Exhibit 5.2




                                                         June 16, 1999

Ira M. Dansky, Esq.
Jones Apparel Group, Inc.
1411 Broadway
New York, NY 10018

                  Re:      Jones Apparel Group, Inc. Post-Effective
                           Amendment No. 1 on Form S-8 to Registration
                           Statement on Form S-4


Dear Mr. Dansky:

          As special Pennsylvania counsel to Jones Apparel Group,
Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation (the "Company"), we have been
requested to render this opinion in connection with the Company's
Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 on Form S-8 to Registration Statement
Form S-4 (the "Registration Statement"), which is being filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on June 16, 1999, under
the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Act").

          The Registration Statement amends the Company's Registration
Statement on Form S-4 (No. 333-75867) relating to the proposed
issuance by Jones of up to 902,000 shares (the "Shares") of its common
stock, par value $0.01 per share, pursuant to the Second Amended and
Restated Stock Option Plan of Nine West Group Inc., Nine West Group
Inc. First Amended and Restated 1994 Long-Term Performance Plan, and
Nine West Group Inc. 1993 Directors' Stock Option Plan (collectively,
the "Plans").

          On June 15, 1999, Jones and Nine West Group Inc., a Delaware
corporation ("Nine West"), consummated a merger (the "Merger") whereby
Nine West merged with and into a wholly owned subsidiary of Jones
pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Merger Agreement")
dated as of March 1, 1999. As a result of the Merger, Nine West became
a wholly owned subsidiary of Jones.

          For purposes of this opinion we have examined the
Registration Statement; the Plans; the Subsistence Certificate dated
May 20, 1999 issued by the Secretary of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania with respect to the Company (the "Subsistence
Certificate"); the resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of
the Company dated March 1, 1999; and such other documents as we deem
necessary for the purpose of rendering this opinion. With respect to
the foregoing documents, we have assumed the genuineness of all
signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to





us as originals and the conformity to originals of all documents
submitted to us as certified or reproduce copies.

          As special Pennsylvania counsel to the Company, we are not
necessarily familiar with all of the Company's affairs. As a further
basis for this opinion, we have made such inquiry of the Company as we
have deemed necessary or appropriate for the purpose of rendering this
opinion.

          Based on the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the
Company is a corporation duly organized and validly subsisting under
the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and that the Shares have
been duly authorized for issuance, and that the Shares which are being
offered and sold by the Company pursuant to the Registration Statement
and the Plans, when sold in the manner and for the consideration
contemplated by the Registration Statement and the Plans, will be
validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

          We are attorneys admitted to the Bar in Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, and we express no opinion as to the laws of any
jurisdiction, other than the corporate laws of the State of Delaware
and the United States of America. Our examination of law relevant to
the matters covered by this opinion is limited to Federal law,
Pennsylvania law and Delaware corporate law.

          The opinion is given as of the date hereof and is limited to
the facts, circumstances and matters set forth herein and to laws
currently in effect. No opinion may be inferred or is implied beyond
matters expressly set forth herein, and we do not undertake and assume
no obligation to update or supplement this opinion to reflect any
facts or circumstances which may hereafter come to our attention or
any change in law which may hereafter occur.

          This opinion is furnished for your benefit only and may not
be used or relied upon by any other person or entity or in connection
with any other transaction without our prior written consent.

          We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit
5.2 to the Registration Statement.

                              Sincerely,

                              /s/ Mesirov Gelman Jaffe Cramer & Jamieson, LLP