St. John, the California luxury fashion house, to unveil a high-designed concept store at Fashion Island

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. — Two Southern California style icons are joining forces with St. John set to reveal a breezy new concept store at Fashion Island early next year. According to St. John, the company will close its Costa Mesa boutique in January after more than two decades at South Coast Plaza.

“St. John and Fashion Island are kindred mavericks, having translated an elevated, yet relaxed approach to style fifty years ago,” said Easther Liu, chief marketing officer, Irvine Company Retail Properties. “The fashion house is eternally refining the California aesthetic with uncompromising quality and innovation.”

Though design details of the concept store remain under wraps, it will undoubtedly reflect St. John’s evolution of capturing a modern clientele with hallmark elegance.

“As an Orange County luxury women’s apparel brand with five decades of experience, it was a natural fit to introduce our newest lifestyle concept store at Fashion Island, which is also celebrating a half-century,” said Bruce Fetter, chief executive officer, St. John. “This St. John boutique, inspired by ‘quintessential California living,’ will feature a light and airy palette and introduce some new elements not seen by us before.”

By now local lore, the made-in-Irvine brand began in 1962 when Marie Gray, St. John founder, dreamt up a subtly powerful knit sheath dress with the successful woman in mind. Today, that cool, confident aesthetic is woven into the brand’s story and masterfully interpreted for a new era. When the boutique debuts in February, the spring 2018 collection on display will be “effortlessly undone,” according to Greg Myler, senior vice president of design, a Brit who honed his craft in Milan.

About St. John
St. John is an American luxury house that was founded in 1962 on the premise of a simple, yet elegant knit dress. Over the years, the brand has evolved, but the basis for the collection remains the same today as it did from the very start — Great American Design, updated classics, timeless and effortless clothing that appeals to women all over the world. The company, headquartered in Southern California now employs over 1,500 people and is vertically integrated with workshops, offices and stores worldwide. Its collection is sold by high-end specialty store retailers in 26 countries and 29 company-owned retail boutiques.

About Fashion Island
As Orange County’s premier coastal shopping experience, Fashion Island features exclusive specialty boutiques, world-class department stores and a diverse assortment of restaurants and cafes. With nearly 16 million visitors a year, Fashion Island offers a sophisticated yet relaxed, resort-like atmosphere that is distinctively Southern California, with pristine views of the Pacific Ocean.

Owned by Irvine Company, Fashion Island is home to Orange County’s only Neiman Marcus, as well as Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, Bloomingdale’s Home Store and Macy’s – in addition to AG, Alice + Olivia, Rodd & Gunn, Nespresso, American Tea Room, Urban Decay, NIKE, SoulCycle, Trina Turk, Vince, Joie and ViX by Paula Hermanny. Fashion Island also features acclaimed restaurants such as Sushi Roku, FIG & OLIVE, Red O, CUCINA enoteca, Hopdoddy Burger Bar, Lemonade, True Food Kitchen and R+D Kitchen. For more information, please visit FashionIsland.com.