NEW YORK, Oct. 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Jones Apparel Group, Inc. (NYSE: JNY) announced today a direct selling initiative called Million Wishes that will bring accessories into a home selling environment. Million Wishes is a nationwide party plan program that provides significant sales opportunity. Million Wishes will bring the latest accessory trends directly to the consumer and at the same time offer a one-of-a-kind business opportunity for entrepreneurial women to bring a great shopping experience to their network of friends and neighbors.

For decades, Jones Apparel Group has been listening to women and researching their shopping preferences. Women have been wishing for a convenient, edited selection of the latest trends in accessories combined with fashion advice and know-how that only a leader in the industry can offer. Women also wish for the flexibility, financial freedom, and independence that Million Wishes will deliver. Million Wishes style consultants will sell jewelry, handbags, belts, scarves and other key accessories of the season, while educating women on the latest fashion trends. Million Wishes style consultants will demonstrate multiple ways to wear the items and how to make them work for each individual, emphasizing a feeling of confidence and polish, all in the comfort of a hostess's home. The first catalog will debut in March 2006 with 200 to 300 items. New product will be introduced in semi-annual catalogs in March and September.

Rhonda Brown, President and Chief Executive Officer, Footwear, Accessories and Retail Group, stated, "Million Wishes provides the Company with an alternative distribution channel, providing a network to target consumers who wish to combine the shopping experience with a social setting. We are optimistic that this could provide attractive profitable growth as we build our presence in the channel."

"Women are often overwhelmed with fashion choices," said Betty Palm, President of Million Wishes. The solution is Million Wishes; women can now experiment with the latest fashion trends by trying on products and experimenting with new looks while getting positive feedback from their friends."

A corporate website will enable style consultants to conduct all business transactions online. Personal websites for consultants will be available as an additional business management tool. The goal is to make the business end as user-friendly and streamlined as possible, so the consultant can concentrate on sales and education. Unlike other party plan companies, Million Wishes will ship direct to consumers, reducing the burden on the hostess. "Million Wishes will offer women nationwide the opportunity to become entrepreneurs and still enjoy the freedom of having a personal life," added Ms. Palm. Million Wishes plans to recruit 3,000 style consultants in 2006. A host of advertising, launch events and other public relations tools will be involved in launching Million Wishes. Research has proven that direct selling can be a profitable entity for Jones Apparel Group, and Million Wishes is expected to have 9,000 consultants in 3 years.

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 New York 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.

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," "expects," "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 and regional economic conditions;
• lowered levels of consumer spending resulting from a general economic downturn or lower levels of consumer confidence or generally reduced shopping activity caused by public safety concerns;
• 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 identify acquisition candidates and acquire such businesses on reasonable financial and other terms, in an increasingly competitive environment for such acquisitions;
• the integration of the organizations and operations of any acquired businesses into the Company's existing organization and operations;
• the Company's reliance on independent foreign manufacturers;
• changes in the costs of raw materials, labor and advertising;
• 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 the new environment in which quota has been eliminated on apparel products while political pressure is building for the re-imposition of quotas in certain categories; 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/A for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004, including, but not limited to, the Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Disclosure and the information concerning trends and risk factors included in Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 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: Anita Britt, Executive Vice President Finance, +1-215-785-4000, or Jodi Fisher, Vice President Public Relations and Media, +1-914-640-4319, both of Jones Apparel Group, Inc./ /Web site: http://www.jny.com / (JNY)