Sr. Designer - Women's Outerwear & Tailoring

JCrew • New York, NY

7d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Designer of Women’s Outerwear and Tailoring drives the creative vision and technical execution for two of J.Crew’s most iconic heritage categories: classic tailoring (blazers, suiting, trousers) and outerwear (coats, jackets, trenches), including structured leather apparel. Reporting to the Design Director, this person manages the design and development of the category from concept through production approval and contributes directly to fabric, silhouette, and detail/fit/finish. Partnering with the Design Director to interpret seasonal direction, they build curated, thoughtful capsules that marry J.Crew’s signature aesthetic with modern, trend-right innovation and drive strong commercial results.

Requirements

• 8+ years of progressive experience in apparel design, with a focus on outerwear, tailoring, or structured wovens.
• Experience managing, mentoring, and developing direct reports on a design team.
• Strong hands-on knowledge of fabric, silhouette, and detail/fit/finish development, with a highly developed taste level and point of view.
• Working knowledge of pattern, construction, and tailoring principles as they apply to outerwear and structured apparel, including leading fittings.
• Expert proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) for creating original artwork, tech packs, concept boards, and presentation materials, plus experience using Miro and Procreate.
• Exceptional presentation and communication skills, with the ability to articulate creative concepts to leadership and cross-functional partners.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and seasonal deadlines in a fast-paced environment with strong attention to detail.

Nice To Haves

• Experience designing within an established American lifestyle or heritage-driven brand.
• Familiarity with trend forecasting platforms such as WGSN or Fashion Snoops.
• Knowledge of technical outerwear fabrications, tailoring and draping techniques, and leather sourcing and treatments.
• Track record of designing product that has delivered strong commercial results.
• Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design, Textile Design, or a related field is a plus, but not required; equivalent professional experience is equally valued.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and development of women’s outerwear, tailored separates, and structured leather apparel each season, from initial concept, sketch, and fabric selection through final production samples.
• Conduct global research on seasonal silhouette, color, and fabric innovation, with heavy emphasis on premium wools, transitional outerwear materials, and traditional and innovative tailoring textiles, translating findings into commercially viable direction that reflects J.Crew’s point of view.
• Develop and source premium fabrics, yarns, trims, leather treatments, hardware, and construction techniques in partnership with Production and Sourcing, balancing innovation with production feasibility.
• Lead fittings for outerwear and suiting, ensuring impeccable garment construction, drape, and tailoring standards, and accurate design cards and tech packs.
• Partner closely with Merchandising, Production, and Technical Design to protect product integrity and the original design vision while maximizing gross margin.
• Manage, mentor, and coach assistant and associate designers, driving accountability and fostering creative growth.
• Create professional presentation boards, CAD artwork, and illustrations to communicate the seasonal vision to leadership and merchants, and maintain an archive of seasonal concepts and artwork to inform future development.

Benefits

• medical, dental, prescription and vision insurance
• family planning (fertility, adoption & surrogacy support)
• fitness discounts
• medical travel
• associate discount across all of our brands (J.Crew, J.Crew Factory, and Madewell)
• Summer Fridays (office closes at 1:00 PM every Friday during Summer months)
• Community Impact through philanthropic efforts and the J.Crew Cares Program
• Winter Break at the end of December for eligible full-time associates at the Home Office
• PTO package

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed