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                                   EXHIBIT 99
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                                                          R.G. BARRY CORPORATION
                                                        13405 YARMOUTH ROAD N.W.
                                                          PICKERINGTON, OH 43147
                                                                     (NYSE: RGB)

AT THE COMPANY:
Daniel D. Viren     Roy Youst
SVP-Finance         Dir. Corp. Comm.
(614) 864-6400      (614) 729-7275

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2002

                   R.G. BARRY EXPECTS A LOSS FOR THE FULL YEAR

PICKERINGTON, OHIO - OCTOBER 18, 2002 -- R.G. BARRY CORPORATION (NYSE: RGB)
today said it has revised downward its revenue and earnings forecast for 2002.
Although the Company expects to report second half sales and earnings growth,
the increases will not be enough to offset first half losses. The Company now
expects to report a loss for the full year.

"Our core footwear business is healthy, our initiatives to restore R.G. Barry to
health and profitability remain sound and we continue to expect very strong
fourth quarter sales and earnings in the core footwear business. The Company is,
however, reducing its outlook for the full year because of two recent
developments," said Gordon Zacks, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

          -    The Company's Barry Vesture thermal retention business will not
               achieve its sales objectives for the third and fourth quarters.
               This will result in a significant operating loss for the second
               half and full year in that business unit. Barry Vesture had
               planned on strong product sales in the last four months of the
               year. Because of recent customer decisions to defer purchase
               decisions, actual sales for the remainder of the year will be
               significantly below forecast.

          -    In the third quarter, the Company began to experience higher than
               forecasted core business shipping costs related to its new Nuevo
               Laredo, Mexico distribution center. These additional costs have
               been necessary in order to fulfill customers' footwear orders
               complete and on time in the period leading up to the critical
               holiday selling season.

"We are obviously disappointed. The strategic initiatives we have implemented
have and will continue to positively impact our core business, but they are not
enough to offset the cumulative losses incurred during the first nine months
when combined with the expected fourth quarter loss in the Barry Vesture unit,"
Mr. Zacks concluded.






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The Company will report its third quarter 2002 financial results and conduct an
investor conference call at 10 a.m. EST Wednesday, October 30, 2002.

To learn more about its businesses, visit R.G. Barry Corporation's Web sites at
{www.rgbarry.com} and {www.microcoretechnology.com}.

"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995: The statements in this release, which are not historical fact are
forward-looking statements based upon our current plans and strategies, and
reflect our current assessment of the risks and uncertainties related to our
business, including such things as product demand and market acceptance; the
economic and business environment and the impact of governmental regulations,
both in the United States and abroad; the effects of direct sourcing by
customers of competitive products from alternative suppliers; the loss of
significant customers in connection with mergers, acquisitions, bankruptcies or
other circumstances; the effect of pricing pressures from retailers; inherent
risks of international development, including foreign currency risks, the
implementation of the Euro, economic, regulatory and cultural difficulties or
delays in our business development outside the United States; our ability to
improve processes and business practices to keep pace with the economic,
competitive and technological environment; the availability and costs of
financing; capacity, efficiency and supply constraints; weather; terrorist acts;
acts of war; and other risks detailed in the our press releases, shareholder
communications and Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Actual events
affecting us and the impact of such events on our operations may vary from those
currently anticipated.






















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