Phillips-Van Heusen (NYSE:PVH) continues to post a knockout performance. Shares of the apparel maker and retailer have risen 45% over the past 52 weeks, and the second-quarter results that the company reported on Wednesday should only serve as a reminder of why it's been such a strong performer.

The company reported a 28% surge in adjusted earnings per share. Company management attributed the earnings growth to a 20% rise in revenue and a 130-basis-point improvement in operating income margin. The good news pushed shares to a close on Thursday that was 3.5% above Wednesday's closing price.

All of the business lines experienced both earnings and revenue growth during the quarter. Of particular note is the strength Phillips Van-Heusen has seen from its Calvin Klein Licensing business, which experienced a 28% pop in operating income on a year-over-year basis. The retailer also saw incremental growth in its fragrance business, a result of the successful first-quarter launch of its new CKIN2U fragrance line.

The outlook for Phillips-Van Heusen appears to be much healthier than those at some of its peers. Shares of Polo Ralph Lauren (NYSE:RL) have tumbled approximately 20% in the past month and a half, while Oxford Industries (NYSE:OXM), Jones Apparel (NYSE:JNY), and Liz Claiborne (NYSE:LIZ) each reported declines in earnings in their most recently reported fiscal quarters.

The management team at Phillips-Van Heusen also likes the company's outlook for the second half of the fiscal year. The impressive Q2 results allowed the company to raise its full-year forecast numbers, which now indicate a 20% increase in full-year earnings as well as a 17% increase in revenue. While it might be difficult at times to sort out the winners from the losers in the fashion world, I think this stock will remain a clear-cut winner for some time to come.

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Fool contributor Billy Fisher does not own shares of any of the companies mentioned. The Fool has a disclosure policy.