A Letter From Rose
When Was the Last Time You Felt Truly Beautiful in a Dress?
Black lace, long romantic sleeves and a slit that only shows when you walk. The Quintina reminded me that elegance has no age.
Imagine your anniversary dinner. A quiet table by the window, candles flickering, a glass of red wine. You walk in a little after your husband, and he looks up and simply stops talking. Later he reaches across the table, takes your hand and says: "You look just like the night I met you."
Somewhere after sixty, most of the women I know were quietly told to dress "sensibly". Covered up, safe and a little invisible. And the evening dresses that do feel special are made for women half our age: bare arms, tight in every place, nothing left to soften the shape we have now.
I don't think we should stop feeling beautiful just because we have a few more birthdays behind us.
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 Quintina. 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, because a deep V and a slit felt far too daring for women our age. Then Olivia held the lace sleeves up to the light and said: "Rose, this is not about showing more. It's about feeling beautiful again." I put it on, and for the first time in years I didn't want to take a dress off. Here's why it passed both tests.
A romantic dress that covers your arms
The Quintina has long sleeves in delicate floral lace that open into soft flared cuffs at the wrist. Your arms are covered, so you can raise a glass or hug a friend without a second thought, while the lace keeps it romantic and feminine.
★★★★★"I'm 63 and haven't felt comfortable showing my upper arms for years. The lace sleeves are absolutely beautiful. They give me the coverage I want while still looking romantic and feminine. I never thought I'd feel this confident in an evening dress again!"
Diana F., Asheville, NC
A neckline that makes you feel beautiful
The deep V-neckline is edged with a fine eyelash lace that softens it beautifully. It frames your face and your favorite necklace, and it gives you just the right amount of daring for a special evening, never too much.
★★★★★"At 60, I still want to feel attractive without showing too much. The lace-trimmed V-neck is gorgeous and looks beautiful with my favorite necklace. It's elegant, feminine, and just the right amount of daring for a special evening."
Corinne H., San Luis Obispo, CA
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Flattering around your waist
This is the part Olivia checked first. The bodice is ruched, and that soft gathering shapes your waist and lengthens your figure. It gives you a lovely line without drawing attention to the places you'd rather keep to yourself.
★★★★★"I'm 66 and usually avoid fitted evening dresses because of my tummy. The gathered fabric around the waist makes such a difference. It gives me a lovely shape without drawing attention to the areas I'd rather not show. I feel wonderful wearing it."
Betsy R., Portsmouth, RI
The most beautiful movement when you walk
The long skirt is made of soft, sheer layers with a lace hem, and the slit at the front only shows when you take a step. When you stand still, the skirt falls closed again. It adds a feminine touch without making the whole dress feel revealing.
★★★★★"I wore this for our anniversary dinner, and I loved how the soft tulle moved around my legs when I walked. The slit adds such a feminine touch without making the whole dress feel too revealing. My husband couldn't stop complimenting me!"
Francine L., St. George, UT
Elegant enough for every special occasion
Black lace never goes out of style. The Quintina is just as lovely for an anniversary as it is for a formal dinner, an evening at the theater or a holiday celebration, so it won't sit in your closet after one night.
★★★★★"I wanted a dress that felt special but wouldn't sit in my closet after one evening. The black lace is so timeless. I can wear it for an anniversary, a formal dinner, or even a holiday celebration. It makes me feel dressed up without looking old-fashioned."
Helena M., Williamsburg, VA
Black or white, from XS to 3XL
We carry the Quintina in black and in white, from XS all the way to 3XL. My advice: check the size chart before you order. And if it isn't right, you have 30 days to send it back.
★★★★"I'm 61 and usually hesitate to order evening dresses online because sizing can be unpredictable. I followed the measurements and was very pleased with the fit. The lace detailing is beautiful, and it looks just as elegant as I hoped."
Gail T., Cheyenne, WY
The Quintina, against the evening dresses you usually find
Why it's only $59.95 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 Quintina 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.
Quintina | Long black dress with deep V-neck and dramatic slit
$119.95$59.95Retirement Sale, Save 50%
- Long romantic lace sleeves
- Deep V softened with eyelash lace
- Ruched bodice that shapes the waist
- Flowing skirt with a slit that shows only when you walk
Black or white · 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 have an anniversary or a special evening coming up, I hope you find your size before it's gone, and feel truly beautiful again.
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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