YouLookFab Forum » Topic: St. John- What gives?

YouLookFab Forum » Topic: St. John- What gives? https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/st-john--what-gives Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Fri, 24 Apr 2026 16:55:40 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 <![CDATA[Search]]> q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php Trishalee on "St. John- What gives?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/st-john--what-gives#post-1028487 Fri, 13 Sep 2013 15:26:37 +0000 Trishalee 1028487@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Today on ruelala there is a St. John segment.   There were actually some very stylish looking pieces at  significantly lower prices.   Isabel on "St. John- What gives?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/st-john--what-gives#post-1028474 Fri, 13 Sep 2013 15:17:27 +0000 Isabel 1028474@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ St. John is BIG around Boston.  I can remember it going back 30 years.  Sak's, Bloomingdales, Neiman, always carried them. It has always been very expensive. I remember seeing the brand a lot on Cape Cod and Nantucket. I have forever loved some of their jackets.  But it is definitely considered "old money" East Coast garb around here.  You know, Kennedy, Barbara Bush ( in Maine ) ...which is funny, because I am not sure that they actually wear the brand, but that is the association. Mary Beth (formerly LBD) on "St. John- What gives?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/st-john--what-gives#post-1028339 Fri, 13 Sep 2013 12:21:07 +0000 Mary Beth (formerly LBD) 1028339@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ St John is pretty timeless  - there are pieces from the 70's and 80's that still look chic and classic.    Kind of a less expensive Chanel in some ways.  There is a ton of it on eBay, and the resale price is still pretty high on the really nice stuff. I've tried on St. John in stores and consignment shops - the fabric is always lovely to the touch, but the cuts usually look frumpy.  I don't think St. John is the company for curvy girls.  At least, not this curvy girl. rachylou on "St. John- What gives?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/st-john--what-gives#post-1028172 Fri, 13 Sep 2013 04:10:59 +0000 rachylou 1028172@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ St. John is classic Political Wife and all her minions (down to private school PTA and up to Margaret Thatcher Fan Club). It lasts forever. Very heavy and hot (always a sign of quality - which reminds me I have a Gucci caftan tunic to show you all... I find it totally unwearable). Has the comfy ease of a velour tracksuit, but yet has the stiffness and formality that allows you to say you're actually dressed. Anyways, what I'd like to know is, what is the secret of Angelina Jolie? She was their spokesperson and made St. John look hot. Susie on "St. John- What gives?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/st-john--what-gives#post-1028144 Fri, 13 Sep 2013 03:19:50 +0000 Susie 1028144@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ My favorite aunt used to wear a lot of St. John. She was always lavishly dressed though her style was not necessarily of the moment. I remember being shocked when I later saw the prices of the brand. deb on "St. John- What gives?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/st-john--what-gives#post-1028103 Fri, 13 Sep 2013 02:30:20 +0000 deb 1028103@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ It is mostly knitwear. They were the first (and only?) company to knit their hems instead of sew the hems like other manufacturers. Suz on "St. John- What gives?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/st-john--what-gives#post-1028097 Fri, 13 Sep 2013 02:23:34 +0000 Suz 1028097@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Wow. It sounds as if it's mostly knits, then? The stuff I saw was definitely NOT knitwear.  DonnaF on "St. John- What gives?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/st-john--what-gives#post-1028040 Fri, 13 Sep 2013 01:14:12 +0000 DonnaF 1028040@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I thought the point of St. John is that you have the knits blocked to fit your particular body.  Maybe Nordstrom does this for its customers? annagybe on "St. John- What gives?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/st-john--what-gives#post-1028027 Fri, 13 Sep 2013 00:57:06 +0000 annagybe 1028027@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ All I know is that the brand must make money. Nordstrom in Seattle and Bellevue dedicates a lot of floor space for it. deb on "St. John- What gives?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/st-john--what-gives#post-1028011 Fri, 13 Sep 2013 00:20:28 +0000 deb 1028011@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ It has always had a high price point. I think her daughter now runs the corporation. I know 10 years ago or so her daughter did all the modeling Marie Gray did it when the company first started. Nicole D on "St. John- What gives?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/st-john--what-gives#post-1027972 Thu, 12 Sep 2013 22:52:09 +0000 Nicole D 1027972@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Thanks for all your input!  I had suspected it was for a certain demographic, an older, wealthier lady (like the Queen).   I'll try to keep an eye out for them at Value Village and check out the fabrics. MsMaven on "St. John- What gives?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/st-john--what-gives#post-1027969 Thu, 12 Sep 2013 22:46:16 +0000 MsMaven 1027969@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Several of the partners' wives (Big 8 CPA firm in the olden days of the 80s) wore St. John.  One of them had a wonderful shape and looked fabulous in the dresses.  (I did say this was the 80s.)  Once I was in Nordstrom during a St. John trunk show and tried on a lot of the clothes.  They were made for someone 3 inches shorter than I am--nothing quite lined up right.  I did finally find a sweater top and bought it.  I remember well the date--October '89.  The delivery took forever--something do do with the October 17 Loma Prieta earthquake.   The skirts were made for a different body type, so I ended up buying an EF knit skirt.  I didn't ever really feel comfortable in that sweater.  I can't find the photo of it right now. I don't know anyone who wears St. John now, although I see the clothes in the stores. AnnieMouse on "St. John- What gives?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/st-john--what-gives#post-1027935 Thu, 12 Sep 2013 21:50:04 +0000 AnnieMouse 1027935@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ A lot of women in finance wear their stuff, because it is a sound investment and works in very conservative environments. Anonymous on "St. John- What gives?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/st-john--what-gives#post-1027928 Thu, 12 Sep 2013 21:40:06 +0000 Anonymous 1027928@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Eegads. I have been in close contact with boatloads of this stuff. A wealthy woman had her "maid" deliver several suv's full to the Dress For Success boutique (as a donation). The fabrication feels horrible to me, but she had cut all the fiber content tags out of the clothes. We ended up selling it all to a consignment store to raise money, since it wasn't exactly interview suiting.  I have also see it for sale in various places and a peek at the tag revealed that it's a wool (with acrylic) blend of some sorts. Even in the smallest sizes, the cuts are pretty boxy and dowdy looking. You guys are definitely on the right track when you guessed their demographic. The classic Chanel styles and trim have a nice look in the catalogs, but the clothes must be heavily pinned up the back! St. John Sport and St. John Knits are all knit cut-and-sewn construction. I think there is an even more expensive line (older?) that has some sharp, tailored suits and that might be where they got their reputation.  Suz on "St. John- What gives?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/st-john--what-gives#post-1027912 Thu, 12 Sep 2013 21:26:50 +0000 Suz 1027912@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Hmm. Laura, I have never seen the knits you speak of. The stuff I have seen has all been silk, wool blend, or other fairly luxe fabrics. I guess that stands to reason since I have seen it in Holt Renfrew. But they are the same pieces that Nordstrom's sells, just a smaller sample.  biscuitsmom on "St. John- What gives?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/st-john--what-gives#post-1027911 Thu, 12 Sep 2013 21:24:34 +0000 biscuitsmom 1027911@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I always associate St John's with St John's Bay!  Big $ difference there!  Haven't felt or tried on any of them, so am not familiar, although Suz is....sounds like there is a huge difference in quality and price, but they're not for me, for sure. Suz on "St. John- What gives?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/st-john--what-gives#post-1027904 Thu, 12 Sep 2013 21:20:14 +0000 Suz 1027904@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Yeah, if you look at the designs there are tip offs, actually -- more length on most dresses (i.e. over the knee vs. above), more neck coverage, more arm coverage... Laura (rhubarbgirl) on "St. John- What gives?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/st-john--what-gives#post-1027903 Thu, 12 Sep 2013 21:19:51 +0000 Laura (rhubarbgirl) 1027903@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I think it's the name, which has been around for a long long time and has a certain reputation with the older 'ladies who lunch' crowd. I personally can't stand the feel of whatever fiber they use for a lot of their sweater-knit stuff (rayon? acetate?) but it is very nicely and sturdily made on fully-fashioned knitting machines which is quite rare these days. I've seen St. John pieces at high-end thrift stores and consignment places that have to be 20 years old and they look exactly the same as new. nancylee on "St. John- What gives?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/st-john--what-gives#post-1027896 Thu, 12 Sep 2013 21:13:26 +0000 nancylee 1027896@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Agreed.  I've had the exact same thought.  Why so much money for what seems to be pretty dowdy clothes?  I guess because of the intended market, like Suz said:  dowdy dowagers.  :) Suz on "St. John- What gives?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/st-john--what-gives#post-1027892 Thu, 12 Sep 2013 21:10:11 +0000 Suz 1027892@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I know what you mean, Nicole. I think the intended market is wealthy older women.  The prices are partly due to quality, I have to say. Have you seen the stuff in person? The items I have touched have been beautifully constructed of lovely materials. Often there are subtle design details that don't show up on the photos, too. You know. The designer kind of detail.  I've never tried any on, so I can't vouch for fit.  They usually have some pieces in Holt's.  Nicole D on "St. John- What gives?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/st-john--what-gives#post-1027882 Thu, 12 Sep 2013 21:00:54 +0000 Nicole D 1027882@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ ...with the high prices?  Some of the pieces look super dowdy, others send me into orbit with their classic cuts.  I am not familiar with the brand but the prices always get my attention.