On HBOMax’s new reality series, STYLISH with Jenna Lyons, former J.Crew Group president and executive creative director Jenna Lyons embarks on building a new creative agency all her own. But she isn’t building this new venture alone. She’s hired her ride-or-die best friend, Kyle DeFord as her chief of staff, and another creative genius and best friend, Sarah Clary as her creative partner. On the show, the three style mavens put hopeful and budding creative types (stylists, creative directors, fashion designers, etc) to the test as the candidates battle it out for the chance to join the Jenna Lyons company as the newest associate.
Ultimately the show is really about creative friends having the time of their lives together as they tackle creative challenges. Maneuvering her return to public life was incredibly difficult for Jenna Lyons. When she left J.Crew Group in 2017, she’d been with the company for her entire career, almost thirty years. Needless to say, there was a lot of pressure on Jenna to do something really cool next. But what is a woman supposed to do next after taking a catalog chain to one of the most successful fashion brands in the U.S.? That heavy question lead to Jenna needing plenty of support as she figured it out.
Setting out to build a fashion/lifestyle/beauty/interiors company a la Gwyneth Paltrow's Goop, she got to work. She bought the apartment beneath her own and converted it into an office space. But what exactly the company was going to be remained TBD. With pressure mounting, it was people like Sarah Clary to the rescue. Sarah is a New York stylist through and through. She’s freelance because everyone wants her. So she bounces around from fashion house to fashion company offering her impeccable taste everywhere she goes.
But she’s not just a simple stylist. Sarah Clary has a gift, she is known for helping brands build their identities. She helps them get focused as they present themselves to the world. She builds campaigns and offers fashion advice. She’s a creative with business savvy. A rare gem that Jenna Lyons was very lucky to scoop up for the STYLISH with Jenna Lyons adventure. Clary is most uncommonly good at styling children’s clothing. In fact, Jenna and CEO of J.Crew Group Mickey Drexler enlisted Sarah to help them launch Crewcuts, the J.Crew children’s line. Today Crewcuts is one of J.Crew’s most successful divisions. Sarah continues to style and art direct as well. Personally, Sarah is also kid-centric. She loves her children more than anything in the world. And yes, they are always dressed to impress.
Sources: STYLISH with Jenna Lyons, The Wall Group, Sarah Clary