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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001199277-05-000001.txt : 20050126
<SEC-HEADER>0001199277-05-000001.hdr.sgml : 20050126
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050126164729
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001199277-05-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050103
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050126
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050126

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BRITT ANITA D
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001199277

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10746
		FILM NUMBER:		05550597

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

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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-01-03</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000874016</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>JONES APPAREL GROUP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>JNY</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001199277</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BRITT ANITA D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>JONES APPAREL GROUP, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>250 RITTENHOUSE CIRCLE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BRISTOL,</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>19007</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Exec. V.P.-Finance/Invest.Rel.</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-01-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>17050</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>37.06</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-01-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-01-03</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Grant of restricted stock, pursuant to the terms of the Jones Apparel Group, Inc. 1999 Stock Incentive Plan.  The restricted stock vests on the second business day immediately following the Company's public announcement of fourth quarter financial results for the year 2007.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Option grant becomes exercisable in increments of 2,000 shares per year on the second business day immediately following the Company's public announcement of fourth quarter financial results for the years 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009, respectively.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Anita D. Britt</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-01-26</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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