A Letter From Rose
Who Says Your Everyday Cardigan Has to Be Boring?
A soft ribbed knit, a long line that skims your hips and washed denim on the collar, buttons, cuffs and hem. The Riley makes a T-shirt and jeans look like you planned it.
Imagine an ordinary Tuesday. You throw something on over your T-shirt and jeans to pick up the grandchildren, and at the school gate another grandmother says: "I love that! Where did you get it?" Nothing fancy, nothing uncomfortable. You just look like you made an effort, without making one.
Somewhere after sixty, most of the women I know ended up with a drawer full of the same plain cardigans. The long ones hang like a blanket, the short ones stop right at the hips we'd rather cover, and the soft ones look tired after a few washes. So we wear them anyway, and feel a little invisible in them.
I don't think comfortable should ever mean dull.
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 revealing, 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 Riley. 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. Denim on a cardigan sounded a little young to me. Then I slipped it on over a plain white T-shirt, looked in the mirror, and didn't want to take it off. Here's why it passed both tests.
Long and flattering without looking bulky
The Riley is long, falling to just below the knee, and it hangs in straight, clean lines. It covers your hips and bottom without clinging, and those long vertical lines, from the ribbed knit to the denim placket, draw the eye up and down instead of across. Loose and relaxed, but never a shapeless blanket.
★★★★★"I'm 65 and usually avoid long cardigans because I'm afraid they'll make me look shorter and wider. This one falls so nicely over my hips and bottom without looking like a shapeless blanket. The long, straight lines actually make me feel slimmer!"
Elaine W., Franklin, MA
Soft enough to wear all day
The knit is a soft ribbed knit with medium stretch, so it moves with you and feels gentle against your skin. It's the kind of cardigan you put on in the morning and forget you're wearing, right through to the evening.
★★★★★"I have sensitive skin and can't stand sweaters that itch, especially around my neck and arms. This cardigan feels lovely and soft against my skin. I can even wear it over a simple T-shirt without that scratchy feeling I get from some knitwear."
Bette C., Bowling Green, KY
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The denim details make it special
This is what caught my eye. Washed light-blue denim on the collar, down the button placket, on the turned-back cuffs and along the hem, with metal jeans buttons and neat topstitching. It turns a simple cardigan into something people notice, and it goes with every pair of jeans you own.
★★★★★"I wasn't sure whether denim on a cardigan would look too young for me at 62. But the denim trim gives it such a lovely, polished look. My daughter complimented me the first time I wore it and asked where I'd found it!"
Alma J., Kennewick, WA
Still looks beautiful after washing
This is the part Olivia checked first. She looked at every seam where the knit meets the denim, and at how the buttons are set in the placket. A cardigan you wear every day has to be put together properly, or it's out of shape by spring.
★★★★★"I've had cardigans that stretched out or started pilling after just a few washes, so I was hesitant to order another one online. This one has kept its shape beautifully, and the buttons and denim trim still look neat. I'm very pleased with the quality."
Kathryn V., Marietta, GA
My new everyday favorite
This is my part. Over a T-shirt and jeans for errands, a visit to the grandchildren or lunch with a friend. Over a simple dress when the evening turns cool. One cardigan, and even your easiest outfits look more put together.
★★★★★"I throw this on over a T-shirt and jeans when I'm running errands, visiting my grandchildren, or meeting a friend for lunch. It's so easy to wear and makes even my simplest outfits look more put together. Definitely my new go-to cardigan!"
Paula H., Bloomington, IL
Finally, a comfortable fit in my size
The relaxed fit gives you room through the arms and shoulders, and the cuffs turn back if you like your sleeves a little shorter. We carry the Riley in white, beige, navy, khaki and black, 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 63 and usually wear a 2XL, so I was worried about the sleeve length and how roomy it would be. I followed the size guide and was so happy with the fit. The sleeves are just right, and I can move my arms comfortably without feeling restricted."
Yvette D., Hagerstown, MD
The Riley, against the cardigans you usually find
Why it's only $69.95 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 Riley 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.
Riley | Casual Long-Line Knit Cardigan
$139.95$69.95Retirement Sale, Save 50%
- Long line that covers your hips without clinging
- Soft ribbed knit with medium stretch
- Washed denim collar, placket, cuffs and hem
- Easy over a T-shirt and jeans, every day
White, Beige, Navy, Khaki & Black · 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 your cardigan drawer feels a little tired, I hope 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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