<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-08-14</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2009-08-18</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001051251</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>J CREW GROUP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>JCG</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001413395</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Wadle Libby</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O J.CREW GROUP, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>770 BROADWAY</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10003</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>EVP Factory &amp; Madewell</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $0.01</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-08-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>14518</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>6.93</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>58877</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This Form 4 is being amended to correct a typographical error in the first row of Table I of the Form 4 filed on August 18, 2009. The number of shares beneficially owned following the reported transaction was shown as 58, 277 shares, but should have been 58, 877.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>Alice Givens is signing on behalf of Libby Wadle pursuant to a power of attorney previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Alice Givens pursuant to a power of attorney filed with the Commission</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-04-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
