A Letter From Rose
The Long Cardigan That Doesn't Swallow You Up
A high collar that holds your shoulders, cable knit that runs from collar to hem, and a long line that falls all the way down. The Albertina makes you look taller, not smaller.
You've seen those long cardigans in the shop windows. They look so elegant on the mannequin. Then you try one on, look in the mirror, and all you see is fabric. Your shoulders disappear, the length pulls you down, and you look shorter and wider than you are.
So most of the women I know have given up on them. They stick to short cardigans that stop right at the tummy, and they tell me, "Long styles just aren't for me anymore."
I don't believe that. I think they simply never found one that was made properly.
Two sisters, one little boutique
Olivia and I grew up near Lake Como, where our grandmother taught us to look at clothes the way you look at something you plan to keep for years: the fabric, the seams, the way it moves when you walk. We both became fashion designers in Italy, and nearly 45 years ago we followed our hearts to Florida and opened our boutique.
Since then, so many women have come through our door telling us the same thing: "Nothing is made for me anymore." Too young, too tight, or so plain you feel invisible. Finding the pieces that are made for the women we actually know, women in their sixties and seventies with full lives, became our life's work.
Every piece has to pass two tests
I want to be honest with you: I didn't design the Albertina. These days Olivia and I hand-pick the pieces for our boutique, and every one of them has to pass two tests.
Olivia's test is the fit, the fabric and the finish. Is it comfortable, is it made properly, will it still look good after a season of wear? My test is the woman wearing it. Does it flatter her, does it make her feel like herself, and where will she wear it? Most pieces fail one of the two and go straight back.
I'll admit I almost passed on this one. A cardigan this long usually swallows a woman whole. Then Olivia turned it around and showed me the collar, and I understood. Here's why it passed both tests.
Long without making me look shorter
This is the secret, and it's all in the collar. The Albertina has a high stand collar that is structured to hold your shoulders and neck firm. Because the top sits neatly, the long length below reads as one deliberate line instead of a lot of fabric. You don't disappear in it. You look taller.
★★★★★"I'm only 5'4" and usually avoid long cardigans because they tend to swallow my figure. But I love how the structured collar and long lines give this one such an elegant shape. It feels graceful instead of looking like I'm wrapped in a blanket."
Wanda C., Fredericksburg, VA
Surprisingly flattering around my middle
I know what you're thinking: thick cable knit on my hips? But look at how the cables run. They go straight down, from the collar all the way to the hem, and that draws the eye up and down instead of across. Below the buttons the front falls open, so it moves with you instead of wrapping around your middle.
★★★★★"I'm 68 and was worried the thick cable knitting would make my hips and tummy look bigger. The vertical patterns are so flattering, and I love how the front falls open below the buttons. It gives me a nice, long silhouette without feeling bulky."
Pauline G., Cedar Falls, IA
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Looks polished instead of shapeless
Most long cardigans are open all the way down, and that's why they look sloppy by lunchtime. The Albertina buttons from the chest down to the hip. It stays where you put it, sits neatly on your shoulders, and looks more like a knit coat than an ordinary sweater.
★★★★★"I've had long open cardigans before that looked lovely on the hanger but sloppy on me. The buttons and structured collar make such a difference with this one. It sits neatly around my shoulders and looks more like an elegant knit coat than an ordinary sweater."
Connie F., Danbury, CT
A high collar that doesn't feel restrictive
So many of us can't stand anything tight around the neck anymore. That's why I like that the collar stands up, but stays open at the front. You get that elegant, high neckline that frames your face, without feeling like you're wearing a tight turtleneck.
★★★★★"At 65, I don't like anything tight around my neck anymore. I was hesitant about the taller collar, but I love that it's open at the front. It gives me that beautiful, elegant neckline without feeling like I'm wearing a tight turtleneck."
Norma J., Lawrence, KS
More confidence ordering online
I'll be honest with you: I can't promise you how any knit will look after years of washing. What I can promise is this. If the Albertina isn't what you hoped for, you have 30 days to send it back, and you get your money back.
★★★★"I've been disappointed by knitwear that stretched out after washing, so I was cautious about ordering another long cardigan online. Knowing there was a 30-day return policy helped me feel more comfortable giving it a try. The classic beige looks beautiful with my favorite trousers."
Marlene V., Spokane, WA
Elegant without looking too trendy
This is my part. A long cardigan in one quiet beige isn't trendy, and that's exactly why it works. Keep everything underneath narrow, a slim knit and straight or wide trousers, and let the cardigan fall. You look put together, not like you're trying to dress like your granddaughter.
★★★★★"I'm 71 and don't want to dress like I'm trying to be 30, but I still love looking stylish. The simple beige color and beautiful cable knitting feel so timeless. I wear it with slim trousers and a plain sweater, and it makes me feel nicely put together."
Eunice R., Greenville, MS
The Albertina, against the long cardigans you usually find
Why it's only $79.95 right now
After nearly 45 years in America, Olivia and I have decided it's time to retire from the boutique and spend more time with our husbands, our children and our grandchildren here in Florida.
The Albertina is part of our final collection. When a size is gone, we won't be restocking it. So instead of carrying it into another season, we're saying goodbye to it with our Retirement Sale.
Albertina | High-Collar Cable-Knit Duster Cardigan
$159.95$79.95Retirement Sale, Save 50%
- High stand collar that carries the long length
- Cable knit from collar to hem
- Buttons from chest to hip, so it stays neat
- Duster length that makes you look taller
Six colors · Sizes XS to 3XL · Free UPS shipping · 30-day money-back guarantee
See if your size is still available →Buy 2, get an extra 10% off · Buy 3, get 15% · Buy 4 or more, get 20%. Applied automatically at checkout.
Our Retirement Sale is coming to an end.
Buy 2 get 10%, buy 3 get 15%, buy 4 or more get an extra 20% off. When your size is gone, it's gone.
I don't usually write letters like this. But after a lifetime in fashion, I know when a piece is worth telling you about. If you gave up on long cardigans years ago, I hope this is the one that changes your mind, and that you find your size before it's gone.
Thank you for giving two Italian sisters a home, a community and a lifetime of memories here in Florida.
With love, Rose 🤍
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