By Jim Servin
With the unveiling of the Resort 2026 collection, St. John, the iconic women’s fashion label, returns to its roots with impeccably tailored knitwear, smart casual sportswear and red-carpet stunners. “We wanted to celebrate the American way of dressing,” says Lauren Parrish, St. John’s chief merchandising officer. “We’ve gone back to the heritage of the brand, which is 62 years young, feeling that it was time to take many of the legacy fits and reimagine them.”
Soft to the touch, sharp in their look, sophisticated, versatile and easy, highlights of the collection include a dramatic fitted-bodice gown with a matching shawl, sold separately, in floral organza; a jeweled-strap tank top in black and hot pink; a cool vest in Mongolian faux fur; and a cropped tuxedo jacket paired with a knit boot-leg pant. St. John’s resort colors are richly saturated, with hot pink, bordeaux and a tourmaline emerald setting an elegantly festive tone, and soft gold, silver, and gunmetal accents and leopard prints evoking old Hollywood glamour.
Acclaimed actress Annabeth Gish is the face of the Resort 2026 collection. Most recently seen guest-starring on Chicago Fire and known for her roles in The X-Files, The West Wing and Midnight Mass, Gish “brings a refined elegance and enduring presence to the campaign—qualities that reflect the brand’s heritage and vision,” says Parrish. What drew Gish to the collaboration with St. John is “the quiet strength of the St. John woman,” she says. “I’ve admired that essence my whole life—my mom had a few St. John pieces that were prized in our home. To step into these clothes now feels both safe and powerful, like reconnecting with a legacy that carries history in every piece.”
Tailored knitwear, perfected with an updated classic St. John four-pocket button knit jacket, originally named the Parisian and now called the Marie Jacket in Venezia Knit, “is made in the shape created by Marie Gray,” says Parrish of St. John’s founder, a former model who along with her husband Robert in 1962 built a loyal following for knitwear with a distinctive, trademark twist in the fiber, which gives clothing added flexibility for a variety of body types. Subtly textured, the Venezia Knit was inspired by a classic twill weave. The St. John silhouette complements ladies who do lunch and power meetings, politicians, and a vibrant younger demographic, such as Chrissy Teigen, who attended a recent Met Gala in a long-sleeve black sequin St. John knit dress. “Creating textured and technical knits and jackets and dresses is a difficult job,” says Parrish. “Marie Gray really paid attention to women looking good.” Having kept pace with luxury fashion trends in recent years, now, says Parrish, St. John gleans inspiration from its archives, such as its signature buttons—fabric-covered, crested or tonal jeweled, while continuing to delight its decades-loyal customer base.
“Jane Fonda has worn St. John quite a bit lately, which we’re very excited about. She loves our white knit suiting,” says Parrish, who also counts Octavia Spencer, Leighton Meester, Meryl Streep and Amy Adams among St. John devotees. Fluid through generations, St. John has built its reputation on adaptability, irrefutable quality and enduring elegance. “We are the American Chanel,” says Parrish. Surveying the resort collection, she selects three-piece velvet suits—“tailored tuxedo pieces in knitted velvet on stretch velvet”—as a key item for resort season splendor. “We love that you can wear them dressed up with an evening ballgown skirt, or dressed down with denim,” she says. “Our collection has just the right eloquence—it can hold itself at a dinner party, a casual event or a drum circle at the beach.” stjohnknits.com