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EXHIBIT 10.16    
    

September
15, 2003 

Roxane
Al-Fayez

[address omitted] 

Dear
Roxane, 

        We
are pleased to extend an offer to join our team as Executive Vice President of Direct Operations, reporting to Millard S. Drexler. 

        We
will provide you with professional challenges, education and ongoing support as you continue your career with J.Crew. Your compensation will include a base salary of $375,000
annualized ($14,423.08 biweekly), payable in accordance with J.Crew's normal payroll practices. In addition, our competitive benefits package includes the following: 

30
paid time off days each subsequent fiscal year (beginning February 2004)

medical, vision & dental insurance

short & long term disability

life insurance and long term care

401(k) tax deferred savings plan (after 1 year with us)

tax deferred flexible spending accounts for health, dependent care & commutation

tuition reimbursement

30 percent merchandise discount (in stores, online & through the catalog) 

        You
will be eligible to receive a $50,000 sign-on bonus payable two weeks after your start date. All bonus payments are subject to applicable tax withholdings and are contingent upon you
being an active associate on the date of actual disbursement. If you voluntarily terminate your employment for any
reason within one year after your start date, you agree to repay to the Company a prorated amount of this bonus based on your last date of active employment. You must repay this amount within thirty
days thereafter of your last date of active employment. 

        For
fiscal year 2003, we will pay you a minimum guaranteed bonus equal to $50,000 payable April, 2004. For fiscal year 2003 and beyond, you will be eligible to receive an annual bonus
under the company's bonus plan based upon a range of 25% - 100% of your annual base salary, with a target of 50%. Bonus payments are conditioned upon the company's achievement of certain
performance objectives and your individual performance and are pro-rated based upon date of hire. It is company policy to make bonus payments after the close of our fiscal year, usually mid-April, and
all bonus payments are subject to applicable tax withholdings and are contingent upon you being an active associate on the date of actual disbursement. 

        In
addition, you will receive a $25,000 bonus payment payable in October of 2004. All bonus payments are subject to applicable tax withholdings and are contingent upon you being an
active associate on the date of actual disbursement. 

        You
will be eligible to participate in our Stock Option Plan. Subject to approval of the provisions set forth in the Plan and your Stock Option Grant Agreement, the Company will grant to
you a non-qualified stock option to purchase 35,000 shares of J.Crew Group, Inc. Common Stock. The Stock Option Grant Agreement will provide the exercise price, vesting schedule, expiration and other
relevant terms. 

        You
will also receive a grant of 25,000 restricted shares of Common Stock. The terms and conditions, including the vesting schedule, of the Restricted Shares shall be evidenced by a
separate Restricted Stock Agreement. 

        J.Crew
will provide you with a monthly housing allowance of $3,000 for as long as you are an active employee. You will be notified through our Relocation Services to aid you in this
process. If your employment is terminated by us for reasons other than cause prior to the earlier of (1) 12 months after 

 

the
effective date of your housing lease or (2) 18 months after your start date with us, J.Crew will continue to reimburse you for your actual monthly rental payments up to $3,000 per month for the
remaining term of your 12-month lease (the "Remaining Term"). In the event that you sublease, transfer or terminate your lease anytime during the Remaining Term, J. Crew's obligations to reimburse you
as set forth herein shall terminate immediately. 

        You
represent to J.Crew that you do not have any other agreements, arrangements or commitments with any other person or entity that conflict with accepting this offer or performing your
obligations and that you will not disclose to J.Crew or use any proprietary information or trade secrets of another person or entity. You also agree that you will keep all proprietary, confidential
information of J.Crew strictly confidential and not disclose any such information during or after your employment without J.Crew's prior written consent, and that you will abide by all J.Crew
policies, including, but not limited to, those contained in the Code of Ethics and Business Practices. 

        Through
the interview process we had the chance to get to know each other. We know that you will add value to our team and hope that you decide to join the crew. While we believe that
this will be a mutually beneficial relationship, your employment is "at will" and may be terminated by you or the Company at any time. This offer is contingent upon the successful completion of a
background screen and reference check. 

        If
you agree that J.Crew and this offer are right for you, kindly sign a copy of this letter and fax it to my attention at [fax number omitted] or mail it to the
address below. Please do not hesitate to contact me by phone [phone number omitted] or email [email address omitted] if you have any questions or
require additional information. 

        We
look forward to hearing from you soon. 

Regards,

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	Agreed to and Accepted:	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	/s/  MILLARD S. DREXLER      
 Millard S. Drexler

Chief Executive Officer

770 Broadway

NY, NY 10003	 	/s/  ROXANE AL-FAYEZ      
 Roxane Al-Fayez	 	9/15/03
 Date
	
	 	 	 	 

2

January 5, 2004 

Roxane
Al-Fayez

[address omitted] 

Dear
Roxane, 

        This
is an addendum to your offer letter of September 15, 2003. 

        J.Crew
will reimburse you or your husband for weekly commutation to and from your principal residence in Ohio for the term of your employment with the company. 

        Agreed
to and Accepted: 

	 	 	 	 	 
	/s/  LYNDA MARKOE      
 Lynda Markoe

VP, Human Resources	 	1/6/04
 Date	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	/s/  ROXANE AL-FAYEZ      
 Roxane Al-Fayez Date

EVP, Direct Operations	 	1/6/04
 Date

	 	 

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EXHIBIT 10.17    
    

October 7,
2004                        

Mr. Paul
Fusco

[address omitted] 

Dear
Paul: 

        This
letter will confirm our understanding of the arrangements under which your employment with the Company is terminated. The terms and conditions of the termination of your employment
with the Company are set out below. 

	1.
	The
parties hereby acknowledge and confirm that your employment with the Company is terminated effective as of October 22, 2004 (the "Termination
Date").

	2.
	Subject
to this Agreement becoming effective (as described in Paragraph 18 hereof), the Company will continue to pay you your base salary of $275,000 per annum for the twelve
(12) month period beginning on the day immediately following the Termination Date ("Severance Period"), payable in accordance with the Company's
regular payroll practices for its employees. You will also continue to have medical coverage during the Severance Period on the same terms and conditions as medical coverage is then made available to
the employees of the Company. The foregoing payments shall be reduced by any required tax withholdings and shall not be taken into account as compensation and no service credit shall be given after
the Termination Date for purposes of determining the benefits payable under any other plan, program, agreement or arrangement of the Company. You acknowledge that, except for the foregoing payments,
you are not entitled to any payment by the Company in the nature of either severance or termination pay or other compensation of any kind.

	3.
	As
of the Termination Date, you have vested options to purchase 3,200 shares of Common Stock ("Common Stock") of J. Crew
Group, Inc. ("Parent") at $10.00 per share, 8,800 shares of Common Stock at $11.00 per share, 3,000 shares of Common Stock at $19.18 per share,
4,000 shares of Common Stock at $10.65 per share and 3,750 shares of Common Stock at $6.82 per share (collectively, the "Vested Options"). In addition,
you have unvested options to purchase 800 shares of Common Stock at $10.00 per share, 2,200 shares of Common Stock at $11.00 per share, 2,000 shares of Common Stock at $19.18 per share, 6,000 shares
of Common Stock at $10.65 per share and 16,250 shares of Common Stock at $6.82 per share (collectively, the "Unvested Options"). You acknowledge that
all of the Vested Options will terminate 90 days after the Termination Date and that all of the Unvested Options terminate effective immediately, in accordance with the provisions of your stock
option agreements with Parent and the J. Crew Group, Inc. 1997 Stock Option Plan, as amended (the "Option Plan"). All of the shares of Common
Stock that may be acquired by you pursuant to your vested options shall be subject to the Stockholders' Agreement attached to the Option Plan as Exhibit B.

	4.
	By
signing this Agreement, you agree that in exchange for the consideration set forth herein, you hereby voluntarily, fully and unconditionally release and forever discharge the
Company, Parent, their present and former parent corporation(s), subsidiaries, divisions, affiliates and otherwise related entities and their respective incumbent and former employees, directors, plan
administrators, officers and agents, individually and in their official capacities (collectively, the "Releasees"), from any and all charges, actions,
causes of action, demands, debts, dues, bonds, accounts, covenants, contracts, liabilities, or damages of any nature whatsoever, whether now known or claimed, to whomever made, which you have or may
have against any or all of the Releasees for or by reason of any cause, nature or thing whatsoever, up to the present time, arising out of or related to your employment with the Company or the
termination of such employment, including, by way of examples and without limiting the broadest application of the foregoing, any actions, causes of action, or claims under any contract or federal,
state or local decisional law, statues, regulations or constitutions, any claims for notice, pay in lieu of notice, 

 

wrongful
dismissal, breach of contract, defamation or other tortious conduct, discrimination on the basis of actual or perceived disability, age, sex, race or any other factor (including, without
limitation, any claim pursuant to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended, the Family and
Medical Act of 1993, the Equal Pay Act of 1963, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the State, City and local laws of New York, and the equal employment law or laws of the state and/or city in which you
work), any claim pursuant to any other applicable employment standards or human rights legislation or for severance pay, salary, bonus, incentive or additional compensation, vacation pay, insurance,
other benefits, interest, and/or attorney's fees. You acknowledge that this general release is not made in connection with an exit incentive or other employment termination program offered to a group
or class of employees. 

If
you have made or should hereafter make any complaint, charge, claim, allegation or demand, or commence or threaten to commence any action, complaint, charge, claim or proceeding, against any or all
of the Releasees for or by reason of any cause, matter or thing whatsoever existing up to the present time, this Agreement may be raised as and shall constitute a complete bar to any such action,
complaint, charge, claim, allegation or proceeding, and, subject to a favorable ruling by a tribunal of final jurisdiction, the Releasees shall recover from you, and you shall pay to the Releasees,
all costs incurred by them, including their attorneys' fees, as a consequence of any such action, complaint charge, claim, allegation or proceeding; provided, however, that this shall not limit you
from enforcing your rights under this Agreement, and in the event any action is commenced to enforce your rights under this Agreement, each party shall bear its own legal fees and expenses; and
provided further, however, that this is not intended to interfere with your right to file a charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ("EEOC") in connection with any claim you
believe you may have against any Releasee. However, by signing this Agreement, you agree to waive any right to recover in any proceeding you may bring before the EEOC (or any state human rights
commission) or in any proceeding brought by the EEOC (or any state human rights commission) on your behalf. 

You
specifically release all claims under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act ("ADEA") relating to your employment and its termination. 

	5.
	You
acknowledge that the payments described in Section 2 above that you are receiving in connection with the foregoing release are in accordance with your letter agreement,
dated June 18, 2001 ("Letter Agreement").

	6.
	You
hereby agree and acknowledge that you shall be bound by and comply with the restrictive covenants provided in Section 3 of the Letter Agreement (the
"Restrictive Covenants"), and that such Restrictive Covenants are hereby made part of this Agreement as if specifically restated herein and that the
payments described in Section 2 above that you are receiving are subject to and contingent upon your compliance with Restrictive Covenants. You also agree to be available to answer any
questions and otherwise cooperate with the Company as reasonable during the Severance Period to assist in any necessary transitions.

	7.
	You
acknowledge and agree that, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if you breach any of your obligations under this Agreement or any Restrictive Covenant,
(a) you will forfeit your right to receive the payments and benefits described in Section 2 above (to the extent the payments were not theretofore paid) and the Company shall be entitled
to recover any payments already made to you or on your behalf, (b) the Vested Options shall expire as of the date of such breach to the extent not theretofore exercised and, if exercised as of
the date of such breach, you shall immediately reimburse the Company for the profit upon exercise (such profit calculated as the difference between the (i) greater of either the Fair Market
Value (as defined in the Option Plan) of a share of Common Stock on the date of exercise or the amount paid by the 

2

 

Company
to you per share of Common Stock for the purchase of the shares acquired upon exercise, and (ii) exercise price, times the number of options exercised). 

	8.
	You
hereby agree that the breach of any Restrictive Covenant may cause the Company to suffer irreparable harm for which money damages would not be an adequate remedy and therefore, if
you breach a Restrictive Covenant, the Company would be entitled to temporary and permanent injunctive relief in any court of competent jurisdiction (without the need to post any bond) without
prejudice to any other remedies under this Agreement or otherwise.

	9.
	You
agree that, in the event that you are served with legal process or other request purporting to require you to testify, plead, respond or defend and/or produce documents at a legal
proceeding, threatened proceeding, investigation or inquiry involving the Releasees, you will: (1) refuse to provide testimony or documents absent a subpoena, court order or similar process
from a regulatory agency; (2) within three (3) business days or as soon thereafter as practical, provide oral notification to the Company's General Counsel of your receipt of such
process or request to testify or produce documents; and (3) provide to the Company's General Counsel by overnight delivery service a copy of all legal papers and documents served upon you. You
further agree that in the event you are served with such process, you will meet and confer with the Company's designee(s) in advance of giving such testimony or information. You also agree to
cooperate fully with the Releasees in connection with any existing or future litigation against the Releasees, whether administrative, civil or criminal in nature, in which and to the extent the
Releasees deem your cooperation necessary. The Company agrees to reimburse you for your reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with the performance of your
obligations under this Section 9.

	10.
	This
Agreement does not constitute an admission of liability or wrongdoing of any kind by you or the Company or its affiliates.

	11.
	The
terms of this Agreement shall be binding on the parties hereto and their respective successors, assigns, heirs and representatives.

	12.
	This
Agreement, together with your stock option agreements with Parent and the Option Plan, constitute the entire understanding of the Company and you with respect to the subject
matter hereof and supersedes all prior understandings, written or oral. The terms of this Agreement may be changed, modified or discharged only by an instrument in writing signed by the parties
hereto. A failure of the Company or you to insist on strict compliance with any provision of this Agreement shall not be deemed a waiver of such provision or any other provision hereof. If any
provision of this Agreement is determined to be so broad as to be unenforceable, such provision shall be interpreted to be only so broad as is enforceable.

	13.
	This
Agreement shall be construed, enforced and interpreted in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of New York.

	14.
	The
parties hereto acknowledge and agree that each party has reviewed and negotiated the terms and provisions of this Agreement and has contributed to its revision. Accordingly, the
rule of construction to the effect that ambiguities are resolved against the drafting party shall not be employed in the interpretation of this Agreement. Rather, the terms of this Agreement shall be
construed fairly as to both parties hereto and not in favor or against either party.

	15.
	This
Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties on separate counterparts, each of which counterpart, when so executed and delivered, shall be
deemed to be an original and all of which counterparts, taken together, shall constitute but one and the same Agreement.

	16.
	You
acknowledge that, by your free and voluntary act of signing below, you agree to all of the terms of this Agreement and intend to be legally bound thereby. 

3

 
	17.
	You
acknowledge that you have received this Agreement on or before October 7, 2004. You understand that you may consider whether to agree to the terms contained herein for a
period of twenty-one (21) days after the date hereof. However, the operation of the provisions of Sections 2 through 4 above may be delayed until you execute this Agreement and
return it to the Company and it becomes effective as provided below. You acknowledge that you have consulted with an attorney prior to your execution of this Agreement or have determined by your own
free will not to consult with an attorney.

	18.
	This
Agreement will become effective, enforceable and irrevocable seven days after the date on which it is executed by you (the "Effective
Date"). During the seven-day period prior to the Effective Date, you may revoke your agreement to accept the terms hereof by indicating in writing to the Vice
President of Human Resources your intention to revoke. If you exercise your right to revoke hereunder, you shall forfeit your right to receive any of the payments and other benefits provided for
herein, and to the extent such payments or benefits have already been made, you agree that you will immediately reimburse the Company for the value of such payments and benefits. 

        If
the foregoing correctly reflects our understanding, please sign the enclosed copy of this letter agreement, whereupon it will become a binding agreement between us. 

	 	 	J. CREW OPERATING CORP.
	

 	
 	

By:	

/s/ Lynda Markoe
 Lynda Markoe

Vice President

Human Resources

	Agreed to and accepted:
	

By:	

/s/ Paul Fusco
 Paul Fusco	
 	

 
	

Dated: 10/18, 2004
	

Acknowledgment	
 	

 

	

STATE OF    New York)	

 
	 	ss:
	COUNTY OF    New York)	 

        On
the 18th day of October, 2004, before me personally came Paul Fusco who, being by me duly sworn, did depose and say that he resides at [address omitted], and
did acknowledge and represent that he has had an opportunity to consult with attorneys and other advisers of his choosing regarding the Agreement set forth above, that he has reviewed all of the terms
of the Agreement and that he fully understands all of its provisions, including without limitation, the general release and waiver set forth therein. 

	/s/  ROSEMARY RODRIGUEZ      
 Notary Public	 
	

Date:	

10/18/04
	

 

4

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EXHIBIT 10.17

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