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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 PObYGl7MJiDL6Kn5+hherXgZ0w2wYiAq1WOpEEOs7s5HFFE8qFzGeQxY7x14fpdX
 TYukzPuA0qQaZKZ6OfbcmQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001047255-04-000001.txt : 20040106
<SEC-HEADER>0001047255-04-000001.hdr.sgml : 20040106
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040106143121
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001047255-04-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040105
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040106

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			JONES APPAREL GROUP INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000874016
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	WOMEN'S, MISSES', AND JUNIORS OUTERWEAR [2330]
		IRS NUMBER:				060935166
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			PA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		250 RITTENHOUSE CIRCLE
		STREET 2:		KEYSTONE PK
		CITY:			BRISTOL
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19007
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2157854000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		250 RITTENHOUSE CIRCLE
		CITY:			BRISTOL
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19007

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TARNOPOL MICHAEL L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001047255

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10746
		FILM NUMBER:		04509490

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O AVIS RENT A CAR INC
		STREET 2:		900 OLD COUNTRY RD
		CITY:			GARDEN CITY
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11530
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5162223000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O AVIS RENT A CAR INC
		STREET 2:		900 OLD COUNTRY RD
		CITY:			GARDEN CITY
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11530
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2004-01-05</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000874016</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>JONES APPAREL GROUP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>JNY</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001047255</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TARNOPOL MICHAEL L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>BEAR STEARNS &amp; CO., INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>383 MADISON AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK,</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10179</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Director Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>1.00</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2004-01-05</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>3000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2004-07-05</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2011-01-05</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSec
urityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>3000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>3000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes/><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Michael L. Tarnopol</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-05</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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