<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!-- - EDGAR Ease Plus 1.0                                   04/22/03  TZ    -->
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
   <periodOfReport>2003-07-16</periodOfReport>
   <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000352363</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CLAIBORNE LIZ INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>LIZ</issuerTradingSymbol>
   </issuer>
   <reportingOwner>
      <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001197174</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KARCH NANCY J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
         <isDirector>1</isDirector>
         <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
         <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
         <isOther>0</isOther>
       </reportingOwnerRelationship>
   </reportingOwner>
   <derivativeSecurity>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Phantom Stock</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
         <value>0</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2003-07-16</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>56</value>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionValue>
           <value>0</value>
         </transactionValue>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>A</value>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
         <value>2003-07-16</value>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
         <value>2013-01-31</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
         <underlyingSecurityTitle>
           <value>Common Stock, par value $1 per share</value>
         </underlyingSecurityTitle>
         <underlyingSecurityShares>
           <value>56</value>
         </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>4945</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
           <value>D</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeSecurity>
   <footnotes>
<footnote id="F1"> Represents shares of phantom stock credited to Reporting Person for meetings attended by Reporting Person, pursuant to Reporting Person's election to defer receipt of cash compensation under the Issuer's Outside Directors' 1991 Stock Ownership Plan . The grant was deemed to occur as of the date recorded on Issuer's records. Shares convert to Common Stock on a one-for-one basis.</footnote>
   </footnotes>
   <ownerSignature>
      <signatureName>Nicholas J. Rubino, as attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
      <signatureDate>2003-07-17</signatureDate>
   </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

