EXHIBIT (24)

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

The undersigned, certain of the officers and directors of Genesco Inc., a
Tennessee corporation ("Genesco"), do hereby constitute and appoint Roger G.
Sisson and James S. Gulmi, and any one of them, to act severally as
attorneys-in-fact for and in their respective names, places and steads, with
full power of substitution, to execute, sign and file with the Securities and
Exchange Commission the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Genesco for the fiscal
year ended February 2, 2002, and any and all amendments thereto; granting to
said attorneys-in-fact, and each of them, full power and authority to do and
perform every act and thing whatsoever requisite or necessary to be done in and
about the premises as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned or
any of them might or could do if personally present, and the undersigned do
hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorney-in-fact or any of them, or
their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue
hereof.

EXECUTED as of this 27th day of February, 2002.

                                                           
/s/Ben T. Harris                                              /s/James S. Gulmi
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Ben T. Harris, Chairman                                       James S. Gulmi, Senior Vice President-Finance
                                                              (Principal Financial Officer)


/s/Hal N. Pennington                                          /s/Kathleen Mason
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Hal N. Pennington, President and                              Kathleen Mason, Director
Chief Executive Officer and a Director

/s/Leonard L. Berry                                           /s/Linda H. Potter
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Leonard L. Berry, Director                                    Linda H. Potter, Director


/s/Robert V. Dale                                             /s/William A. Williamson, Jr.
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Robert V. Dale, Director                                      William A. Williamson, Jr., Director


/s/W. Lipscomb Davis, Jr.                                     /s/William S. Wire II
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W. Lipscomb Davis, Jr., Director                              William S. Wire II, Director


/s/Matthew C. Diamond
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Matthew C. Diamond, Director