Jones Apparel Group Announces Early Termination of Hart-Scott-Rodino Waiting Period

Jones Apparel Group Announces Early Termination of
Hart-Scott-Rodino Waiting Period 


NEW YORK, April 6  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Jones Apparel Group, Inc. ("Jones")
 today announced that it has received early termination of the waiting period
under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 with respect to
the tender offer by MSC Acquisition Corp., an indirect wholly owned subsidiary
of Jones ("MSC"), for all of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock,
together with the associated preferred stock purchase rights, of Maxwell Shoe
Company Inc. ("Maxwell") .  The early termination of the Hart-Scott-Rodino
waiting period has satisfied one of the conditions to the MSC tender offer.

As previously announced, MSCcommenced a tender offer on March 23, 2004 for all
of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock, together with the associated
preferred stock purchase rights, of Maxwell at a price of $20.00 per share in
cash.

The tender offer and withdrawal rights are scheduled to expire at 12:00
Midnight, New York City time, on April 19, 2004, unless extended.

Jones Apparel Group, Inc. (http://www.jny.com/) is a leading designer and
marketer of branded apparel, footwear and accessories.  Our 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, Napier, Judith Jack, Kasper, Anne Klein, Albert Nipon and Le Suit. We
also market apparel under the Polo Jeans Company brand licensed from Polo Ralph
Lauren Corporation, costume jewelry under the Tommy Hilfiger brand licensed from
Tommy Hilfiger Licensing, Inc. and the Givenchy brand licensed from Givenchy
Corporation, and footwear and accessories under the ESPRIT brand licensed from
Esprit Europe, B.V.  Celebrating more than 30 years of service, we have built a
reputation for excellence in product quality and value and in operational
execution.

This release does not constitute a solicitation of proxies in connection with
any matter to be considered at Maxwell's 2004 annual meeting of stockholders. 
Neither Jones nor MSC is soliciting, or intends to solicit, proxies in respect
of any matter to be considered at Maxwell's 2004 annual meeting.

                        **************************


                          IMPORTANT INFORMATION



Investors and security holders are urged to read the disclosure documents filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on March 23, 2004 and
from time to time, including the tender offer statement, regarding the proposed
transaction between MSC and Maxwell.  Investors and security holders may obtain
a free copy of the disclosure documents (when they are available) and other
documents filed by Jones or MSC with the SEC at the SEC's website at
http://www.sec.gov/.  In addition, documents filed with the SEC by Jones or MSC
may be obtained free of charge from Jones by directing a request to Jones
Apparel Group, Inc., 250 Rittenhouse Circle, Keystone Park, Bristol,
Pennsylvania 19007, Attention: Chief Operating and Financial Officer.

Investors and security holders are also urged to read the consent solicitation
statement relating to the solicitation of consents of Maxwell stockholders when
it becomes available.  Jones filed a preliminary consent solicitation statement
on March 23, 2004 with the SEC and will file a definitive consent solicitation
statement as soon as practicable thereafter. Investors and security holders may
obtain a free copy of the preliminary consent solicitation statement, the
definitive consent solicitation statement (when it is available) and other
documents filed by Jones or MSC with the SEC at the SEC's website at
http://www.sec.gov/.  In addition, documents filed with the SEC by Jones or MSC
may be obtained free of charge from Jones by directing a request to Jones
Apparel Group, Inc., 250 Rittenhouse Circle, Keystone Park, Bristol,
Pennsylvania 19007, Attention: Chief Operating and Financial Officer.

CERTAIN INFORMATION CONCERNING PARTICIPANTS

Jones, MSC and, in each case, certain of its officers, directors and nominees
for the directorships of Maxwell, among others, may be deemed to be participants
in the solicitation of Maxwell's stockholders.  The security holders of Maxwell
may obtain information regarding the names, affiliations and interests of
individuals who may be participants in the solicitation of Maxwell's
stockholders in the preliminary consent statement filed by Jones with theSEC on
Schedule 14A on March 23, 2004. 

DATASOURCE: Jones Apparel Group, Inc.



CONTACT:  Wesley R. Card, Chief Operating and Financial Officer, or Anita

Britt, Executive Vice President Finance, both of Jones Apparel Group,

[phone]



Web site:  http://www.jny.com/ 

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