<PAGE>
 
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.17

                             EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
                             -------------------- 

          This Employment Agreement ("Agreement") is dated as of January 1,
1997, between St. John Knits, Inc., a California corporation ("Company"), and
Karla R. Guyer ("Executive").  In consideration of the mutual covenants and
agreements set forth herein, the parties hereto agree as follows.


                                   ARTICLE I

                                   EMPLOYMENT
                                   ----------

          The Company hereby employs Executive and Executive accepts employment
with the Company upon the terms and conditions herein set forth.

          1.1  Employment.  The Company hereby employs Executive, and Executive
               ----------                                                      
agrees to serve as the Company's Senior Vice President-Marketing during the term
of this Agreement, and shall serve at the discretion of the Company's Board of
Directors.  Executive agrees to devote substantially her full business time and
attention and best efforts to the affairs of the Company during the term of this
Agreement.

          1.2  Term.  The employment of Executive by the Company under the terms
               ----                                                             
and conditions of this Agreement will commence as of January 1, 1997 and will
continue for a period of one (1) year unless renewed or terminated sooner in
accordance with the provisions hereof.

          1.3  Termination of Prior Agreement.  Immediately upon the
               ------------------------------                       
commencement of Executive's employment pursuant to the terms of this Agreement,
that certain Employment Agreement by and between Executive and the Company dated
as of January 1, 1996, shall terminate and shall be of no further force or
effect.

                                   ARTICLE II

                                  COMPENSATION
                                  ------------

          2.1  Annual Salary.  During the employment of Executive, the Company
               -------------                                                  
shall pay to Executive a base salary at the annual rate of $205,000 (the "Base
Salary").  The Base Salary shall be payable in substantially equal monthly
installments.

          2.2  Reimbursement of Expenses.  Executive shall be entitled to
               -------------------------                                 
receive prompt reimbursement of all reasonable expenses incurred by Executive in
performing services hereunder, including all expenses of travel, entertainment
and living expenses while away from home on business at the request of, or in
the service of, the Company, provided that such expenses are incurred and
accounted for in accordance with the policies and procedures established by the
Company.

                                       1
<PAGE>
 
          2.3  Automobile Allowance.  The Company shall provide Executive with
               --------------------                                           
an automobile for use by Executive in the performance of Executive's duties
hereunder.  The Company shall also pay directly, or reimburse Executive for, all
reasonable costs and expenses incurred by Executive in connection with the
operation and maintenance of the automobile.

          2.4  Benefits.  Executive shall be entitled to participate in and be
               --------                                                       
covered by all health, insurance, pension and other employee plans and benefits
currently established for the employees of the Company (collectively referred to
as the "Company Benefit Plans") on at least the same terms as other employees of
the Company, subject to meeting applicable eligibility requirements.

          2.5  Vacations and Holidays.  During Executive's employment with the
               ----------------------                                         
Company, Executive shall be entitled to an annual vacation leave of three (3)
weeks at full pay, or such greater vacation benefits as may be provided for by
the Company's vacation policies applicable to senior executives.  Executive
shall be entitled to such holidays as are established by the Company for all
employees.

                                  ARTICLE III

                       CONFIDENTIALITY AND NONDISCLOSURE
                       ---------------------------------

          3.1  Confidentiality.  Executive will not during Executive's
               ---------------                                        
employment by the Company or thereafter at any time disclose, directly or
indirectly, to any person or entity or use for Executive's own benefit any trade
secrets or confidential information relating to the Company's business
operations, marketing data, business plans, strategies, employees, negotiations
and contracts with other companies, or any other subject matter pertaining to
the business of the Company or any of its clients, customers, consultants, or
licensees, known, learned, or acquired by Executive during the period of
Executive's employment by the Company (collectively "Confidential Information"),
except as may be necessary in the ordinary course of performing Executive's
particular duties as an employee of the Company.

          3.2  Return of Confidential Material.  Executive shall promptly
               -------------------------------                           
deliver to the Company on termination of Executive's employment with the
Company, whether or not for Cause and whatever the reason, or at any time the
Company may so request, all memoranda, notes, records, reports, manuals,
drawings, blueprints, Confidential Information and any other documents of a
confidential nature belonging to the Company, including all copies of such
materials which Executive may then possess or have under Executive's control.
Upon termination of Executive's employment by the Company, Executive shall not
take any document, data, or other material of any nature containing or
pertaining to the proprietary information of the Company.

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
          3.3  Prohibition on Solicitation of Customers.  During the term of
               ----------------------------------------                     
Executive's employment with the Company and for a period of one (1) year
thereafter Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, either for Executive or
for any other person or entity, solicit any person or entity to terminate such
person's or entity's contractual and/or business relationship with the Company,
nor shall Executive interfere with or disrupt or attempt to interfere with or
disrupt any such relationship.  None of the foregoing shall be deemed a waiver
of any and all rights and remedies the Company may have under applicable law.

          3.4  Prohibition on Solicitation of Employees, Agents or Independent
               ---------------------------------------------------------------
Contractors After Termination.  During the term of Executive's employment with
-----------------------------                                                 
the Company and for a period of one (l) year following the termination of
Executive's employment with the Company, Executive will not solicit any of the
employees, agents, or independent contractors of the Company to leave the employ
of the Company for a competitive company or business.  However, Executive may
solicit any employee, agent or independent contractor who voluntarily terminates
his or her employment with the Company after a period of 120 days has elapsed
since the termination date of such employee, agent or independent contractor.
None of the foregoing shall be deemed a waiver of any and all rights and
remedies the Company may have under applicable law.

          3.5  Right to Injunctive and Equitable Relief.  Executive's
               ----------------------------------------              
obligations not to disclose or use Confidential Information and to refrain from
the solicitations described in this Article III are of a special and unique
character which gives them a peculiar value.  The Company cannot be reasonably
or adequately compensated for damages in an action at law in the event Executive
breaches such obligations.  Therefore, Executive expressly agrees that the
Company shall be entitled to injunctive and other equitable relief without bond
or other security in the event of such breach in addition to any other rights or
remedies which the Company may possess or be entitled to pursue.  Furthermore,
the obligations of Executive and the rights and remedies of the Company under
this Article III are cumulative and in addition to, and not in lieu of, any
obligations, rights, or remedies created by applicable law relating to
misappropriation or theft of trade secrets or Confidential Information.

          3.6  Survival of Obligations.  Executive agrees that the terms of this
               -----------------------                                          
Article III shall survive the term of this Agreement and the termination of
Executive's employment by the Company.

                                   ARTICLE IV

                                  TERMINATION
                                  -----------

          4.1  For purposes of this Article IV, the following definitions shall
apply to the terms set forth below:

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
               (a) Cause.  "Cause" shall include the following:
                   -----                                       

                    (i)   personal dishonesty or willful misconduct by
          Executive;

                    (ii)  a breach of Executive's fiduciary duties to the
          Company which involves personal profit or benefit to Executive;

                    (iii) willful violation and conviction of any law, rule or
          regulation (other than traffic violations or similar offenses) or of
          any final cease and desist order issued by any financial institution
          regulatory authority against the Company; or

                    (iv)  a material breach of this Agreement by Executive.

               (b) Good Reason.  "Good Reason" shall mean voluntary termination
                   -----------                                                 
     as a result of:

                    (i)   the assignment to Executive of duties inconsistent
          with the position and status of Executive as set forth in this
          Agreement without Executive's prior written consent;

                    (ii)  a substantial alteration in the nature, status or
          prestige of Executive's responsibilities or a change in Executive's
          title or reporting level from that set forth in this Agreement;

                    (iii) the relocation of the Company's executive offices or
          principal business location to a point more than fifty (50) miles from
          the location of such offices or businesses as of the date of this
          Agreement;

                    (iv)  a reduction by the Company of Executive's Base Salary;
          or

                    (v)   a failure by the Company to obtain from any successor,
          before the succession takes place, an agreement to assume and perform
          this Agreement.

               (c) Disability.  "Disability" shall mean a physical or mental
                   ----------                                               
     incapacity as a result of which Executive becomes unable to continue the
     proper performance of her duties hereunder (reasonable absences because of
     sickness for up to two (2) consecutive months excepted; provided, however,
     that any new period of incapacity or absence shall be deemed to be part of
     a prior period of incapacity or absence if the prior period terminated
     within ninety (90) days of the beginning of the new period of incapacity or
     absence and the incapacity or absence is determined by the Company's Board
     of Directors, in good faith, to be related

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
     to the prior incapacity or absence).  A determination of Disability shall
     be subject to the certification of a qualified medical doctor agreed to by
     the Company and Executive or in the event of Executive's incapacity to
     designate a doctor, Executive's legal representative.  In the absence of
     agreement between the Company and Executive, each party shall nominate a
     qualified medical doctor and the two (2) doctors so nominated shall select
     a third doctor, who shall make the determination as to Disability.

          4.2  Termination by Company.  The Company may terminate Executive's
               ----------------------                                        
employment hereunder immediately for Cause.  Subject to the other provisions
contained in this Agreement, the Company may terminate this Agreement for any
reason other than Cause upon thirty (30) days' written notice to Executive.  The
effective date of termination ("Effective Date") shall be considered to be
thirty (30) days subsequent to written notice of termination; however, the
Company may elect to have Executive leave the Company immediately.

          4.3  Termination by Executive.  Executive may terminate her employment
               ------------------------                                         
hereunder upon thirty (30) days' written notice to the Company.  The effective
date of termination ("Effective Date") shall be considered to be thirty (30)
days subsequent to written notice of termination; however, the Company may elect
to have Executive leave the Company immediately.

          4.4  Death or Disability of Executive.  Executive's employment
               --------------------------------                         
hereunder shall terminate immediately upon the death or Disability of Executive.

          4.5  Severance Benefits Received Upon Termination.
               -------------------------------------------- 

               (a) If Executive's employment is terminated by the Company for
     Cause, or Executive terminates this Agreement pursuant to Section 4.3 other
     than for Good Reason, then the Company shall pay Executive her Base Salary
     through the Effective Date of such termination plus credit for any vacation
     earned but not taken, and the Company shall thereafter have no further
     obligations to Executive under this Agreement.

               (b) If Executive's employment is terminated by the Company
     without Cause, or Executive terminates this Agreement for Good Reason, then
     the Company shall provide Executive:

                   (i) salary continuation in an amount equal to Executive's
          then Base Salary for a period equal to the longer of the remainder of
          the term of this Agreement or six (6) months, said sum to be paid
          semi-monthly in equal installments at the times salary payments are
          usually made; and

                                       5
<PAGE>
 
                    (ii) health insurance coverage as then in effect for
          Executive, her spouse and dependent children for a period equal to the
          longer of the remainder of the term of this Agreement or six (6)
          months, subject to any employee contribution provisions as defined in
          the Company Benefit Plans.  Subsequent health insurance benefits will
          be in accordance with COBRA.

               (c) If Executive's employment is terminated by the Company as a
     result of Disability, then the Company shall provide Executive:

                    (i)  salary continuation in an amount equal to Executive's
          then Base Salary for a period equal to one month for each full year
          Executive has been employed by the Company, up to a maximum of
          eighteen (18) months, said sum to be paid monthly in equal
          installments at the times salary payments are usually made; and

                    (ii) health insurance coverage as then in effect for
          Executive, her spouse and dependent children for a period of one month
          for each full year Executive has been employed by the Company, up to a
          maximum of eighteen (18) months, subject to any employee contribution
          provisions as defined in the Company Benefit Plans.  Subsequent health
          insurance benefits will be in accordance with COBRA.

               (d) If Executive's employment is terminated by the Company as a
     result of death, then the Company shall provide Executive's spouse or
     estate health insurance coverage as then in effect for Executive, her
     spouse and dependent children for a period of six (6) months, subject to
     any employee contribution provisions as defined in the Company Benefit
     Plans.  Health insurance benefits subsequent to the salary continuation
     period will be in accordance with COBRA.

                                   ARTICLE V

                               GENERAL PROVISIONS
                               ------------------

          5.1  Notice.  For purposes of this Agreement, notices and all other
               ------                                                        
communications provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be
deemed to have been duly given when delivered or mailed by United States
registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, as follows:

     If to the Company:       St. John Knits, Inc.
                              17422 Derian Avenue
                              Irvine, CA 92714
                              Attn:  Chief Executive Officer

                                       6
<PAGE>
 
     With a copy to:          David A. Krinsky
                              O'Melveny & Myers
                              610 Newport Center Drive
                              17th Floor
                              Newport Beach, CA 92660

     If to Executive:         Karla R. Guyer
                              228 Iris
                              Corona Del Mar, CA 92625

or such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in writing
in accordance herewith, except that notices of change of address shall be
effective only upon receipt.

          5.2  No Waivers.  No provision of this Agreement may be modified,
               ----------                                                  
waived or discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to
in writing signed by Executive and the Company.  No waiver by either party
hereto at any time of any breach by the other party hereto of, or compliance
with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other
party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions
at the same or at any prior or subsequent time.

          5.3  Beneficial Interests.  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit
               --------------------                                            
of and be enforceable by Executive's personal and legal representatives,
executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and
legatees.  If Executive should die while any amounts are still payable to her
hereunder, all such amounts, unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement to Executive's devisee, legatee, or
other designee or, if there be no such designee, to Executive's estate.

          5.4  Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed
               -------------                                                    
in accordance with the laws of the State of California.

          5.5  Severability or Partial Invalidity.  The invalidity or
               ----------------------------------                    
unenforceability of any provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the
validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which shall
remain in full force and effect.

          5.6  Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in one or more
               ------------                                                
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which
together will constitute one and the same instrument.

          5.7  Legal Fees and Expenses.  Should any party institute any action
               -----------------------                                        
or proceeding to enforce this Agreement or any provision hereof, or for damages
by reason of any alleged breach of this Agreement or of any provision hereof, or
for a declaration of rights hereunder, the prevailing party in any such action
or proceeding shall be entitled to receive from the other

                                       7
<PAGE>
 
party all costs and expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees, incurred by
the prevailing party in connection with such action or proceeding.

          5.8  Entire Agreement.  This Agreement constitutes the entire
               ----------------                                        
agreement of the parties and supersedes all prior written or oral and all
contemporaneous oral agreements, understandings, and negotiations between the
parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.  This Agreement is intended
by the parties as the final expression of their agreement with respect to such
terms as are included in this Agreement and may not be contradicted by evidence
of any prior or contemporaneous agreement.  The parties further intend that this
Agreement constitutes the complete and exclusive statement of its terms and that
no extrinsic evidence may be introduced in any judicial proceeding involving
this Agreement.

          5.9  Assignment.  This Agreement and the rights, duties, and
               ----------                                             
obligations hereunder may not be assigned or delegated by any party without the
prior written consent of the other party and any attempted assignment or
delegation without such prior written consent shall be void and be of no effect.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 5.9, the Company may
assign or delegate its rights, duties, and obligations hereunder to any
Affiliate or to any person or entity which succeeds to all or substantially all
of the business of the Company through merger, consolidation, reorganization, or
other business combination or by acquisition of all or substantially all of the
assets of the Company.

          5.10 Arbitration.  Any controversy, dispute, claim or other matter in
               -----------                                                     
question arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be settled, at the
request of either party, by binding arbitration in accordance with the
Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association ("AAA"),
and judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrators may be entered in any
court having jurisdiction thereof, subject to the following terms, conditions
and exceptions:

               (a) Notice of the demand for arbitration shall be filed in
writing with the other party and with the AAA. There shall be a panel of three
(3) arbitrators whose selection shall be made in accordance with the procedures
then existing for the selection of such arbitrators by the AAA.

               (b) Reasonable discovery shall be allowed in arbitration.

               (c) Except as otherwise provided in Section 5.7 hereof, the costs
and fees of the arbitration shall be allocated by the arbitrators.

                                       8
<PAGE>
 
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date
first above written.

                         "Company"

                         St. John Knits, Inc.,
                         a California corporation


                         By:  /s/ ROBERT E. GRAY
                              -----------------------------------
                              Robert E. Gray,
                              Chief Executive Officer


                         "Executive"


                         /s/ KARLA R. GUYER
                         ----------------------------------------
                         Karla R. Guyer

                                       9