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                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                                   FORM 12b-25

                          NOTIFICATION OF LATE FILING

                                                         SEC FILE NUMBER
                                                         CUSIP NUMBER


(Check One): Form 10-K [ ]  Form 20-F [ ]  Form 11-K [ ]  Form 10-Q [X]
Form N-SAR [ ]

For Period Ended: August 2, 2003
                  --------------
[ ] Transition Report on Form 10-K
[ ] Transition Report on Form 20-F
[ ] Transition Report on Form 11-K
[ ] Transition Report on Form 10-Q
[ ] Transition Report on Form N-SAR
For the Transition Period Ended: ___________________

  Read Instruction (on back page) Before Preparing Form. Please Print or Type.
      Nothing in this form shall be construed to imply that the Commission
                 has verified any information contained herin.


If the notification relates to a portion of the filing checked above, identify
the Item(s) to which the notification relates:
________________________________________________________________________________
PART I -- REGISTRANT INFORMATION

J. Crew Group, Inc.
J. Crew Operating Corp.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Full Name of Registrant


- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Former Name if Applicable


770 Broadway
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address of Principal Executive Office (Street and Number)


New York, NY 10003
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
City, State and Zip Code



PART II -- RULES 12b-25(b) AND (c)

If the subject report could not be filed without unreasonable effort or expense
and the registrant seeks relief pursuant to Rule 12b-25(b), the following should
be completed. (Check box if appropriate)

              (a) The reasons described in reasonable detail in Part III of
              this form could not be eliminated without unreasonable effort or
              expense;
              (b) The subject annual report, semi-annual report, transition
              report on Form 10-K, Form 20-F,11-K or Form N-SAR, or portion
[ X ]         thereof, will be filed on or before the fifteenth calendar day
              following the prescribed due date; or the subject quarterly
              report or transition report on Form 10-Q, or portion thereof will
              be filed on or before the fifth calendar day following the
              prescribed due date; and
              (c) The accountant's statement or other exhibit required by Rule
              12b-25(c) has been attached if applicable.

PART III -- NARRATIVE

State below in reasonable detail the reasons why Forms 10-K, 20-F, 11-K, 10-Q,
N-SAR, or the transition report portion thereof, could not be filed within the
prescribed time period.

The Registrant was unable to complete the processes required to finalize its
quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended August 2, 2003.

                         (Attach Extra Sheets if Needed)

PART IV-- OTHER INFORMATION

(1) Name and telephone number of person to contact in regard to this
notification

Arlene S. Hong, Esq.                  (212)                       209-2500
- --------------------          --------------------          --------------------
(Name)                             (Area Code)               (Telephone Number)

(2) Have all other periodic reports required under Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 30 of the Investment Company Act of
1940 during the preceding 12 months or for such shorter period that the
registrant was required to file such report(s) been filed? If answer is no,
identify report(s). Yes [X] No [ ]

________________________________________________________________________________

(3) Is it anticipated that any significant change in results of operations from
the corresponding period for the last fiscal year will be reflected by the
earnings statements to be included in the subject report or portion thereof?
Yes [ ] No [X]
]

If so, attach an explanation of the anticipated change, both narratively and
quantitatively, and, if appropriate, state the reasons why a reasonable estimate
of the results cannot be made.

                 J. Crew Group, Inc. and J. Crew Operating Corp.
             ------------------------------------------------------
                  (Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

has caused this notification to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned
hereunto duly authorized.

Date September 16, 2003      By /s/ Arlene S. Hong, Esq.
     -----------------------    ---------------------------------------

INSTRUCTION: The form may be signed by an executive officer of the registrant or
by any other duly authorized representative. The name and title of the person
signing the form shall be typed or printed beneath the signature. If the
statement is signed on behalf of the registrant by an authorized representative
(other than an executive officer), evidence of the representative's authority to
sign on behalf of the registrant shall be filed with the form.

                                    ATTENTION

Intentional misstatements or omissions of fact constitute Federal Criminal
Violations (See 18 U.S.C. 1001).

                              General Instructions

1. This form is required by Rule 12b-25 (17 CFR 240.12b-25) of the General Rules
and Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
2. One signed original and four conformed copies of this form and amendments
thereto must be completed and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
Washington, D.C. 20549, in accordance with Rule 0-3 of the General Rules and
Regulations under the Act. The information contained in or filed with the form
will be made a matter of public record in the Commission files.
3. A manually signed copy of the form and amendments thereto shall be filed with
each national securities exchange on which any class of securities of the
registrant is registered.
4. Amendments to the notifications must also be filed on Form 12b-25 but need
not restate information that has been correctly furnished. The form shall be
clearly identified as an amended notification.
5. Electronic filers. This form shall not be used by electronic filers unable to
timely file a report solely due to electronic difficulties. Filers unable to
submit a report within the time period prescribed due to difficulties in
electronic filing should comply with either Rule 201 or Rule 202 of Regulation
S-T (ss.232.201 or ss.232.202 of this chapter) or apply for an adjustment in
filing date pursuant to Rule 13(b) of Regulation S-T (ss.232.13(b) of this
Chapter).