-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 J1RYa3M2oKqx4fR/RaGrctrbnTGlpM3zVWKL9dDIv6sSKuyZsPQJJLTTb3pgGXO1
 8i4u79WluaP9kMlTYgpvhQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-04-033546.txt : 20040630
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-04-033546.hdr.sgml : 20040630
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040630164208
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-04-033546
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040216
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040630

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KAPLAN IRA D
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001243552

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08899
		FILM NUMBER:		04891777

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O CLAIRE STORES INC
		STREET 2:		3 SW 129TH AVE
		CITY:			PEMBROKE PINES
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33127

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CLAIRES STORES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000034115
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-APPAREL & ACCESSORY STORES [5600]
		IRS NUMBER:				590940416
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0203

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3 S W 129TH AVE
		CITY:			PEMBROKE PINES
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33027
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9544333900

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3 SW 129TH AVE
		CITY:			PEMBROKE PINES
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33027

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	FT INDUSTRIES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19831006

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	FASHION TRESS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19750923
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>bmi89827_bmi02idk.xml
<DESCRIPTION>MAIN DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-02-16</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000034115</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CLAIRES STORES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CLE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001243552</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KAPLAN IRA D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O CLAIRE'S STORES, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>3 S.W. 129TH AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PEMBROKE PINES</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>33027</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>CFO and Director</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $.05 par value per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>26000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>20.45</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-02-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2004-02-16</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>75000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>20.45</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-02-16</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-02-16</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>75000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>214870</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The option is exercisable as follows: 25% as of the first anniversary of the date of grant; 25% as of the second anniversary of the date of grant; 25% as of the third anniversary of the date of grant and 25% as of the fourth anniversary of the date of grant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Ira D. Kaplan</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-06-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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