Jenna Lyons

Also Known As: Judith Agar Lyons • Born: 06/08/1968

Jenna Lyons, born Judith Agar Lyons on June 8, 1968, in Boston, Massachusetts, is a well-known American fashion designer, businesswoman, and TV personality. She made a significant impact in fashion during her long career at J.Crew, where she started in 1990 and worked until April 2017. Lyons climbed the ranks at J.Crew, eventually becoming the executive creative director and president. Her innovative fashion earned her the nickname “Woman Who Dresses America” in 2013. Growing up in Palos Verdes, California, Lyons faced health challenges and bullying because of her genetic disorder, incontinentia pigmenti. This condition caused scarring, hair loss, and dental problems, which led her to wear dentures. Despite these challenges, she developed resilience and independence, shaped by her parents’ divorce and supported by her creative mother, a piano teacher. She started sewing her clothes in seventh grade, boosting her confidence and nurturing her interest in fashion.

Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Threads by Instagram

Fashion Innovator

Jenna Lyons revolutionized J.Crew’s Style Guide by transforming it into a fashion magazine-like publication. She enhanced its editorial content by introducing sections like “Jenna’s Picks.”

Acting Debut

Jenna Lyons made her acting debut in the HBO series “Girls.” She played a GQ editor, a role inspired by her real-life fashion career, bringing her industry expertise to the small screen.

Health Challenges

Jenna Lyons suffers from incontinentia pigmenti, a genetic disorder that affects her skin, hair, and teeth. Despite this, she turned her challenges into a passion for fashion, using it to empower and transform herself.

• Height: 6′ (183 cm)

• Nationality: American

• Show(s): The Real Housewives of New York City

• Network(s): Bravo

• Guest Appearances: Girls (HBO)