Y. Women's apparel
sales earned almost $95 billion in 2004, up from $90 billion the
previous year, nearly a 5 percent increase in dollar sales.

Big News for the Dallas Area: Casual Male Big + Tall Outlet Opens a New Retail Location in Allen TX

"

Getting Close to the Customer

As the nation's second largest retailer of women's apparel,
JCPenney understands the importance of listening to customers and
responding to their needs.

bunting fords

According to a recent study by the retail research group
NPD, men spent almost $53 billion on apparel in 2005, up 5 percent from 2004.

CMRG, the largest retailer of big and tall men's apparel with retail
operations throughout the United States, Canada and London, England , operates
483 Casual Male Big + Tall and Casual Male XL stores, the Casual Male e-
commerce site , Casual Male catalog business, 13 Casual Male at Sears-Canada
stores, 24 Rochester Big + Tall stores and a direct to consumer business. The
partnership marks the first time Nicole Miller has designed an
exclusive collection for a department store.

bunting hawker

S. The pieces -- lightweight city coats, jackets, skirts, pants,
crop pants, knit tops, sweaters and dresses retailing from $26 to $100
-- work together to create a versatile wardrobe that moves easily from
the office to weekends to an evening out.jcpenney. The company boasts an incredible twenty
freestanding Nicole Miller boutiques in prominent cities throughout
the United States, each of which serves as a showplace for Ms. Miller
and the lifestyle that she has made available to her loyal fans.

intimates closeout

According to a study from the Centers for Disease Control, American men
are increasing in weight at a pace similar to women.

bathrobes closeout

This year I expect to see consumers
step up to the plate and buy apparel as needed. In 2004,
men's apparel sales produced over $49 billion, up from nearly $47
billion in 2003, over a 5 percent increase in dollars. Total men's tailored clothing sales were
over $4 billion dollars in 2004, up from over $3 billion in 2003.
Debuting this month in JCPenney stores, catalogs, and online at
jcpenney.

revamp wore

by The NPD Group

PORT WASHINGTON, N. 23, 2005: Headline of release should read: The NPD Group
Reports U.
"Apparel's comeback is good news for an industry that's been
looking for ways to find growth .
Casual Male Retail Group, Inc., the largest retailer of big and tall men's
apparel with operations throughout the United States, Canada and London,
England, operates 481 Casual Male Big + Tall and Casual Male XL stores.
A one-stop shop offering a variety of apparel from formal suits to casual wear
to sports gear, Casual Male is also catering to the increasingly fashion-
conscious male by revamping the name and design of their stores' logo to
better attract a wider variety of consumers .

beachwear wore

S. RETAIL APPAREL SALES UP AFTER THREE
YEARS OF DECLINE

Colorful shirts, pretty prints and men's suits helped the apparel
industry shine in 2004. The category, consisting of men's suits,
suit separates and sportscoats and jackets, experienced double-digit
growth of about 24 percent.
For women, 2004 was all about knit tops and sweaters. Name brands include Skechers(R), New
Balance(R ), Deer Stags(R) and more!
By realizing that big and tall men want the same quality, comfort, variety
and value that is available to their regular size counterparts, the chain has
achieved a significant share of the market. The
Nicole Miller label is also found at upscale boutiques and department
stores nationwide.

revamp versace

S.

2004 Top Five Best Selling Clothing Categories for Men and Women
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Men's Categories % Change 04/03 Women's Categories % Change 04/03
--------------------------------------------- -------------------------
Tailored Clothing 24% Accessories 10%
--- -------------------------------------------------------------------
Fleecewear 12% Tops 9%
-------------------------------------------------------------- --------
Sleepwear 11% Swimwear 8%
--------------------- -------------------------------------------------
Swimwear 7% Intimate Apparel 8%
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Underwear 7% Outerwear 6%
----------------------------------------------- -----------------------
Source: The NPD Group / NPD Fashionworld Consumer

Hot Apparel Categories in 2004

Looking at the top growing apparel categories, men's tailored
clothing flew off the racks.(R), Drill, Reebok(R), plus the new George Foreman
Collection and more. 27.com is
one of the largest apparel and home furnishings sites on the Internet.
For additional information, visit www.

bathrobes realized

. The outdated thong was replaced
with the new, stylish boy panty. A
specialty-size retail niche traditionally overlooked by the competition,
Casual Male also operates an e-commerce site, the Casual Male catalog
business, 13 Casual Male at Sears-Canada stores, 23 Rochester Big + Tall
stores and a direct to consumer business. Casual Male Big + Tall
strives to serve this market through broad apparel assortments carried in more
sizes than any other retailer through their multiple channels. "We are
excited to bring the new Casual Male to the Dallas area, as our brand embodies
the fact that being big + tall can be a healthy way of life. With a wide
selection of apparel , a variety of quality name brands and a keen insight into
our customers' needs, Casual Male strives to be the best and most
comprehensive resource for big and tall men's fashion.com, the collection reflects Nicole Miller's interpretation
of classic American style with her signature feminine, flirty , and fun
touches. In 2004, the
company launched Chris Madden for the JCPenney Home Collection , and
signed Colin Cowie as spokesman for its wedding and gift registry and
designer of an exclusive entertaining and bridal collection.

versace modesty

Casual Male enters into the Allen, TX market providing even more
fashionable options for the big + tall man just in time for the spring
shopping season.
"We have reached out to our customer to learn about what she wants
and needs, and our partnership with Nicole is helping us respond to
what we heard by offering the stylish, fun looks that fit her
lifestyle," said Ken Hicks, President and Chief Merchandising Officer
of JCPenney.

undergarments fords

.
Across gender segments, men's and women's clothing sales both
showed growth, while children's apparel sales were flat. Children's
apparel sales were $29 billion, showing the same sales from 2003.
"Consumers , especially men, realized they finally needed to update
their wardrobe because it was either out of style or it didn't fit
anymore and so they were forced to buy new clothes," said Cohen. Women 's tops
generated over $31 billion dollars and grew 9 percent from the
previous year. "Nicole is a talented designer, and we are excited to
work with her to help our customers look and feel terrific .com.

realized hawker

Levin, President and CEO of Casual Male."

Contact:
Ric Della Bernarda
781-828-9300
rdellabernarda@cmal.

A Hollywood Premiere

Befitting a designer who has dressed some of Hollywood's top stars
for their turns on the red carpet, JCPenney is launching a fully
integrated marketing campaign for nicole by Nicole Miller during the
most-watched fashion event of the year: ABC-TV's broadcast of the 77th
Annual Academy Awards(R) on Sunday, Feb.

overstocks fords

According to The NPD Group, a market research
firm, apparel sales totaled $173 billion in 2004, a four percent
increase from $166 billion in 2003.after all, you can
only wear your khakis for so long before they wear out or don't fit
anymore," said Marshal Cohen, chief industry analyst, The NPD Group.
Casual Male also offers casual, athletic and dress shoes in their
merchandise mix and has become the largest footwear retailer in the nation for
sizes 11 to 16 in widths up to EEEE. The company is owned by the Casual
Male Retail Group, Inc.

intimates bunting

Retail Apparel Sales up First Time
in Three Years )., Specialty-sized apparel
is the fastest growing segment of retailing today and Casual Male leads the
way with a new store opening in Allen, TX.

Business Editors/Fashion Editors

PLANO , Texas----JCPenney (NYSE:JCP),
America's resource for style at a smart price, and fashion icon Nicole
Miller have teamed up to introduce nicole by Nicole Miller, a dressy
casual collection designed for women's multifaceted lifestyles."
The nicole by Nicole Miller collection represents JCPenney 's most
recent exclusive partnership with a leading designer. Four-page inserts in April
fashion and lifestyle magazines will also spotlight how the nicole
collection takes a woman through the many moments of her day.

beachwear closeout

. The women's swimwear and intimate apparel businesses
both grew 8 percent in dollar sales. Estimates are that the number of men
over 6'2" or with waistlines exceeding 44" are nearly 20 million.

About JCPenney

JCPenney is one of America's largest department store , catalog,
and e-commerce retailers, employing approximately 150,000 associates. For store information call 800-365-4721 or visit
Nicolemiller.

versace bathrobes

Store locations can be accessed by
calling 1-800-THINKBIG or by visiting their Web site casualmale.net

About Nicole Miller

A true American designer , Nicole Miller's perfect "little black
dress" has evolved into an eclectic collection that imbues an
individual sense of style.

overstocks hartt

CORRECTING and REPLACING The NPD Group Reports U.S. Retail Apparel Sales up After Three Years of Decline; Men's Tailored Clothing is Top Selling Apparel Catego

Casual Male
Big + Tall specializes in clothing sizes 1X-6X and XLT-5XLT, making it the
preferred apparel choice for big and tall men."
"We've learned that many women are looking for a new kind of
clothing that falls somewhere between career and casual, that has good
design, great fit, and the versatility to go anywhere," said Liz
Sweney, Executive Vice President and General Merchandise Manager for
Women 's Apparel at JCPenney. JCPenney Catalog, including e-commerce, is the nation's
largest catalog merchant of general merchandise, and jcpenney.

beachwear fords

----In BW5094
issued Feb.
"Consumers want clothes that are new and exciting, if the industry can
deliver that then I think the growth will continue," said Cohen .
Throughout the nineties, the apparel industry witnessed steady
growth, peaking in 2000 at nearly $176 billion. Offering More Stylish Options for the Big and Tall Guy

CANTON, Mass .com. "I felt that
JCPenney was truly interested in my design ability first, and I'm
excited about the opportunity to dress millions of women across
America in affordable style.

wore closeout

, and operates the apparel chain from corporate
headquarters in Canton, Massachusetts. The
Company is headquartered in Canton, Massachusetts, and its common stock is
listed on the NASDAQ National Market under the symbol "CMRG.

The cave people wore furs, Adam and Eve wore fig leaves, and at some point in time, someone realized they could market their skills by selling garments.

bunting rhinestone

Retail Apparel Sales up After Three Years of Decline
(sted: The NPD Group Reports U.

The corrected release reads as follows:

THE NPD GROUP REPORTS U. This new store is the first of its
kind in Allen and will be located at the Allen Premium Outlets at 820 West
Stacy Road, Suite 330. "Nicole understood those needs and
designed a wonderful collection with our customer in mind.

beachwear yoox

Business Editors
CORRECTION.com

The decision to team with Nicole Miller to
develop a dressy casual line was the direct result of extensive
customer input. The
company also is the exclusive retailer of Bisou Bisou contemporary
women's apparel, designed by Michele Bohbot.
The company operates 1,020 JCPenney department stores throughout the
United States and Puerto Rico, and 61 Renner department stores in
Brazil.

outerwear hawker

. The opening of the Allen store brings the number of
Casual Male stores in the Dallas area to 11, providing more convenient
locations to shop for stylish big and tall clothing.

JCPenney Introduces nicole by Nicole Miller; Customers Help Identify the Need for Women's Dressy Casual Apparel

wore polartec

"
Before Casual Male changed the face of retailing, men with sizes larger
than XL had few options in ready -to-wear clothing. Today, men can visit the
new Casual Male store and choose from a wide range of quality fashions from a
variety of designer brands and popular name brands, including Levi's(R),
Dockers(R), Perry Ellis Portfolio(R), Geoffrey Beene(R), Nautica, Izod(R),
Knights(R), Polo Jeans Co.

serengeti bunting

In 2001, apparel sales
took a major dip in dollars and the downward trend continued for two
years due to low consumer confidence, increasing unemployment rates
and consumers' lack of passion for fashion.
Men's fleecewear and sleepwear also displayed strong growth, up 12
percent and 11 percent respectively.
"As men become increasingly aware of their own personal style and fashion
options , Casual Male would like to continue to be their partner through this
change," said David A.
"I was most interested in JCPenney because of the importance they
placed on the design of the clothes ," said Nicole Miller, whose
exquisite designs and celebrity following have kept her at the
forefront of American fashion for more than 20 years. The event is expected to
be watched by more than 43 million viewers.

For modesty's sake, we hope you'll find something appealing here.

appealing wore

"Women, on the other hand, played dress-up by adding color and
feminine florals to their closets," said Cohen .