'60s St. John Dress, Belt & Cardigan

Laura

Laura

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\'60s St. John Dress, Belt & Cardigan

I bought this St. John dress a few weeks ago. I'm ready to sell it, so I took it outside today to photograph it. This is my first St. John piece, and I have a couple of questions.

First of all, I thought it was very similar to <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5428869588&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1" target=blank>this St. John dress</a> that sold on eBay last month. I thought it might be the same color, but the seller describes it as turquoise and mine is more green.

<img src="http://www.vintagefashionlibrary.com/images/ebay/vintage/st_john_dress_1.jpg"> <img src="http://www.vintagefashionlibrary.com/images/ebay/vintage/st_john_dress_2.jpg"> <img src="http://www.vintagefashionlibrary.com/images/ebay/vintage/st_john_dress_6.jpg">
<img src="http://www.vintagefashionlibrary.com/images/ebay/vintage/st_john_dress_belt.jpg"> <img src="http://www.vintagefashionlibrary.com/images/ebay/vintage/st_john_dress_label_1.jpg">

Now to the questions.

First, would I be right to date this in the '60s? It has the earliest label according to the resource.

Second, does the belt buckle look original? It looks like it was resewn at some point (different thread), and at first I thought maybe the owner changed the buckle. Now I'm thinking that maybe she just shortened the belt.

<img src="http://www.vintagefashionlibrary.com/images/ebay/vintage/st_john_dress_belt_2.jpg">

Third, I don't think the lace hem tape is original. It looks cheap to me. It was handsewn in and would be easy to remove, but I wanted to make sure it was a later addition before I take it out. (Blurry pic alert!)

<img src="http://www.vintagefashionlibrary.com/images/ebay/vintage/st_john_dress_hem.jpg">

Will it make a big difference in interest/final price if I sell this now or wait until spring? I'd like to move it now if it's not going to make much difference.

Thanks. :)

Laura
 
that's a lovely colour laura! i know nothing about st john so can only watch and learn, but re: the hem tape i have a paganne that has the same lace as hem tape, as well as a few other nice quality bits from the same era with the same tape.
i'll be interested to hear if it is original! :)
 
I've handled a lot of St. Johns but I've never seen lace hem tape on any of them. Usually the hemline is knitted closed, not sewn at all, though I think some do have sewn hems.

That is very beautiful. I'd use both turquoise and green in the title. I would guess the belt buckle is original to the belt. You are right to guess that this would do better in the spring, but it is long and could be a holiday formal gown.

I am not sure of the date of the label, but if the label resource says 60s, that sounds right to me.
 
Thanks for the comments. It is a beautiful dress - I wish the color suited me.

To clarify, all of the edges (hem, neckline, armholes) look like crochet. It hasn't been hemmed up. I'm not quite sure why a previous owner added the lace tape at the hem...Maybe she thought it made it prettier?

Laura
 
I just found my first St. John, too. Am too busy with Halloween costumes to list it right now.

I agree. Although it would probably do better in Spring with the color, I think these knits are suitable any time of the year and probably those who collect and wear St. John don't mind what time of year they buy it.
 
Yes, it is 60s. The hem tape is an addition. That sort of crochety look hem at the bottom is the actual hem. The belt buckle is most likely orginal. It is very typical of SJs of that era. Really pretty color!
 
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