PLANO, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 1, 2026--
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.
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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.
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 – Liz Claiborne.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Timberwolves had plenty of lulls during the regular season, seemingly coasting at times while struggling to recapture the form that fueled them to consecutive Western Conference finals appearances over the last two years.
The postseason switch sure got flipped against the rival Denver Nuggets, as the players promised all along. The energy and urgency was never greater than in the series-clinching Game 6 victory on Thursday, when the determined Timberwolves shook off the absence of their three best guards and beat the Nuggets 110-98.
“Still part of our growth,” coach Chris Finch said. “We’ve been really good with the high moments. Our consistency sometimes throughout the season isn’t always there, which we don’t really like about ourselves, but we know we have it in ourselves to meet these moments.”
Jaden McDaniels clearly does.
Nobody on the Timberwolves embodies the mercurial nature of this close-knit but often-moody team than McDaniels, the sixth-year forward who made a name for himself in this series.
Tirelessly chasing All-Star guard Jamal Murray around screens and everywhere he tried to go along the perimeter, limiting him to 4-for-17 shooting in Game 6, McDaniels did even more on the offensive end.
With a big chunk of the team's shot creation missing due to injuries to Anthony Edwards, Donte DiVincenzo and Ayo Dosunmu, McDaniels went 13 for 25 from the floor for 32 points with 10 rebounds.
“What I was the most proud about him was just his emotional control, being able to stay poised, not overreact to adversity, calls or missed shots, or mistakes,” teammate Rudy Gobert said. "He stayed present, and he stepped up big time when we needed him the most, so I’m really, really proud of him.”
McDaniels tossed even more spice into this well-developed rivalry early in the series with his blanket “ bad defenders ” jab at the opponent, and he made no secret of the motivation he gets from seeing “Denver” or “Nuggets” sewed on the other team's jersey.
“The only thing I said to him, after he had made his comments, was, ‘Now it’s time to back it up,’” Finch said. “And talking doesn’t matter. You've got to go do it. I knew he was going to put the effort in, so he was ready for it, and he owned it, and he responded.”
McDaniels later irked Nuggets star Nikola Jokic by taking an uncontested layup in the closing seconds of Minnesota's blowout win in Game 4, sparking a brief shoving match.
McDaniels had his worst game of the series in the loss in Game 5 on Monday, when he was booed often by the Denver crowd, but he responded on his home court with one of the best games of his career.
With the Timberwolves trying to put away the game, McDaniels delivered the dagger shot — swishing his signature mid-range pull-up to give them a seven-point lead with 1:06 to play. Then he intercepted a harried pass by Jokic to get the ball back and start a parade to the line.
Jokic gave McDaniels a hug after the final horn, a sign of respect from the three-time NBA MVP despite the irritation he caused all series long.
“I’m just happy it’s over, happy we were able to come out on top,” McDaniels said. “Stuff was said. I’m just happy we were all able to prove our point, get the win and move on to the next round.”
Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs have been waiting. They'll host Game 1 on Monday.
“I figured the real winner of this series was going to be San Antonio, because both these teams were going to take a lot of pieces out of each other, and did,” Finch said. “So I’m not sure what we have left standing there before we go down there.”
Even if they're short-handed and overmatched, the Timberwolves are a good bet to put up a strong fight.
“You have to believe that you can win, no matter what,” Gobert said. "Obviously we’re missing some pretty important players, right? But no matter who’s out there, we believe in our defense. We believe in trusting one another. Anything’s possible.”
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
Minnesota Timberwolves co-owner Alex Rodriguez celebrates during the second half of Game 6 of a first-round NBA basketball playoffs series against the Denver Nuggets, Thursday, April 30, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, left, and Minnesota Timberwolves guard Jaylen Clark (22) get into an altercation during the second half of Game 6 of a first-round NBA basketball playoffs series, Thursday, April 30, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo, left, looks on during the second half of Game 6 of a first-round NBA basketball playoffs series against the Denver Nuggets, Thursday, April 30, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Terrence Shannon Jr. (1) celebrates his three-point basket against the Denver Nuggets during the second half of Game 6 of a first-round NBA basketball playoffs series, Thursday, April 30, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)
