Tuesday, September 22, 2009

J.Crew's Jenna Lyons In The News

A big "thanks!" to Rosie who let us know (and shared the image) about an article in the recent Delta Sky Magazine, which features J.Crew's Jenna Lyons. To read the article in its entirety, click on the image above or here.

5 Minutes With// Jenna Lyons, Creative Director, J.Crew
By DeltaSkyMag

September 2009


Role: Lyons heads up the design teams, oversees 14 catalogs a year, influences the creative direction of the J.Crew stores and facilitates designer collaborations. Her vision has positioned J.Crew as a top go-to brand for men and women.
History:
This Parsons School of Design grad began her career with an internship at Donna Karan. She joined J.Crew as one of the first members of the design team under founder Emily Woods, where she has climbed the ranks for nearly 20 years.


The first lady proudly dons J.Crew. What effect is the first family having on business?

There were people who thought J.Crew wasn't for them, who thought they were too old for J.Crew, who thought J.Crew wouldn't fit them or maybe they just didn't know the brand. But now, these same people want to be a part of something that is approachable and real. There is a real need in this country to be connected to the first family, and J.Crew is sharing in that communal love and attachment to them. We are honored by her choices.


How do you keep up with trends, and where do you find inspiration?

Trend is something we don't really focus on. We don't ignore them, but our design happens a little more amorphously- you see it, you feel it, you're constantly being inspired. Whether it is some cute girl on the street, a book, a magazine, a vacation or art- it is a constant evolving process. We focus on how to do what we do and still look like us while acknowledging what is happening in the world of trend. We like people to feel like they can keep our clothes. Especially right now. I don't think anyone wants to spend money on something they feel will be obsolete in a year.


You're collaborating with other designers and brands that are well known in the industry but not necessarily the "of-the-moment" designers. What is the strategy?

Most of the brands we've collaborated with have been around for years. They've never changed, and they have this integrity in who they are. It is really about us highlighting brands that we have grown up with. Since some of have gone in and out of fashion, it was important that we show a current interpretation. A lot of bigger companies are collaborating with designers, and that is interesting and may be something what we someday do; but right now, we are looking at brands that have an incredible heritage.


An increasing number of your designs feature materials we're used to seeing in couture, but you've democratized them. Why?

As a designer, you always want to work with the best product possible. We realized that because the designer market is smaller, a lot of incredible mills were used to getting orders for 100 to 200 yards of somethings. So we came in and said, "What if we give you a 5,000 yard order?" Because of our volume, we were able to get better prices that we are then able to pass on to the customer. And because we are not selling to a department store, nothing is marked up, so we are able to pass on the quality that we really love and would ourselves want to wear. It is so important to us to keep the J.Crew brand special.

What are your thoughts on the article? Do you agree or disagree any points made? :)

19 comments:

  1. A huge trend is NEON and JCrew is sporting that a lot in its new catalogs. Also, the ankle socks are trendy and youthful so not so sure about Jenna's comment about JCrew not nec. following trends and being for "older" folks:) IMO the JCrew of old was not trend influenced and more preppy/classic.

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  2. "And because we are not selling to a department store, nothing is marked up, so we are able to pass on the quality that we really love and would ourselves want to wear."

    hmmm Jenna is delusional, doesn't she see the quality going down?

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  3. Excuse me for a sec...

    AHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA

    Seriously, Jenna? What a crock!

    If trend wasn't something you focused on, JC's stuff wouldn't look like stuff that you could find at many other retailers that are also inspired by/copying off of runway styles. Besides, who wants to keep overly trendy clothes for a long time? At their current quality (or lack thereof) you couldn't even hang on to a classic cashmere cardigan for more than a season if you wanted to.

    *deep breath*
    Need coffee...carry on!

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  4. umm... JCrew has been rather slavish to trends of late, no? "of-the-moment" (a phrase constantly used in JCrew copy, but inexplicably employed here to suggest the opposite) = trend whores!

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  5. Is she actually suggesting their clothes aren't marked up by a ridiculous percentage, just because they don't sell to department stores? Ha. The layering of belts, bringing in plaid shirts, ankle socks in general (let alone in neons), and metallics are all "trends." I follow a few trends every season, so I don't have a problem with that, heck I buy them from J Crew when possible, but why deny?

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  6. After the bad experience I had at the Montgomery Mall store and the fact that there is nothing in the new catalog that I want, I think I'm done with JCrew. Jenna and Mickey are arrogant and out of touch - the quality has gone down while prices have gone up. Silk camis at $98? That's a bargain? I understand they don't want to do sales, but at least price appropriately. I'm very sad because I used to wear out my catalogs and dream about everything I wanted - now there isn't much that is wearable imo.

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  7. What I like about JCrew is that you can really build a whole wardrobe every season (if you can afford it!) because all the key basics and trends are represented. I also love their range of colors. There's really no other retailer that offers so many color choices in different styles.

    What I DON'T like about JCrew is that because of their desire to be seen as higher end or "something special," as Jenna puts it, many items are over-priced (see art tees and the thin merino sweaters) and the customer service is sub-par most of the time. I guess they're going for exclusivity, but they have so many clothes to move I think they would benefit more from trying to court customers, rather than positioning themselves as trend-makers from whom we're lucky to buy.

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  8. They used to offer lots of great colors. I no longer find that as of recent with all the neutrals and over donw pewter color. how much light pewter can a person own??? At least the items I like are not offered in the nice saturated colors of JCrew of old...

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  9. This also made me laugh...talk about saying one thing and doing another!

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  10. This comment is interesting - We like people to feel like they can keep our clothes. Especially right now. I don't think anyone wants to spend money on something they feel will be obsolete in a year.

    If that's the case, then I suggest they start offering more better quality clothes that don't pill, fray, rip within a few wearings. Some of their items I love and think is good quality, but lately a lot is to be desired. Enough of the fraying chiffon, poor quality material! I refuse to spend my money on items that will look as if I've used and abused them, when in reality have only worn them a few times.

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  11. I LOL'd when I read that there were some women "who thought they were too old for J.Crew". On MSN recently there was a feature from O magazine on how to wear trends at any age. The blushed tweed Collier jacket was worn by the 56 year-old. Obviously people think J.Crew is apropos the more mature set. I've always thought a lot of their clothes were fine for any age. Even in the preppy days you could find chinos, polos and sweaters that your grandparents would be happy to wear. Well, mine would anyway.

    The markup comment is definitely out of touch. Even if you think that Jenna, why would you say it in an interview? Comes off as elitist and insincere. Better to phrase it that the clothes are priced fairly given the quality materials and construction.

    That said, there are a number of high-quality, non-trendy pieces available each season. Although they come with a respective price tag, they are worth it over the life of the piece. Some of the skirts, dresses, coats, suiting, perfect shirts and silk blouses come to mind. Sweaters, pants, shoes and accessories - a little more hit or miss for me. Although J.Crew has brought back more footwear with leather linings and soles so quality appears to be improving.

    I guess for me I read an article like this and wonder, "Why *do* I shop at J.Crew?" Answer: Because I really like the clothes!

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  12. This article just about brought a tear to my eye. I think Jenna may have clothes dysmorphic disorder or something! I think that while JC still offers some of the basic tried and trues like suiting and cardis, they have gotten VERY trendy, and not early adopting trendy, either, more like a see-it-everywhere trendy. Super skinny jeans, ruffles and rosettes, wee booties, neon, footwear designed to give you cankles, layers of necklaces like tween Disney stars were overdoing several years ago... Not much with years of staying power, and not quite heirloom quality, either.

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  13. Reading all the comments, honestly those who love the most are the most severe critics. Or how old Russian proverb states on man-woman relationship if he beats you he loves you ;)

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  14. Haha, PB - then based on some of the JCA's customer service/item quality stories, JC must really like us as well!

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  15. Loved what Jenna said; just wished it was true. When I was 16 (or even 26), I *did* keep my J. Crew clothes forever. Now, in my 30s, I'm lucky if they last past the first wear or wash...

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  16. "And because we are not selling to a department store, nothing is marked up, so we are able to pass on the quality that we really love and would ourselves want to wear."

    I would highly doubt that quality is defined as a $50 tissue tee that gets a hole in it after being washed once in the delacate cycle! For every 10 J Crew items I have purchased in the 08-09 years 7 of those 10 now have some sort of "quality defect". My favorite is tiny little holes in all the tissue tees I own right where the label and size tag have been sewn on.I can bearle wear a tee more than twice now before it gets a hole. If J Crew continues to make disposable clothes, they should be offering them at disposable prices.

    I've now just gone to scouring E-bay looking for older season clothes (like 04-07) on purpose because I know even in already used condition, they will hold up better than the new items being sold now.

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  17. egyptomaniac, me too! I just got 2 great skirts and a pair of fabulous leather boots from eBay (all JC). Some of my favorite JC pieces are from 04-06 via eBay and still look new - I especially love my suede Barcelona flats (with leather lining/sole), wool Charlie coat, Hudson hoodie sweater and leather Anya bag.

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  18. I have Jenna Fatigue! Please someone send her away along with the light pewter color already. Talk about overexposure.

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