All the way from the west coast, California-based heritage brand St. John touched down in the West Village to toast the brand’s latest collection with stylist and philanthropist Karla Welch. As a newly appointed creative consultant for St. John, Welch is eager to weave some of New York’s downtown energy into the DNA of the brand. Which made hosting a buzzy dinner party with an iconic group of women–Busy Philipps, America Ferrera, Rickie de Sole, and Jennifer Fisher, to name a few–during the most wonderful time of year a no-brainer.
“As a young girl in Canada, I was obsessed with the St. John ads back in the ’80s and ’90s of Kelly Grey. She was so sexy and powerful, plus irreverent!” Welch exclaimed. “I am excited to work with the team to bring a new vision to a modern woman who is all those things and more.”
The festive evening took place at none other than the Les Trois Chevaux. Chef and proprietor of the French restaurant, Angie Mar, curated a divine menu for the evening, including frog legs, truffle soup, a decadent hen entreé, and Fromage for dessert. “I’ve always admired Karla’s work greatly, and I have tremendous memories of St. John as it’s such a heritage brand, beloved by the women in my family,” Mar explained. “When conceptualizing the menu for the evening, I wanted to ensure that the cuisine evoked and mirrored the vision of the collection—modern, feminine, luxurious, and powerful. Statement pieces that exuded elegance and refinement.”
Of course, everyone was dressed in fabulous St. John ensembles. An oversized black blazer paired with a white T-shirt was a winning combo amongst the crowd. Others donned a cheery cut-out gold skirt set, and Welch sported a black blazer herself, only styled a bit more brazen without the tee.
The executive vice president of design, Enrico Chiaparin, works closely with Welch in reimagining the modern St. John woman. “It’s been incredible collaborating with Karla on the vision for St. John,” Chiaparin smiled. “She’s able to balance practicality and fantasy, a rare talent that’s been instrumental to our creative alliance.” While reflecting on the brand’s 60 years in the business of fashion, a milestone few are able to celebrate, Chiaparin is also looking ahead at what the next decade holds. “The brand has a deep-rooted fashion history, one of the oldest in the country, so we’re working towards sparking an evolution, not a revolution.”
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