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):
December 20, 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)

Not Applicable Former name or former address, if changed since last report

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

[  ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) 
[  ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) 
[  ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[  ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Section 8 - Other Events

Item 8.01  Other Events.

On December 20, 2004, Jones Apparel Group, Inc. issued a press release announcing that it successfully completed its acquisition of Barneys New York, Inc. 

A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this report. 

Section 9 - Financial Statements and Exhibits

Item 9.01  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

99.1 Press Release of the Registrant dated December 20, 2004.
  

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 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: December 20, 2004

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Exhibit Index

Exhibit No.	Description
99.1	Press Release of the Registrant dated December 20, 2004.

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EX-99

Exhibit 99.1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jones Apparel Group, Inc.

Contacts: Wesley R. Card, Chief Operating and Financial Officer
Anita Britt, Executive Vice President Finance
(215) 785-4000

JONES APPAREL GROUP, INC. COMPLETES THE ACQUISITION OF BARNEYS NEW YORK, INC.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - December 20, 2004 - Jones Apparel Group, Inc. ("Jones") (NYSE:JNY) announced that it successfully completed its acquisition of Barneys New York, Inc. The transaction is valued at $397.3 million, including $19.00 per common share to Barneys stockholders totaling $291.3 million (which includes shares outstanding, employee stock options, preferred stock and warrants). In addition, Jones funded the repurchase of Barneys outstanding Senior Secured Notes due 2008, with a face value of $106.0 million.

Peter Boneparth, Chief Executive Officer of Jones, stated, "The acquisition of Barneys is a wonderful complement to our diversification strategy. Its focus on the luxury consumer provides an added dimension to our existing brand portfolio and creates future expansion opportunities. I welcome Howard Socol, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Barneys New York, and the entire Barneys team to the Jones family."

Jones Apparel Group, Inc. (www.jny.com), a Fortune 500 company, is a leading designer and marketer of branded apparel, footwear and accessories. The Company's 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 and LeSuit. The Company also markets apparel under the Polo Jeans Company brand licensed from Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation and costume jewelry under the Tommy Hilfiger brand licensed from Tommy Hilfiger Licensing, Inc. and the Givenchy brand licensed from Givenchy Corporation. For more than 30 years, the Company has built a reputation for excellence in product quality and value, and in operational execution.

Certain statements herein are "forward-looking statements" made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements represent the Company's expectations or beliefs concerning future events that involve risks and uncertainties, including the strength of the economy and the overall level of consumer spending, the performance of the Company's products within the prevailing retail environment, and other factors which are set forth in the Company's 2003 Form 10-K and in all filings with the SEC made by the Company subsequent to the filing of the Form 10-K. The Company does not undertake to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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