Jenna Lyons is an American fashion designer, businesswoman, and television personality renowned for her transformative impact on American retail and her distinctive personal style. A graduate of Parsons School of Design, Lyons began her career at J.Crew in 1990 as a junior designer, eventually rising to executive creative director and president. Under her leadership, J.Crew evolved from a catalog retailer into a fashion-forward brand, earning her the moniker “The Woman Who Dresses America” and recognition on TIME’s 2013 list of the 100 most influential people.
Known for her bold fashion choices, including thick-framed glasses and an eclectic mix of textures and prints, Lyons continues to inspire as a style icon and creative entrepreneur.
Growing up with a genetic disorder that made me look different than all the other kids, finding fashion was not just a form of escape, it was a foundation for confidence as well as a source of aspiration.
Younger Jenna would be shocked, amazed, excited and overjoyed. I’ve been fortunate to find myself in a place so much more successful than I ever could have imagined. Not just success in financial form— incredible career, beautiful home, amazing friends, twists and turns of love and happiness. Growing up in a secluded small town, I never thought I’d go any farther than being a designer.
I did not find my voice in college. While I knew fashion was what I wanted to do, Mr. Swaitek among many were such an inspiration as well as incredible mentors. I think what was most impactful was the Critic Program where I had the opportunity to work with Donna Karan and ended up with an internship my senior year.
Parsons had a job board, and it was the end of the school year—I was scared I wouldn’t land a job. I’d been working at Donna Karan for next to no money, so when I saw the posting, I grabbed it and decided to try my luck. The role was in menswear, which I had never been interested in or even attempted. They asked me to complete a project and meet with the then-president, Emily Woods. At the time, I had moved back home and was living in L.A. I drove to her house, showed her my project and portfolio, and she hired me on the spot. I still remember what I wore, what she wore—and the fact that I didn’t even ask what the salary was.
There was a moment—I can’t quite pinpoint when—when people started asking if the ‘J’ in J.Crew stood for Jenna. I began to notice that, whether in the press or on the street, people were connecting my style and name to the brand in a way that was deeper and more personal than I had ever expected.
I was—and still am—honored that there’s even such a thing as the ‘Jenna Era.’ It was both empowering and full of pressure. There was a strange dynamic, going to the MET Gala and standing next to Kim K and Julianne Moore and the next day being on the floor at the office going through samples with someone half my age and brand new.
Finding that balance of how to live in both worlds was sometimes more humbling than elegant.
I had no plan. When I left I just knew it was time to go. I am grateful I didn’t have a plan, I think the myriad of projects I’ve had the opportunity to be part of have been extraordinary. If I had a plan I don’t think I would have tried half the things I’ve been able to.
What surprised me most was how varied my skill set had become in my tenure at J.Crew. While I had started as a designer, over the years I had touched every sector of J. Crew, Madewell and Factory. Everything from the stores, to the marketing, to the product, photo-shoots, catalogs, brand voice, budgets, to being the public face. That incredibly varied experience gave me a wide range of skills and experience I was not even aware of. What has been the most fun was during my tenure at J.Crew I always knew who to call, what the process would look like, and what my future held in terms of the job itself. In this new world every meeting I go to I’m either learning something or I have to look something up. I’m sitting in a room with people who are talking about things I’ve never experienced. That is a total gift to be my age and getting to try completely new things.
There is no replacement for experience. Culturally there has become this idea that everything has to happen immediately, and yes while there are Internet stars making millions of dollars at 22, that is as much of a lottery as the actual lottery. Taking it slow and enjoying the ride is also a measure of success.
The underlying aspiration has always been to make something I love that’s accessible and inviting to others. I made clothing at J. Crew because I wanted to make clothing my friends could afford and also love and feel great about. I went into TV doing a makeover show because I wanted to show how anyone could do a home or an outfit. I went into making eyelashes because I didn’t have them and wanted to provide a product that felt more in line with what I wanted to reflect to the world. I think all of them are a desire to connect and give people moments of beauty that everyone can partake in.
I did the long haul and feel proud and grateful for what I experienced and accomplished. What’s next? Honestly, I don’t know—which is the most exciting to say. It’s incredible to get a second chance, and not feeling like I have to do x, y, or z is an absolute luxury. The luxury of choice, options and choosing my own adventure.
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