Jones Apparel Group Extends Tender Offer for Maxwell Shoe Company Inc. Until June 21, 2004

Jones Apparel Group Extends Tender Offer for Maxwell Shoe Company
Inc. Until June 21, 2004 


NEW YORK, May 17  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Jones Apparel Group, Inc. ("Jones")
 today announced that MSC Acquisition Corp., an indirect wholly owned
subsidiary of Jones ("MSC"), has extended its $20.00 per share cash tender
offer 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 offer, which was scheduled to expire at 5:00 p.m. on May 17,
2004, has been extended until 5:00 p.m., New York City time on Monday, June 21,
2004, unless further extended.

As of noon on May 17, 2004, Maxwell stockholders had tendered and not withdrawn
106,231 shares pursuant to MSC's tender offer.

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.  For more than 30 years the
Company has built a reputation for excellence in product quality and value, and
in operational execution.

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                          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 tender
offer by MSC for all the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock, together
with the associated preferred stock purchase rights, of 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.

Jones filed a definitive consent solicitation statement on April 21, 2004 with
the SEC. Investors and security holders may obtain a free copy of the
definitive consent solicitation statement 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 definitive consent solicitation statement filed
by Jones with the SEC on Schedule 14A on April 21, 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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