Building an Affordable St. John Knits Wardrobe

Over the past few years, St. John Knits have become a lot more hipper. There was a time when I thought they were too old and too dowdy-for me.

Not so now. St. John has some beautiful and gorgeous pieces I’d buy IF ONLY I could afford them. Plunking down hundreds and thousands of dollars on separates is not my idea of - ordinarily – affordable, practical or sustainable luxury. However, if you’re a professional woman who loves the quality and comfort of St. John Knits, then buying St. John can be affordable, practical and sustainable.

First of all, some St. John separates are interchangeable and some are timeless like the Santana knit. A friend is a St. John manager has taught me a few things about investing in SJK affordably:

• Buy their basic pieces first. The Santana knit is the best place to start and the one SJK that isn’t going anywhere. Santana comes in a variety of colors including caviar, cobalt blue and black. Below are four pieces totalling a bit over $2k.

SJK Santana Knit Skirt - Cobalt - $300

SJK Santana Knit Contour Tank - Cobalt - $300

SJK Santana Knit Stovepipe Pant - Cobalt - $395

SJK Santana "Loyalist" Knit Jacket - Caviar - $1, 095

• Gradually add other pieces from the collection or from SJK like a blouse or the Santana knit evening skirt.
• Make friends with your SJK salesperson. Have her walk around the sales floor with you to make suggestions and recommendations and most important, take notes of the items you’re interested in owning. Tell her to put you on the list of people to call when there’s a sale.
• Sacrifice buying less expensive clothes and save the money for SJK sales.
• Shop retail outlets like Nordstrom Rack for SJK that is no longer sold on the floor.
• Shop consignment or resale for additional separates.

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