herein granted, as fully to all intents and purposes as
such attorney-in-fact might or could do if personally
present, hereby ratifying and confirming all that such
attorney-in-fact shall lawfully do or cause to be done by
virtue of this Power of Attorney and the rights and powers
herein granted.  The undersigned acknowledges that the
foregoing attorney-in-fact, in serving in such capacity at
the request of the undersigned, is not assuming any of the
undersigned's responsibilities to comply with Section 16 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  This Power of
Attorney shall remain in full force and effect until the
undersigned is no longer required to file Forms 3, 4 or 5
with respect to the undersigned's holdings of and
transactions in securities issued by New York & Company,
Inc., unless earlier revoked by the undersigned in a signed
writing delivered to the foregoing attorney-in-fact.

       IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this
Power of Attorney to be executed as of this 27th day of
June, 2005.



	/s/ Ronald W. Ristau
	Name:   Ronald W. Ristau