Exhibit 23.1 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 this Registration Statement of our report dated February 6, 1998, relating to the consolidated financial statements and schedule of Jones Apparel Group, Inc. and subsidiaries, which is incorporated by reference in that Prospectus. We also consent to the reference to us under the caption "Experts" in that Prospectus. /s/ BDO Seidman, LLP --------------------- BDO Seidman, LLP New York, New York January 22, 1999