EXHIBIT 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT
CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

Jones Apparel Group, Inc.
New York, New York

    We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Prospectus constituting a part of Amendment #1 to this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of our report dated February 4, 2000, except as to the Subsequent Event footnote, which is as of March 14, 2000, relating to the consolidated financial statements and schedule of Jones Apparel Group, Inc. and subsidiaries appearing in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999.

    We also consent to the reference to us under the caption "Experts" in the Prospectus.

/s/ BDO SEIDMAN, LLP

BDO SEIDMAN, LLP

New York, New York
September 28, 2000