St John for Saks Red & Black Knit Dress Vintage 80s 90s Buttons & Chain VFG
St John knits are a classic for good reason. Marie Gray was doing quiet luxury before the term became ubiquitous as a result of Succession. I believe this dress dates to the 80s, probably late 80s. There is evidence of shoulder pad removal inside. I took a few photos with pads tucked in to show the dress with and without.
The bodice is styled with square cut batwing sleeves and a contrasting banded collar. The wide waist section is accented by a pair of black enameled brass ringed buttons with a brass chain that connect them - the chain attaches with small hooks, which means it is easy to remove if you don't care for the slight aura of military swagger. The skirt is straight with a bit of wiggle - hem is a bit narrower than the hips.
SIZE: Labeled size 8. Measurements taken with the dress laying flat; i.e., without stretching
| Measurements | Inches | Cm |
| Shoulders | 17" | 43 |
| Bust | 36" | 91.5 |
| Waist | 30" | 76 |
| Hips | 39" | 99 |
| Bodice length from shoulder seam | 16" | 40.5 |
| Skirt length | 27" | 68.5 |
| Sweep | 36.5" | 92.75 |
FABRIC/COLORS: Tomato red and inky black in a stockinette knit weave, It has been awhile since I had a St John in my stock, but this looks and feels like the Santana knit that I remember. No fabric content tag but the proprietary blend for Santana knits is 80/20 wool/rayon. Tag does say dry clean only, which is also typical for Santana Knits
TAGS: St. John for Saks Fifth Avenue, made in USA
CLOSURES: Nylon zipper the length of the back bodice with hook & eye at neck
CONDITION: There was a very small hole in the knit of the upper front skirt just below the front chain - see closeup. I think the chain hook may have gotten caught there at some point. I added a few stitches from the back to stabilize it - see closeup #2 after repair.
I measure the outside of garments, unless stated otherwise.
For menswear, the chest is measured at armpit level.
For womenswear, the bust is measured a little below armpit level, including the room created by darts or gathers.
Waist will be measured if there is one, and hips are measured about 9" below waist level. Sleeves are measured from shoulder seam or an approximation in the absence of a shoulder seam. Garment length is measured from the back of the neck, unless otherwise stated.
The measurement numbers refer to the garment, not the body inside. For best fit, measure a similar type of garment which fits you well and compare.
If the garment is shown on Josephine, my mannequin, her measurements are 31/24.5/34". Sometimes she wears a padded bra. My live models measurements vary depending on the day and year, and I don't ask them to share that.