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<title>Form 8-K</title>
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<p align="center"><font face="Times New Roman"><font SIZE="5">UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION</font></p>
<font SIZE="4">

<p align="center">Washington, D.C. 20549</p>

<p align="center"></font><b><font SIZE="5">Form 8-K</font></p>

<p ALIGN="CENTER">CURRENT REPORT<br>
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE<br>
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934</p>
</b>

<p align="center">Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): <br>
February 25, 2004</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p align="center"><font SIZE="5">JONES APPAREL GROUP, INC.</font><br>
(Exact Name of registrant as specified in its charter)</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
<div align="center"><center>

<table CELLSPACING="0" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="8" width="100%" style="border: medium none">
  <tr>
    <td WIDTH="34%" VALIGN="TOP" align="center"><p ALIGN="CENTER">Pennsylvania<br>
    (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)</td>
    <td WIDTH="30%" VALIGN="TOP" align="center"><p ALIGN="CENTER">1-10746<br>
    (Commission File Number)</td>
    <td WIDTH="36%" VALIGN="TOP" align="center"><p ALIGN="CENTER">06-0935166<br>
    (IRS Employer Identification No.)</td>
  </tr>
</table>
</center></div>

<p ALIGN="CENTER">250 Rittenhouse Circle<br>
Bristol, PA 19007<br>
(Address of principal executive offices)</p>

<p align="center">(215) 785-4000 <br>
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)</p>

<hr>
</font>
<p>Item 5.&nbsp; Other Events and Regulation FD Disclosure.</p>

<p>On February 25, 2004, Jones Apparel Group, Inc. issued a press release
announcing that it has made an all-cash proposal to Maxwell Shoe Company Inc. to
purchase 100% of Maxwell's outstanding common stock for $20 per share.</p>

<p>
Item 7. Exhibits</p>

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
  <tr>
    <td width="8%" valign="top">99.1</td>
    <td width="92%" valign="top">Press Release of the Registrant dated February
      25, 2004.<br>
    &nbsp;&nbsp; </td>
  </tr>
</table>

<p align="center">2</p>

<hr>

<p align="center">&nbsp;<b>SIGNATURES</b></p>

<p>Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has
duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly
authorized.</p>

<p ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</p>
<div align="center"><center>

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="border: medium none">
  <tr>
    <td width="50%"></td>
    <td width="50%">JONES APPAREL GROUP, INC.<br>
    (Registrant)<p>By:&nbsp;<u>/s/ Wesley R. Card&nbsp;</u><br>
    &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Wesley R. Card<br>
    &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Chief Operating and Financial Officer</td>
  </tr>
</table>
</center></div>

<p>&nbsp;Date: February 25, 2004</p>

<p align="center">&nbsp;3</p>

<hr>

<p ALIGN="left">Exhibit Index</p>
<div align="left">

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
  <tr>
    <td width="12%"><u>Exhibit No.</u></td>
    <td width="88%"><u>Description</u></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="12%" valign="top">99.1</td>
    <td width="88%" valign="top">Press Release of the Registrant
    dated February 25, 2004</td>
  </tr>
</table>
</div>

<p align="center">4</p>
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "JONES APPAREL GROUP INC", "cik": "0000874016", "assigned-sic": "2330", "irs-number": "060935166", "state-of-incorporation": "PA", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-10746", "film-number": "04626617"}, "business-address": {"street1": "250 RITTENHOUSE CIRCLE", "street2": "KEYSTONE PK", "city": "BRISTOL", "state": "PA", "zip": "19007", "phone": "2157854000"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "250 RITTENHOUSE CIRCLE", "city": "BRISTOL", "state": "PA", "zip": "19007"}}
Form 8-K
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):
February 25, 2004
JONES APPAREL GROUP, INC.
(Exact Name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Pennsylvania
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)
1-10746
(Commission File Number)
06-0935166
(IRS Employer Identification No.)
250 Rittenhouse Circle
Bristol, PA 19007
(Address of principal executive offices)
(215) 785-4000
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
Item 5.  Other Events and Regulation FD Disclosure.
On February 25, 2004, Jones Apparel Group, Inc. issued a press release
announcing that it has made an all-cash proposal to Maxwell Shoe Company Inc. to
purchase 100% of Maxwell's outstanding common stock for $20 per share.
Item 7. Exhibits
99.1
Press Release of the Registrant dated February
      25, 2004.
2
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has
duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly
authorized.
JONES APPAREL GROUP, INC.
(Registrant)
By:
/s/ Wesley R. Card
Wesley R. Card
Chief Operating and Financial Officer
Date: February 25, 2004
3
Exhibit Index
Exhibit No.
Description
99.1
Press Release of the Registrant
    dated February 25, 2004
4