Rachel Rachel Roy to Include Affordable Contemporary Sportswear, Footwear and Accessories

NEW YORK, April 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Jones Apparel Group, Inc. (NYSE: JNY) ("Jones" or the "Company") today announced a strategy to support and expand the Rachel Roy brand to reach a diverse audience and increase demand at different price levels. The Company believes that there is opportunity to leverage Rachel Roy's design talent to support significant future growth, including through a Rachel Rachel Roy diffusion brand that will be offered exclusively through Macy's, Inc.

"We have a sincere belief and high confidence in Rachel's talent and her position as one of the leading new American designers," said Wesley R. Card, Jones Apparel Group President and Chief Executive Officer. "We are applying an integrated strategy to the Rachel Roy brand that draws upon Jones' exceptional resources and infrastructure to further develop the current business and drive new growth opportunities."

Terry Lundgren, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Macy's Inc., said, "Rachel's design sensibility is very appealing to our fashion customer who insists on great value and a perfect complement to the existing stable of high-profile designer brands available exclusively at Macy's. This new collection is another move in our continued effort to differentiate our assortments with the best, most desired brands on the market, giving customers another powerful reason to choose Macy's."

Jones' investment in the Rachel Roy brand began with the Rachel Roy New York designer label by applying a successful sourcing model to help create efficiencies and cost-savings while continuing to deliver the highest quality product. Industry veteran, Stephen Ruzow, has recently been tapped as President to support Rachel Roy New York domestically and to spearhead international growth for the designer label.

The Company is now extending its reach to the better contemporary arena with the launch of a diffusion label to be called Rachel Rachel Roy, which will be overseen by Susan Metzger, Chief Executive Officer for Women's Wholesale Sportswear for Jones. The Rachel Rachel Roy collection will include affordable contemporary sportswear, footwear and accessories, debuting in August 2009. The collection will be offered exclusively through Macy's Inc. at select Macy's stores nationwide and on macys.com.

The Rachel Rachel Roy collection will capture a fresh and youthful look that reflects today's culture by mixing elements of downtown cool with uptown chic at affordable price points. The line will retail from $59 to $299 for sportswear, $79 to $199 for footwear, $40 to $195 for jewelry and $69 to $109 for handbags.

Susan Metzger said, "We are thrilled to be able to bring Rachel's signature aesthetic to a larger audience with the launch of the Rachel Rachel Roy better contemporary collection. We are confident that a diverse range of women will identify with the look and feel of the brand and it will quickly become a dominant label in the marketplace. "

Jeff Gennette, Chief Merchandising Officer at Macy's Inc., said, "The Rachel Rachel Roy collection is a perfect fit for our stores, offering designer-infused product at affordable price points. We feel the line will create new excitement and fashion stature on our floors and is something our fashion customers are seeking."

Founder and artistic director, Rachel Roy, said, "Accessible fashion has always been a passion of mine. Every woman should have the opportunity to express herself through style. Being able to design a contemporary product line that truly reflects a sense of individuality is a great honor. Macy's has been an embracing partner in helping us launch this redefinition of a new lifestyle collection."

The Company has also invested in a new e-commerce website for the Rachel Roy brand, which is expected to launch in mid-August. The redesigned site will feature both Rachel Roy New York and Rachel Rachel Roy.

In June 2008, Jones Apparel Group formed a joint venture with Rachel Roy, Damon Dash and TSM Capital with the sole purpose of further developing the Rachel Roy brand.

About Jones Apparel Group, Inc.

Jones Apparel Group, Inc. (www.jonesapparel.com) is a leading designer, marketer and wholesaler of branded apparel, footwear and accessories. The Company also markets directly to consumers through its chain of specialty retail and value-based stores. The Company's nationally recognized brands include Jones New York, Nine West, Anne Klein, Gloria Vanderbilt, Kasper, Bandolino, Easy Spirit, Evan-Picone, l.e.i., Energie, Enzo Angiolini, Joan & David, Mootsies Tootsies, Sam & Libby, Napier, Judith Jack, Albert Nipon and Le Suit. The Company also markets costume jewelry under the Givenchy brand licensed from Givenchy Corporation, footwear under the Dockers Women brand licensed from Levi Strauss & Co., and apparel under the Rachel Roy brand licensed from Rachel Roy IP Company, LLC. Each brand is differentiated by its own distinctive styling, pricing strategy, distribution channel and target consumer. The Company contracts for the manufacture of its products through a worldwide network of quality manufacturers. The Company has capitalized on its nationally known brand names by entering into various licenses for several of its trademarks, including Jones New York, Anne Klein New York, Nine West, Gloria Vanderbilt, l.e.i. and Evan-Picone, with select manufacturers of women's and men's products which the Company does not manufacture. For more than 30 years, the Company has built a reputation for excellence in product quality and value, and in operational execution.

About Rachel Roy

Launched in spring 2005, the Rachel Roy collection embodies effortless glamour, and is sophisticated with a modern edge. In 2007, Rachel Roy was inducted as a new member to the Council of Fashion Designers of America. The Rachel Roy collections are available at Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom and designer specialty stores worldwide. For more information, please visit www.rachelroy.com.

About Macy's

Macy's, the largest retail brand of Macy's, Inc., delivers fashion and affordable luxury to customers at more than 840 locations in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam. Offering distinctive assortments including exclusive fashion and home brands, Macy's stores are operated by four regionally based retail divisions -- Macy's East, Macy's Florida, Macy's Central, and Macy's West -- and an online store at macys.com.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements contained herein are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements regarding the Company's expected financial position, business and financing plans are forward-looking statements. The words "believes," "expect," "plans," "intends," "anticipates" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements also include representations of the Company's expectations or beliefs concerning future events that involve risks and uncertainties, including:

    --  those associated with the effect of national, regional and
        international economic conditions;
    --  lowered levels of consumer spending resulting from a general economic
        downturn or lower levels of consumer confidence;
    --  the tightening of the credit markets and our ability to obtain credit
        on satisfactory terms;
    --  given the uncertain economic environment, the possible unwillingness
        of committed lenders to meet their obligations to lend to borrowers,
        in general;
    --  the performance of the Company's products within the prevailing retail
        environment;
    --  customer acceptance of both new designs and newly-introduced product
        lines;
    --  the Company's reliance on a few department store groups for large
        portions of the Company's business;
    --  consolidation of the Company's retail customers;
    --  financial difficulties encountered by customers;
    --  the effects of vigorous competition in the markets in which the
        Company operates;
    --  the Company's ability to attract and retain qualified executives and
        other key personnel;
    --  the Company's reliance on independent foreign manufacturers;
    --  changes in the costs of raw materials, labor, advertising and
        transportation;
    --  the general inability to obtain higher wholesale prices for the
        Company's products that the Company has experienced for many years;
    --  the uncertainties of sourcing associated with an environment in which
        general quota has expired on apparel products but litigation and
        political activity seeking to re-impose quotas have been initiated;
    --  the Company's ability to successfully implement new operational and
        financial computer systems; and
    --  the Company's ability to secure and protect trademarks and other
        intellectual property rights.

A further description of these risks and uncertainties and other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations can be found in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, including, but not limited to, the Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Disclosure and Item 1A-Risk Factors therein, and in the Company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, such expectations may prove to be incorrect. The Company does not undertake to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE Jones Apparel Group, Inc.

CONTACT: For Jones Apparel Group, Investors, John T. McClain, CFO of Jones Apparel Group, +1-212-642-3860,
or Media, Joele Frank and Sharon Stern of Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher for Jones Apparel Group,
+1-212-355-4449; or for Rachel Roy, Debra Thom of HL Group, +1-212-529-5533,
dthom@hlgrp.com
Web Site: http://www.jonesapparel.com
(JNY)