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

<p align="center">
<font SIZE="4">

Washington, D.C. 20549</font></p>

<p align="center"><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>
May 26, 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>

<font face="Times New Roman">

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</font>

<p>Item 5.&nbsp; Other Events and Regulation FD Disclosure.</p>
<p>On May 26, 2004, Jones Apparel Group, Inc. (&quot;Jones&quot;) issued a
press release announcing that MSC Acquisition Corp., an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Jones,
had increased the price of its cash tender offer for all of the outstanding
shares of Class A Common Stock, together with the associated preferred stock
purchase rights, of Maxwell Shoe Company Inc. to $22.50 per share in cash from
$20.00 per share in cash.&nbsp; A copy of the press release is attached as
Exhibit 99.1 to this report.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Item 7. Exhibits</p>
<table CELLSPACING="0" BORDER="0" WIDTH="670">
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    <td WIDTH="8%" VALIGN="TOP">
      <p>99.1</td>
    <td WIDTH="92%" VALIGN="TOP">
      <p>Press Release of the Registrant dated May 26, 2004.<br>
      &nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
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</table>

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

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<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>

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    <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>
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<p>&nbsp;Date: May 26, 2004</p>

<p align="center">3</p>

<hr>

<p ALIGN="left">Exhibit Index</p>
<table CELLSPACING="0" BORDER="0" WIDTH="670">
  <tr>
    <td WIDTH="12%" VALIGN="MIDDLE"><u>
      <p>Exhibit No.</u></td>
    <td WIDTH="88%" VALIGN="MIDDLE"><u>
      <p>Description</u></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td WIDTH="12%" VALIGN="TOP">
      <p>99.1</td>
    <td WIDTH="88%" VALIGN="TOP">
      <p>Press Release of the Registrant dated May 26, 2004.</td>
  </tr>
</table>
<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": "04831643"}, "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):
May 26, 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 May 26, 2004, Jones Apparel Group, Inc. ("Jones") issued a
press release announcing that MSC Acquisition Corp., an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Jones,
had increased the price of its cash tender offer for all of the outstanding
shares of Class A Common Stock, together with the associated preferred stock
purchase rights, of Maxwell Shoe Company Inc. to $22.50 per share in cash from
$20.00 per share in cash.  A copy of the press release is attached as
Exhibit 99.1 to this report.
Item 7. Exhibits
99.1
Press Release of the Registrant dated May 26, 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: May 26, 2004
3
Exhibit Index
Exhibit No.
Description
99.1
Press Release of the Registrant dated May 26, 2004.
4