<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-5.1
<SEQUENCE>4
<FILENAME>g86028a1exv5w1.txt
<DESCRIPTION>EX-5.1 OPINION OF THOMAS C. CHUBB III
<TEXT>
<PAGE>
                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1

                     [LETTERHEAD OF OXFORD INDUSTRIES, INC.]


February 3, 2004


Oxford Industries, Inc.
222 Piedmont Avenue, NE
Atlanta, Georgia  30308

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         I am the General Counsel of Oxford Industries, Inc., a Georgia
corporation (the "Company"), and have represented the Company as such in
connection with the preparation of a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the
"Registration Statement") to be filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission relating to the following shares (collectively, the "Shares") that
may be sold by certain shareholders of the Company: (1) 776,400 shares (the
"Issued Shares") of common stock, par value $1.00 per share (the "Common
Stock"), of the Company outstanding as of the date hereof and (2) up to
1,940,994 shares (the "Earnout Shares") of Common Stock that may be issued to
such selling shareholders in the future.

         In so acting, I have reviewed such matters of law and examined
original, certified, conformed or photographic copies of such documents,
records, agreements and certificates as I have deemed necessary as a basis for
the opinion hereinafter expressed. In such review, I have assumed the
genuineness of signatures on all documents submitted to me as originals and the
conformity to original documents of all copies submitted to me as certified,
conformed or photographic copies.

          For the purposes of the opinion set forth in clause (iii) below, I
have assumed the following: (1) any Earnout Shares issued in accordance with the
earnout agreement described in the Registration Statement will continue to be
duly authorized on the dates of such issuances and (2) on the date on which any
of the Earnout Shares are issued, such earnout agreement will continue to have
been duly executed, issued and delivered by the Company and will constitute a
valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in
accordance with its terms subject, as to enforcement of remedies, to bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting the rights and
remedies of creditors generally and to the effect of general principles of
equity.

         This opinion is limited in all respects to the Georgia Business
Corporation Code, and no opinion is expressed with respect to the laws of any
other jurisdiction or any effect which such laws may have on the opinion
expressed herein. This opinion is limited to the matters stated herein and no
opinion is implied or may be inferred beyond the matters expressly stated
herein.

<PAGE>


         Based upon the foregoing, and subject to all of the assumptions,
limitations and qualifications set forth herein, I am of the opinion that:

                  (i) The Shares are duly authorized.

                  (ii) The Issued Shares are validly issued, fully paid and
         non-assessable.

                  (iii) When the Earnout Shares are issued in accordance with
         the earnout agreement described in the registration statement, such
         Earnout Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

         This opinion is given as of the date hereof, and I assume no obligation
to advise you after the date hereof of facts or circumstances that come to my
attention or changes in laws that occur, which could affect the opinions
contained herein. This opinion may not be relied upon by any person or entity
(other than the addressee hereof) for any purpose without my prior written
consent.

         I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement and to the reference to me under the caption "Validity of
Common Stock" in the prospectus that is included in the Registration Statement.



                                                Very truly yours,


                                                /s/ Thomas C. Chubb III
                                                -----------------------------
                                                Thomas C. Chubb III
                                                Vice President, Secretary and
                                                General Counsel


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