She Changed Fashion First.

JCPenney celebrates the 50^th anniversary of the original trailblazer who democratized women’s fashion

PLANO, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--She did something revolutionary in 1976: she stopped waiting for permission. She took a vision and created the first female-founded Fortune 500 company. She didn't decide what women wanted. She asked what women actually needed.

She looked at closets filled with false choices and compromises: power or femininity, luxury or accessibility, the boardroom or real life...and rejected every single one. She designed for a woman who had to be three versions of herself in one day, and she made clothes that could move with her. A blazer wasn't just a garment; it was a bold statement.

She understood that gatekeeping style was gatekeeping power, so she did the radical thing: she democratized it. She demanded department stores display her brand as complete collections, not parceled pieces – which became the standard. She listed her employees alphabetically to circumvent traditional, male hierarchies.

She proved that quality, comfort, style and accessibility were not opposing forces. They are inevitable partners. Her fashion has moved through generations, worn by women who perhaps didn't even know how iconic the name on the label was.

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

It was Liz Claiborne.

This May, as the world is captivated by fictional fashion moguls, JCPenney celebrates 50 years of real, bold, timeless 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 up on the screen, it’s written every day by the women who wear Liz Claiborne and yes, JCPenney.

As the exclusive retailer of Liz Claiborne since 2009, JCPenney didn’t just recognize her impact, but instead built on her legacy – elevating her vision across every category, making her one of the retailer’s top selling women’s brands. From petite to plus sizes, across apparel, home, shoes, accessories and fragrance, Liz Clairborne has become one of JCPenney’s most trusted heritage brands, earning more than 5,000 five-star customer reviews. For over 15 years, JCPenney has been the platform where Liz's original promise – that style, quality, and accessibility belong to everyone – continues to thrive and evolve.

"Liz Claiborne didn't just build a company; she started a movement. She understood that confidence is every woman’s right, not something unobtainable for the few,” said Michelle Wlazlo, Chief Executive Officer of JCPenney. “For five decades, her vision has defined what it means to dress for the life you want and deserve. That spirit lives on at JCPenney today through our incredible private brands that democratize fashion and partnerships with trailblazing women who, like Liz, refuse to accept false choices and insist on making style accessible to all."

In honor of Liz Claiborne 50^th anniversary, JCPenney is launching a capsule collection that pays tribute to Liz’s motto that your wardrobe should “fit the way you live.” The collection features 80 curated pieces that capture Liz's fearless design ethos: power blazers that command a room, perfectly pleated trousers that move from desk to dinner, statement sweater vests layered 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 gets inherited, reinvented, and worn by the next generation of women who refuse to compromise.

Shop the collection starting May 8 at in-store and online at JCPenney.com.

About JCPenney

JCPenney, part of Catalyst Brands, is the shopping destination for America’s diverse, working families. With inclusivity at its core, the Company’s product assortment meets customers’ everyday needs and helps them commemorate 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 provides personal services including salon, portrait and optical. The Company and its 50,000 associates worldwide 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 celebrated 120 years as an iconic American brand by continuing its legacy of connecting with customers through shopping and community engagement. Please visit JCPenney’s Newsroom to learn more and follow JCPenney on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.