Document and Entity Information (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2012	Oct. 25, 2012	Jul. 02, 2011
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	JONES GROUP INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000874016
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Public Float			$ 921,543,946
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		80,042,206
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Sep. 29, 2012