-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 R0P4KCbOcE7cJxI0EospqRvXvm7JqoIhMh9w0AvL355p6h/SQfryxUT/F8K1/bdu
 UOA9Lu3/La1gUKLR1kx4MQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-03-011166.txt : 20031121
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-03-011166.hdr.sgml : 20031121
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031121155724
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-03-011166
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031120
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031121

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MATTHIAS DAN W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001270152

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-21196
		FILM NUMBER:		031018259

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O MOTHERS WORK
		STREET 2:		456 NORTH 5TH STREET
		CITY:			PHILADELPHIA
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19123

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		224 W WASHINGTON SQ
		CITY:			PHILADELPHIA
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19106

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>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-11-20</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000896985</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MOTHERS WORK INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>mwrk</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001270152</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MATTHIAS DAN W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O MOTHERS WORK, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>456 NORTH 5TH STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PHILADELPHIA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>19123</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector>
<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle>CEO</officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>
<derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Option (Right to Buy)</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>23.62</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<transactionDate><value>2003-11-20</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>11475</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<exerciseDate><value>2003-11-20</value>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><value>2013-11-20</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares><value>11475</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>11475</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeTransaction>
</derivativeTable>
<footnotes></footnotes>
<ownerSignature><signatureName>Dan Matthias</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-11-21</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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