The venerable American fashion house hosted a benefit lunch in support of music education
Words by CATHERINE BIGELOW
Photography by DREW ALTIZER PHOTOGRAPHY
For a certain generation of young women determined to express professional polish in the working world, a classic St. John knit ensemble defined de rigueur office wear.
Yet at Alila Resort in Saint Helena on July 16, amid the extensive cultural programming which defines Festival Napa Valley, this venerable American luxury house (founded in 1962 by model Marie Gray and headquartered in Irvine), turned that iconic knit dress on its head.
A summer luncheon (crafted by Alila executive chef Thomas Lent, who paired three luxurious courses with Knights Bridge vinos) starred informal modeling of the St. John Pre-Fall 2024 RTW collection. And this line elicited plenty of wows.
While classic tweeds, boucle knits, and scoop necklines remain star staples of St. John, donning knitwear during a sizzling Napa Valley summer is definitely a fashion don’t.
Enter St. John creative director Enrico Chiarparin and stylist Karla Welch, who have unveiled a flouncy, mod vibe best described as “haute bohemian.” Channeling that American West wind-in-your-hair feeling, the line encompasses a dash of cowboy chic, revs all the way up to glamorous biker jackets, and culminates in 1970s Hollywood glam (a la Priscilla Presley) expressed in satin bias-cut shirt dresses, silk georgette jet bead embroidered maxi skirts, or wide-leg sequined cocktail pajamas.
And gen TikTok is following suit: Karen Elson is the current face of St. John and the line is red carpet repped by the likes of actresses such as Jessica Chastain, Issa Rae, America Ferrera, and Kristen Stewart.
But heritage stalwarts remain among fashion fans, too: Janet Effland, an FNV patron and retired venture capitalist rock star, wore her treasured 40-year-old St. John wedding dress to lunch.
“Every year on our anniversary I wear my dress. When I was in venture capital, I was young and had braces on my teeth, so to look professional I wore nothing but St. John,” Effland said. “I’m 76 years old now, but I love this new look!”
Luncheon guests later clamored upstairs to a pop-up shop, where 10 percent of sales were donated to the free music education programs of Festival Napa Valley. And through the end of July, St. John has also committed similar sales from its San Francisco and Beverly Hills boutiques to FNV.
That’s a generous give for a company embarking on its inaugural partnership with the festival.
“This is an event and a Napa Valley resort I’ve been dreaming about since 2023,” said Deborah Arthur, St. John senior marketing and events manager/retail division. “The collection feels like it was made for the Alila: the color scheme, vibe, and fluidity of the collection — everything fits perfectly here. When St. John partners with an organization, we look closely at the cause. And the festival’s mission of music education and empowering youth is a perfect match.”
July 25, 2024
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