JONES APPAREL GROUP, INC. COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES Year Ended December 31, ------------------------------------ 1998 1997 1996 -------- -------- -------- Income before income taxes........ $251,811 $194,609 $127,763 -------- -------- -------- Fixed charges Interest expense and amortization of financing costs............... 11,845 3,584 3,040 Portion of rent expense representing interest......... 9,116 7,379 6,290 -------- -------- -------- Total fixed charges excluding capitalized interest............ 20,961 10,963 9,330 Capitalized interest.............. 671 370 181 -------- -------- -------- Total fixed charges............... 21,632 11,333 9,511 -------- -------- -------- Income before income taxes and fixed charges................... $272,772 $205,572 $137,093 ======== ======== ======== Ratio of earnings to fixed charges................... 12.6 18.1 14.4 ======== ======== ========