EXHIBIT 23 CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS Jones Apparel Group, Inc. New York, New York We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Prospectus constituting a part of the Registration Statements on Form S-8 filed May 15, 1996 and August 23, 1999 of our reports dated February 4, 2000, except as to "Subsequent Events" which is as of March 14, 2000 relating to the consolidated financial statements and schedule of Jones Apparel Group, Inc. and subsidiaries appearing in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999. We also consent to the reference to us under the caption of "Experts" in the Prospectus. /s/ BDO Seidman, LLP BDO Seidman, LLP New York, New York March 16, 2000