SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                            WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


                                   FORM 8-K


                                CURRENT REPORT

    PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934



Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) August 26, 1998
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                             ST. JOHN KNITS, INC.
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            (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


       California                    1-11752                     95-2245070
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(State or other jurisdiction       Commission                  (IRS Employer
     of incorporation)            File Number)              Identification No.)
 
                    17422 Derian Avenue, Irvine, California        92614
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                   (Address of principal executive offices)      (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code      (714) 863-1171
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                                Not Applicable
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        (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

 
ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS
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          A copy of the press release issued by St. John Knits, Inc., a
California corporation (the "Company"), on August 26, 1998 is filed as Exhibit
99.1 to this Current Report and is incorporated herein by reference.


ITEM 7.   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS
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99.1      Press Release issued by the Company on August 26, 1998.


                                  SIGNATURES

          Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


Date: September 2, 1998

                         ST. JOHN KNITS, INC.



                         By:        /s/ Roger G. Ruppert
                                    -----------------------------------------
                         Name:      Roger G. Ruppert
                         Title:     Senior Vice President - Finance,
                                    Chief Financial Officer

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                                 EXHIBIT INDEX
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 Exhibit
   No.         Description of Exhibit
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 99.1          Press Release issued by the Company on August 26, 1998