Suit
Object number2021.180.4 a-c
Manufacturer
St. John Knits International Inc.
Designer
Marie Gray
Retailer
Saks Fifth Avenue
Date1990-1999
OriginUnited States of America
MediumSynthetic fabric; Metal; Plastic; Elastic
Credit LineGiven in honor of the McGinnis Family
DescriptionThree-piece women's suit comprised of suit jacket, pants, and skirt. All components have matching fabric.
Women's suit jacket, size 12. Red-brown and dark brown woven synthetic fabric. Mid-thigh length. Collared neckline. Long sleeve. Six buttons down front opening. One faux pocket on each hip, each with button on flap. All buttons are gold metal and amber plastic. Brown piping along collar, front opening, sleeve cuffs, and pocket flaps. Brown shoulder pads.
Women's suit pants, size 12. Red-brown and dark brown woven synthetic fabric. Elastic waistband. Wide leg pants.
Women's suit skirt, size 14. Red-brown and dark brown woven synthetic fabric. Knee-length. Elastic waistband.DimensionsHeight x Width (a - Width is between shoulder seams): 39.25 × 18.125 in. (99.7 × 46 cm)Height x Width (b - width is at waist): 42.5 × 15.5 in. (108 × 39.4 cm)
Height x Width (c - width is at waist): 21.25 × 16.25 in. (54 × 41.3 cm)
Marks(a)
White maker label inside collar at back center has black text "ST. JOHN / COLLECTION / BY MARIE GRAY"; label has white tag sewn to bottom center with black text on front "12" and reverse “MADE / IN / U.S.A.”
(b)
White maker label inside waistband at back center has black text "ST. JOHN / COLLECTION / BY MARIE GRAY"; label has white tag sewn to bottom center with black text on front "12" and reverse “MADE / IN / U.S.A.”
Small white tag inside pants along proper left side seam near waist has black text "PROFESSIONALLY / DRY CLEAN ONLY".
(c)
White maker label inside waistband at back center has black text "ST. JOHN / COLLECTION / BY MARIE GRAY"; label has white tag sewn to bottom center with black text on front "14" and reverse “MADE / IN / U.S.A.”
Small white tag inside skirt along proper left side seam near waist has black text "PROFESSIONALLY / DRY CLEAN ONLY".
Historical NotesThis St. John suit was purchased by Sharon McGinnis Young at Saks Fifth Avenue in downtown Pittsburgh and was used as one of her serious executive power suits. She bought it at a time when the stores were doing well, and she felt that their executive image should match that success. At the same time, she appreciated that St John Knits were stylish but also comfortable. Ashley Rose Young remembers that her mother tended to wear the pants more than the skirt. The McGinnis Family Food Stores was a chain of family-run food markets that started in Pittsburgh’s South Hills Baldwin neighborhood in 1946. The first McGinnis market (variously referred to as “McGinnis Supermarket” or “McGinnis Food Market”) was started by family patriarch James Elwood McGinnis when he could not find a job after WWII. Beginning with a fruit cart, he eventually opened a grocery and deli at 2872 Custer Avenue in Baldwin that proved so successful it expanded to multiple stores, including one in Carrick/Castle Shannon and later Monroeville. The stores were operated by different family members. In 1985, three McGinnis sisters – Sharon McGinnis Young, Bonnie McGinnis Vello, and Noreen McGinnis Campbell – assumed operation of the main set of McGinnis Stores, rebranding them “McGinnis Sisters” markets. (Two brothers split off and started other stores not considered part of the chain.) With the three women serving as active spokespersons, the stores garnered more media attention during this period. For most of its operation, the chain was largely connected with stores that operated in the South Hills and Monroeville. Between 2008 and 2017, a McGinnis Sisters market also operated north of Pittsburgh in a shopping center in Adams Township/Mars, Pennsylvania. A series of events between 2017 and 2019 eventually brought about the closure of the chain.
Previous owner
Sharon McGinnis Young
Related institution
McGinnis Family Food Stores
(1946 - 2019)
Related person
James Elwood McGinnis
Related person
Bonnie McGinnis Vello
Related person
Noreen McGinnis Campbell
On View
Not on view
c. 2006
Roundtree & Yorke