Known for its luxurious knitwear and sophisticated designs, St John has been a staple in high-end fashion for decades. However, the brand's sizing can sometimes be a source of confusion for new shoppers. Whether you're a long-time fan of the brand or just discovering it, understanding St John sizing is essential to ensure a perfect fit. This guide will delve into everything you need to know about St John sizing, from its unique measurements to tips for choosing the right size. When shopping for St John, it's important to note that the brand often runs small compared to standard US sizing. This means that many women may need to size up when purchasing St John pieces. The brand's signature knit fabric, while incredibly flattering, has minimal stretch, making accurate sizing even more crucial. Additionally, St John offers a range of extended sizes, ensuring that women of all shapes and sizes can enjoy their classic designs. By understanding the nuances of St John sizing, you can make informed decisions and avoid the frustration of ill-fitting garments. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore the intricacies of St John sizing, providing detailed insights and practical advice to help you navigate the brand's sizing charts. From understanding measurement guidelines to learning how to adjust for different body types, this article will serve as your ultimate resource for mastering St John sizing. Whether you're shopping online or in-store, these expert tips will ensure that your St John experience is as seamless and satisfying as the garments themselves.
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What Makes St John Sizing Unique?
St John sizing stands apart from other luxury brands due to its meticulous attention to detail and commitment to precision. The brand's sizing system is designed to complement its signature knit fabric, which is crafted from a blend of wool and synthetic fibers. This unique fabric composition provides structure and support, but it also means that St John garments tend to have less stretch than other high-end fashion brands. As a result, understanding the nuances of St John sizing is crucial for achieving the perfect fit.
One of the key factors that sets St John sizing apart is the brand's focus on tailored silhouettes. Unlike many contemporary brands that prioritize loose, relaxed fits, St John garments are designed to hug the body in all the right places. This tailored approach requires precise measurements and a clear understanding of how each size corresponds to different body types. Additionally, St John offers a range of extended sizes, including petite and plus sizes, ensuring that women of all shapes and sizes can enjoy their classic designs.
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Another distinctive aspect of St John sizing is the brand's commitment to consistency. While many fashion brands adjust their sizing seasonally or across collections, St John maintains a stable sizing system that remains consistent year after year. This consistency allows loyal customers to shop with confidence, knowing that their preferred size will remain true across different collections and seasons. However, this also means that new shoppers must take the time to understand how St John sizing compares to other brands they may be familiar with.
How to Measure Yourself for St John?
Accurate measurements are the foundation of successful St John sizing. To ensure you select the correct size, it's essential to take precise measurements using the proper techniques. Begin by gathering a soft measuring tape and wearing minimal clothing or fitted undergarments. It's best to have someone assist you with the measurements to ensure accuracy.
Start with your bust measurement, which is typically the most crucial measurement for St John sizing. Wrap the measuring tape around the fullest part of your bust, keeping it parallel to the floor. Make sure the tape is snug but not too tight – you should be able to slip a finger underneath. Next, measure your natural waist, which is usually located about an inch above your belly button. For the hip measurement, wrap the tape around the fullest part of your hips, typically 7-9 inches below your natural waist.
Additional measurements to consider include your shoulder width, sleeve length, and back length. These measurements can help you determine if you need to size up or down in certain styles. Remember that St John's knit fabric has minimal stretch, so it's generally better to choose a size that accommodates your largest measurement rather than trying to squeeze into a smaller size. Keep a record of your measurements and compare them to St John's official size chart for the most accurate sizing.
Understanding St John Size Charts
Regular Sizes
St John's regular size chart serves as the foundation for their sizing system, catering to the majority of their clientele. The brand typically offers sizes ranging from 0 to 16 in their regular collections, with each size corresponding to specific body measurements. What sets St John apart is their commitment to maintaining consistent sizing across collections – a size 8 today will be the same as a size 8 from five years ago. This consistency helps loyal customers maintain their wardrobe without worrying about fluctuating size standards.
When examining the regular size chart, you'll notice that St John uses both numerical and letter sizing systems. For instance, a size 8 might also be labeled as a Small, while a size 12 could be considered a Medium. This dual system helps customers who are more comfortable with either numerical or letter-based sizing. The brand's size chart includes comprehensive measurements for bust, waist, hips, and garment lengths, providing a complete picture of how each size translates to actual body dimensions.
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It's important to note that St John's regular sizing tends to be more fitted than many contemporary brands. Their garments are designed to create a streamlined silhouette, which means that their sizes often correspond to the smaller end of standard US sizing. For example, a size 6 in St John might be equivalent to a size 4 in other brands. This is particularly evident in their knit pieces, which have minimal stretch and require precise sizing for optimal comfort and appearance.
Petite and Plus Sizes
Recognizing the diverse needs of their clientele, St John extends their sizing to include both petite and plus size options. Their petite collection is specifically designed for women 5'4" and under, featuring proportionally adjusted lengths while maintaining the brand's signature aesthetic. The petite sizes typically range from 0P to 12P, with garments featuring shorter sleeve lengths, torso measurements, and overall garment lengths to complement smaller frames.
The plus size collection, ranging from size 16W to 24W, maintains the same luxurious quality and sophisticated design as their regular sizes. What's remarkable about St John's approach to plus sizing is their commitment to preserving the brand's signature silhouette while accommodating different body types. The plus size garments incorporate thoughtful design elements such as extended lengths and adjusted proportions to ensure a flattering fit without compromising on style.
Both the petite and plus size collections utilize the same high-quality knit fabric as the regular sizes, ensuring consistency in appearance and wearability across all size ranges. The brand's size charts for these extended sizes provide detailed measurements, helping customers make informed decisions about their purchases. This inclusive approach to sizing demonstrates St John's dedication to making their timeless designs accessible to women of all shapes and sizes.
Why Does St John Run Small?
Understanding why St John runs small requires examining both the brand's design philosophy and technical construction methods. The primary reason lies in their signature knit fabric, which is engineered to provide structure and support while maintaining a sleek silhouette. Unlike many contemporary fabrics that incorporate significant stretch, St John's knit material is intentionally designed with minimal elasticity. This deliberate choice ensures that garments maintain their shape and structure throughout wear, but it also means that there's less give in the fabric, necessitating more precise sizing.
The brand's commitment to tailored fits also contributes to their smaller sizing. St John garments are crafted to hug the body's natural curves, creating a polished and sophisticated appearance. This tailored approach requires that their size measurements be more exacting than brands that favor looser, more forgiving fits. Additionally, the brand's pattern-making process incorporates negative ease – a technical term meaning that the finished garment measurements are slightly smaller than the body measurements they're designed to fit. This technique creates a smooth, streamlined look but requires customers to consider sizing up if they prefer a more relaxed fit.
Another factor influencing St John's smaller sizing is their focus on maintaining consistent proportions across all sizes. While many brands adjust their size ratios between smaller and larger sizes, St John maintains a standardized approach to grading. This means that the difference between sizes remains consistent throughout their size range, which can result in smaller measurements compared to brands that use more generous grading practices. The combination of these technical and design factors explains why many women find themselves needing to size up when shopping for St John garments.
Tips for Choosing the Right St John Size
Considering Body Shape
When selecting the perfect St John size, understanding your body shape is crucial for achieving the most flattering fit. Different body types interact with St John's structured knit fabric in unique ways, requiring specific considerations during the sizing process. For pear-shaped figures, where hips are wider than the bust, it's often beneficial to focus on hip measurements while considering sizing up in the bust area if necessary. The brand's minimal stretch fabric means that accommodating your largest measurement typically results in the most comfortable fit.
Women with hourglass figures should pay special attention to both bust and hip measurements, as St John's tailored silhouettes are designed to accentuate curves. However, due to the brand's smaller sizing, hourglass figures might need to size up to ensure both areas fit comfortably. For athletic or rectangular body shapes, where there's less defined waist measurement, choosing a size that fits well through the shoulders and bust while allowing for some shaping at the waist often yields the best results. The brand's structured knit helps create definition where needed, making it particularly flattering for these body types.
Apple-shaped figures benefit from focusing on bust and waist measurements, as St John's designs typically feature higher waistlines that can accommodate a fuller midsection. When in doubt, sizing up often proves more comfortable than trying to squeeze into a smaller size. Regardless of body shape, it's essential to remember that St John's garments are meant to skim the body rather than cling tightly. This design philosophy means that choosing a size that allows for natural movement while maintaining the garment's structure will result in the most elegant appearance.
Adjusting for Different Fabrics
While St John is renowned for its signature knit fabric, the brand also incorporates various other materials into their collections, each requiring specific sizing considerations. Their classic knit pieces, made from a wool and synthetic blend, have minimal stretch and typically require precise sizing. However, when exploring their seasonal collections, you'll encounter different fabrications that may affect how you should approach sizing. For instance, their woven pieces, often used in skirts and trousers, might offer more structure but less give than their knit counterparts.
The brand's evening wear collection frequently features silk and other luxurious fabrics that drape differently than their signature knit. These fabrics often require different sizing strategies, as they don't provide the same level of support as the structured knit. When selecting sizes in these pieces, it's wise to consider both your measurements and the garment's intended fit. Some styles might need to be sized down for a more streamlined look, while others might require sizing up to accommodate movement and comfort.
St John's outerwear pieces, including their iconic jackets and coats, incorporate various fabric weights and linings that can affect sizing. Heavier fabrics and additional layers might necessitate sizing up to ensure comfort and proper layering. Additionally, seasonal variations such as summer collections might feature lighter-weight knits that could fit slightly differently than their traditional fabrications. Understanding these fabric-specific considerations can help you make more informed sizing decisions across St John's diverse product range.
How to Style St John for Different
