Jenna Lyons Is Leaving J.Crew

Jenna Lyons is leaving J.Crew after 26 years with the company, the retailer announced today in a press release. Business of Fashion first reported the news.

"It has been beyond my wildest dreams to work with such an amazing team of people at such an incredible brand and alongside Mickey [Drexler]—one of retail's most talented visionaries," Lyons said in the statement. "I am excited about the next chapter for J.Crew as well as the opportunity for other creative leaders within the organization to step up and take on new responsibilities. Having spent the better part of my life with J.Crew, I feel an immense pride and love for everyone at the company."

Lyons didn't cite a reason for her exit in the statement, and J.Crew CEO Mickey Drexler is staying mum on the issue as well. "Jenna and I got together, and we both agreed it was time for a change,” Drexler told Business of Fashion. "That being said, she's got plans to do other things. It's been a great run. There's a lot of mutual respect between Jenna and me."

There's also been no word on what those "plans" might be just yet, as Lyons' entire fashion career has been at J.Crew. She first joined the company in 1990 as an assistant menswear designer after graduating from Parsons School of Design. She was named vice president of women's design in 2003, when J.Crew's current CEO Mickey Drexler joined the company. In 2008 she became J.Crew's creative director; in 2010 she added "president" to her title. During her tenure, Lyons' personal style—stripes, sequins, cuffed sleeves, and more—became J.Crew's defining and popular aesthetic, earning her the unofficial title "the Woman Who Dresses America."

Filling those large shoes will be the women's design head, Somsack Sikhounmuong, BoF reports. The former Madewell designer will now take over the men's, women's, and children's design departments—while J.Crew attempts to rebound from a disappointing 2016, during which sales dropped 6 percent in 2016.

Related: Career Advice From J.Crew Creative Director and President Jenna Lyons