Jessica Villanelli
Jersey City, NJ
Phone 302-521-8261 ~ Email [email protected]
P R O F E S S I O N A L E X P E R I E N C E
Freelance Fashion Stylist, NY, NY 06/10-present
• Creative and versatile published wardrobe stylist. Competent with sets and prop styling as well as on figure styling. Have
assisted for clients such as Avon, Ann Taylor, Macy’s, The Knot and Threads Magazine.
Bloomingdales, NY, NY 09/19-present
• Assistant stylist / prepper in the still life photo studio. E-commerce and web related product content.
Visual Merchandiser, Vybe, Inc. / NIKE NY, NY 07/16-present
• Execute all aspects of merchandising in the Nike NY showroom including setting rooms by account and category as per
the sales team’s needs. Merchandise apparel, footwear and accessories samples with graphics and hardware according
to account standards for optimum presentation of upcoming seasonal lines. Style mannequins and incorporate
accessories as per current trends.
Merchandiser, MCG / Randa Accessories, Jersey City, NJ 10/14-present
• Responsible for all aspects of merchandising and inventory control at major retailers such as Macy’s and Kohls for men’s
accessories brands such as Tommy Hilfiger, Levis, Dockers and Kenneth Cole. Manage the retail floor through
merchandising, stock replenishment, and visual display maintenance.
Designer, At Last Sportswear, NY, NY 07/02- 01/14
• Responsible for all product development involving the execution of a style from concept to pre-production for women’s
woven and cut-n-sew knit tops, casual dresses and skirts, mainly for junior and missy markets.
• Worked closely with design director and the President on private label accounts such as Kohl’s and Macy’s.
• Attended appointments with buyers during market week to understand their specific needs and followed up with
presentation packages based on their selections.
• Arranged for development prototype and showroom samples from overseas sampling facilities.
• Created initial Web PDM packages, designing within cost parameters.
• Handled all facets of development including trend boards, pitching prints and yarn dyes, sourcing and developing new
fabric and trims, re-designing prints and embroideries, meeting with print studios, sending out development packages and
creating colorways and buy boards in CAD.
• Reviewed and approved all fabric qualities, lab dips, hand looms, strike offs, shade bands, and trims relating to a style in
production. Collaborated with vendor product teams on various accounts when required.
• Participated in fittings from the initial sample stage through production fits to PP stage.
• Monitored T&A for development and approvals. Communicated with overseas factories daily, as well as buyers and
account merchandisers for various retailers.
• Oversaw design assistants throughout the development process, managing their work flow from the making of flat
sketches, initial design tech packs, maintaining color libraries, and creating presentation boards.
Visual Display Merchandiser, Macy’s East, Christiana, DE 10/98- 06/02
• Initially hired to set up Christmas holiday displays and general display throughout the store. Continued on part-time doing
various seasonal, promotional, apparel, cosmetics, and holiday displays.
Assistant Designer, Flapdoodles, Inc., Newark, DE 01/99- 06/01
• Illustrated flat sketches of the entire line for the wholesale catalog, using Info Design CAD programs. Designed all-over
textile prints, plaids, all-over embroideries, and t-shirt screen prints. Executed catalog layout using QuarkXpress. Oversaw
the development of fabric boards and color cards. Arranged for and approved garment dyed fabric swatches for design
department in the on-site dye house. Handled seasonal color palette standards’ development and approval.
Intern, Zandra Rhodes, London, England Fall 1997
• Sewing, hand beading and fringing of samples, pattern drafting and grading, sample cutting, textile design.
Intern, Bella Freud, London, England Fall 1997
• Assisted in production of the spring 1998 fashion show. Projects included scheduling fittings, working on seating plans
and guest lists, and dressing models and assisting backstage at the show.
E D U C A T I O N
• B.A. Fashion Design, Minor: Fashion Merchandising | Marymount University, Arlington, VA | magna cum laude, GPA - 3.8
• CAD Design courses, FIT, New York, NY
C O M P U T E R S K I L L S
• Photoshop, Web PDM, Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint; MAC/ PC literate
C R E A T I V E P U R S U I T S
• Event Coordinator, Blush Events. Assistant planner for weddings and special events. 9/14-4/15
• Freelance writer for an indie magazine. 2013-2014
• Organizer of a popular photography Meetup group with over 4,000 members. 9/07-present
• Social Committee Chair, Dixon Mills Condo Association. 2014-2015
• Charity Event Planner; Co-produced 3 large scale fashion and performance events in NYC.
