EXHIBIT 32(a)

                            CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
                             18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350
                             AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
                  SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002


In connection with the Quarterly  Report of Liz Claiborne,  Inc. (the "Company")
on Form 10-Q for the period ending July 3, 2004 as filed with the Securities and
Exchange  Commission  on the date hereof  (the  "Report"),  I, Paul R.  Charron,
Chairman  of the Board and Chief  Executive  Officer  of the  Company,  certify,
pursuant to 18 U.S.C.  Section 1350,  as adopted  pursuant to Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

     1. The Report fully  complies  with the  requirements  of Section  13(a) or
15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

     2. The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material
respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.


/s/ Paul R. Charron
- -------------------------
Paul R. Charron
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
August 9, 2004

The foregoing certification is being furnished solely pursuant to Section 906 of
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C. 1350) and is not being filed as part
of the Form 10-Q or as a separate disclosure document.

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been
provided to Liz Claiborne, Inc. and will be retained by Liz Claiborne, Inc. and
furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.