He was the first to change fashion. – Las Vegas Sun News

PLANO, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)–May 1, 2026–

He did something revolutionary in 1976: He stopped waiting for permission. She took a vision and created the first Fortune 500 company founded by women. He didn’t decide what women wanted. They asked what women really are
Needed
.

This press release features multimedia. Watch the full release here:
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260501924225/en/

This May, while the world is captivated by imaginary fashion moguls, JCPenney is celebrating 50 years of real, bold, timeless style and the designer who made modern women’s fashion accessible to all – Liz Claiborne.

She saw closets full of false choices and compromises: power or femininity, luxury or accessibility, the boardroom or real life… and rejected each one. He designed for a woman who had to become three versions of herself in a single day, and he created clothes that could move with her. The blazer was not just a garment; This was a bold statement.

She understood that the gatekeeper style was the power of the gatekeeper, so she did something revolutionary: She democratized it. He demanded that department stores display his brands as complete collections, rather than as parceled pieces – which became the standard. He listed his employees alphabetically to circumvent the traditional, male hierarchy.

They proved that quality, comfort, style and accessibility are not opposing forces. They are indispensable partners. Their fashion has been passed down for generations, worn by women who probably didn’t even know how prestigious the name on the label was.

She was a real girl boss. The small but mighty woman behind the iconic glasses who broke the corporate glass ceiling. The one that first championed timeless style and confidence for half a century. And no, it wasn’t that fashion editor.

It was Liz Claiborne.

This May, as the world becomes captivated by the fabled fashion moguls, JCPenney is celebrating 50 years
Real
,
bold
Eternal style and the designer who made modern women’s fashion accessible to all. Because the most powerful fashion story isn’t written in fiction or on screen, it’s written every day by the women who wear Liz Claiborne and, yes, JCPenney.

As Liz Claiborne’s exclusive retailer since 2009, JCPenney not only recognized her influence, but carried on her legacy – elevating her vision in every category, making her one of the retailer’s best-selling women’s brands. Ranging from small to large, to apparel, home, shoes, accessories and fragrance, Liz Clairborne has become one of JCPenney’s most trusted legacy brands, earning more than 5,000 five-star customer reviews. For more than 15 years, JCPenney has been the platform where Liz’s core promise – that style, quality and accessibility is for everyone – has continued to flourish and evolve.

JCPenney CEO Michelle Wazlow said, “Liz Claiborne didn’t just create a company; she started a movement. She understood that confidence is every woman’s right, not unattainable for some.” “For five decades, her vision has defined what it means to dress for the life you want and deserve. That spirit comes alive today at JCPenney through our incredible private brands that democratize fashion and partnerships with leading women who, like Liz, refuse to make bad choices and insist on making style accessible to all.”

In honor of Liz Claiborne’s 50th anniversary, JCPenney is launching a capsule collection that pays homage to Liz’s motto that your wardrobe “should fit the way you live.” The collection features 80 curated pieces that reflect Liz’s fearless design ethos: power blazers that command a room, perfectly pleated trousers that go from desk to dinner, layered statement sweater vests for endless possibility, and A-line skirts engineered for real bodies and real moments. Each piece is a masterclass in confidence; Because timeless style never goes out of fashion – it’s inherited, repurposed, and worn by the next generation of women who refuse to compromise.

Shop the collection in-store and online from May 8th
JCPenney.com
.

About JCPenney

JCPenney, part of
catalyst brand
The shopping destination for America’s diverse, working families. With inclusivity at its core, the company’s product assortment caters to the everyday needs of customers and helps them celebrate every special occasion with style, quality and value. JCPenney offers a broad portfolio of fashion, apparel, home, beauty and jewelry from national and private brands and personal services including salon, portrait and optical. The company and its 50,000 associates around the world serve customers where, when and how they want to shop – from jcp.com to more than 650 stores in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

In 2022, JCPenney celebrates 120 years as an iconic American brand while continuing its legacy of connecting with customers through shopping and community engagement. Please visit JCPenney
newsroom
Learn more and follow JCPenney
Facebook
,
Instagram
And
Twitter
.

View the source version on businesswire.com:
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260501924225/en/

Contact: Media Contact:

JCPenney Media

(email protected)

Keyword: Texas United States North America

Industry Keywords: Fashion Family Retail Consumer Other Retail Women’s Department Store

Source: JCPenney

Copyright Business Wire 2026.

Pub: 05/01/2026 06:00 AM/Disc: 05/01/2026 06:00 AM

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260501924225/en