-----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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 W/DKmJh6tYPa4mXEYFP+Rw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001243001-04-000001.txt : 20040301
<SEC-HEADER>0001243001-04-000001.hdr.sgml : 20040301
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040301164906
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001243001-04-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	5
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040131
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040301

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SCHAEFER ROWLAND
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001243001

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		5
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08899
		FILM NUMBER:		04639878

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O CLAIRES STORES INC
		STREET 2:		3 SW 129 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>5
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>5</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-01-31</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <form3HoldingsReported>0</form3HoldingsReported>

    <form4TransactionsReported>0</form4TransactionsReported>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001243001</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SCHAEFER ROWLAND</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O CLAIRES STORES INC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>3 SW 129 AVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PEMBROKE PINES</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>33127</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Chairman Emeritus</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $.05 par value per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-12-12</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2003-12-12</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1600000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6777396</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By the Rowland Schaefer Trusts</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $.05 par value per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-01-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2004-01-31</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The Reporting Person holds a 49% indirect shareholder interest in Schaefer Family Holdings, Inc. (&quot;SFHI&quot;).  SFHI is the general partner of each of the RS Family Limited Partnership (&quot;Partnership&quot;) and the RS Family Limited Partnership No. 2 (&quot;Partnership 2&quot;).  Partnership made a pro rata distribution of shares to its partners for no consideration.  One of the partners receiving this distribution was the Rowland Schaefer Dynasty Trust (the &quot;Dynasty Trust&quot;).  The Reporting Person is not a trustee or beneficiary of the Dynasty Trust and, as a result, the Reporting Person has no voting or investment control or pecuniary interest in the shares distributed to the Dynasty Trust.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">No consideration was exchanged in connection with the distribution.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Includes shares previously held by Partnership and Partnership 2.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares, except to the extent of the Reporting Person's pecuniary interest in these shares.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Marla Schaefer POA</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-02-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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