Jenna Lyons’ rise to fashion fame

Lyons started her career at J. Crew in 1990 when she was just 21 years old, as an assistant designer in menswear. By 2010, she was appointed as the company’s executive creative director, and soon after also became president of the company.

The fashion maven held various different positions throughout her 27 years at the company and was largely credited for helping J. Crew triple its revenue to almost US$2 billion by 2011, per Fashionista.

By the time she left the company in 2017, she got a cool US$1 million payout, according to WWD.

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Michelle Obama is a huge fan

During the Obama presidency, Lyons quickly became known as “the woman who dresses Michelle Obama” after the first lady regularly wore her designs and cemented J. Crew’s position on the map even further.

During her eight years in the White House, Obama consistently wore J. Crew’s easy-to-wear staple pieces like ballet flats, cardigans and slim skirts. For Barack Obama’s second presidential inauguration, the fashionable first lady accessorised with a pair of purple gloves and an embellished belt from the brand, while daughter Malia opted for a purple coat for the special occasion.

Health issues inspired her business

Lyons suffers from incontinentia pigmenti, a genetic disorder that’s scarred her skin, and lead to hair loss and deformed teeth. Per Bravo, she wore dentures for years, until she finally got her full set of new teeth in 2022.

In an Instagram post, she wrote, “Today after six years, 13 surgeries, many photos of Julianne Moore – I got my new teeth. Sinus lifts, bone grafts, infections, removal, anaesthesia, pain pills – it’s been insane but I made it, and not without the help of many incredible people in my life.”

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As a result of her hair loss and lack of eyelashes, Lyons founded fake eyelash company LoveSeen, which is described as “a true story about fake lashes” on Instagram.

It’s not her first time on TV

The Real Housewives of New York City is not Lyons’ first screen venture. She made her acting debut in season three of HBO series Girls where she played the role of a magazine editor. Series creator Lena Dunham revealed the character was inspired by Lyons herself, according to The Cut.

She also starred in reality competition series Stylish with Jenna Lyons in 2020 on HBO Max, where contestants competed for a creative assistant job with her.

She is LGBT – but didn’t come out by choice

During her divorce from artist Vincent Mazeau in 2011, Lyons was outed by the New York Post, who revealed her relationship with a woman. During an episode of RHONY, Lyons said the newspaper contacted her while she was at work to tell her about the story.

“There’s a special place for the person who took it upon themselves to make that decision,” she told The Cut. “I hadn’t told my mother, I hadn’t told any of my friends, really. I hadn’t told my ex-husband. I had a child.”

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She’s reality TV’s new style star

There is a reason Lyons stands out on The Real Housewives franchise. While most of its wealthy cast are famous for showing off their designer labels and expensive wardrobes, Lyons opts for 2023’s hottest trend of “quiet luxury” over the show’s usual flamboyance – and fans can’t get enough of it.

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