WHAT:            Jones Apparel Group, Inc. (NYSE: JNY) President and CEO
                     Peter Boneparth will ring The Closing Bell(TM) at the
                     New York Stock Exchange, joined by leaders from four of
                     the nation's most prominent nonprofits supporting public
                     school teachers and other supporters to announce Jones
                     Apparel Group's first corporate-wide cause program,
                     Jones New York In The Classroom.  This nationwide
                     program is aimed at improving the quality of education
                     for children through the recruitment, retention and
                     support of teachers in America's public schools.

    WHO:             Peter Boneparth, President and CEO, Jones Apparel Group
                     Scott Webster, Co-founder/CEO, The Fruit Company
                     Diana Burroughs, Executive Director, TeachersCount
                     Janet Wikler, President, TC Innovations
                     Karen Kovach-Webb, Executive Director, Fund for Teachers
                     Jamie Rosenberg, Founder and Executive Director, Adopt-
                     A-Classroom

    WHEN:            Monday, May 2, 2005 (Teacher Appreciation Week is May 1
                     through May 7)
                     4:00 p.m. EDT
                     Media interviews to be scheduled after The Bell Ringing
                     from 4:15 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., by request.

    WHERE:           The New York Stock Exchange
                     18 Broad Street (corner of Broad Street and Exchange
                     Place), New York, NY
                     Photo ID and press credentials required

    PHOTO
    OPPORTUNITIES:   The Bell Ringing and secondary opportunities include
                     teachers and students from classrooms that are working
                     with the Jones New York In The Classroom program, as
                     well as Jones Apparel Group's employees, at The Exchange
                     in support of the program.

Jones New York In The Classroom is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of education in America and inspiring others, both individuals and corporations, to do the same through support of teachers and vital teacher-based programs. For more information on Jones New York In The Classroom and their activities, please visit http://www.jnyintheclassroom.org.

Jones Apparel Group, Inc. (http://www.jny.com), a Fortune 500 company, is a leading designer, marketer and wholesaler of branded apparel, footwear and accessories. We also market directly to consumers through our chain of specialty retail and value-based stores, and operate the Barneys chain of luxury stores. Our nationally recognized brands include Jones New York, Evan-Picone, Norton McNaughton, Gloria Vanderbilt, Erika, l.e.i., Energie, Nine West, Easy Spirit, Enzo Angiolini, Bandolino, Joan & David, Mootsies Tootsies, Sam & Libby, Napier, Judith Jack, Kasper, Anne Klein, Albert Nipon, Le Suit and Barneys New York. The Company also markets apparel under the Polo Jeans Company brand licensed from Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation, costume jewelry under the Tommy Hilfiger brand licensed from Tommy Hilfiger Licensing, Inc. and the Givenchy brand licensed from Givenchy Corporation and footwear under the Dockers Women brand licensed from Levi Strauss & Co. Each brand is differentiated by its own distinctive styling, pricing strategy, distribution channel and target consumer. We primarily contract for the manufacture of our products through a worldwide network of quality manufacturers. We have capitalized on our nationally known brand names by entering into various licenses for several of our trademarks, including Jones New York, Evan-Picone, Anne Klein New York, Nine West, Gloria Vanderbilt and l.e.i., with select manufacturers of women's and men's products which we do not manufacture. For more than 30 years, we have built a reputation for excellence in product quality and value, and in operational execution.

CONTACT: Sally McDonough for Jones Apparel Group, +1-202-452-7815 or Mobile: +1-571-259-1481 or sally.mcdonough@ogilvypr.com.

SOURCE Jones Apparel Group, Inc.