-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 UTctQ6kM9cz+PeVJjh71yGK6bXF+vFK01fbm50skHLuEj6udX7rKnt5DXcxkjzH8
 1/BtFb6xcp20mgETft5gRw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-03-010799.txt : 20031114
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-03-010799.hdr.sgml : 20031114
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031114173534
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-03-010799
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	5
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030930
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031114

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HITCHNER ELAM M III
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001270008

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		5
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-21196
		FILM NUMBER:		031006157

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PEPPER HAMILTON
		STREET 2:		3000 TWO LOGAN SQ 18TH & ARCH ST
		CITY:			PHILADELPHIA
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			190103-279

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		260 CHESWOLD LANE
		CITY:			HAVERTOWN
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19041

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MOTHERS WORK INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000896985
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-WOMEN'S CLOTHING STORES [5621]
		IRS NUMBER:				133045573
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		456 N 5TH ST
		CITY:			PHILADELPHIA
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19123
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2158732200
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>5
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 5 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>5</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-09-30</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <form3HoldingsReported>0</form3HoldingsReported>

    <form4TransactionsReported>0</form4TransactionsReported>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000896985</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MOTHERS WORK INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>mwrk</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001270008</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HITCHNER ELAM M III</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>260 CHESWOLD LANE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HAVERTOWN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>08021</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector>
<isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle></officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>
<derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>31.80</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<transactionDate><value>2003-02-07</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionTimeliness><value>L</value>
</transactionTimeliness>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>3000</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<exerciseDate><value>2003-02-07</value>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><value>2013-02-07</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Option (Right to Buy)</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares><value>3000</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>3000</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeTransaction>
</derivativeTable>
<footnotes></footnotes>
<ownerSignature><signatureName>Elam M Hitchner III signed by Dan Matthias under power of attorney</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-11-14</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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