Ladies Who Lunch… and Vacation

Irvine, Calif.-based St. John hosted a fashion presentation for its Resort/Spring 2010 collection July 22 at the Orange County Performing Arts Center. The presentation, which included a selection of pieces from a new, more-casual St. John sportswear line, felt like a return to the St. John loyal customers have come to love. The audience, packed with customers and retailers alike, many wearing St. John

head to toe, made their feelings known, clapping vigorously for runway pieces that tickled their fancy. Ladylike skirt suits in demure tweed and pant suits reminiscent of Katharine Hepburn got nods, as did slim sheath dresses, printed frocks with nipped waists and anything, repeat, anything, with sparkle. Sparkle, clap, sparkle, clap.

The sportswear collection, which will debut in St. John stores in October, had a safari vacation vibe: oodles of animal prints, slim cargo-style pants, breezy silk blouses worn over bikinis. And to keep it feeling like St. John, gold hardware and embellishments everywhere.

Kelly Gray, the former chief executive and poster girl for the brand and daughter of its founders, sat in the front row with her mother, former designer Marie Gray. Kelly seemed to approve most of an alligator embossed leather jacket that exuded a rock ’n roll edge. Maybe it was an homage to the rock-inspired collection, Royal Underground, that she started with Motley Crue drummer Nikki Sixx.