A Letter From Rose
The Cardigan You'll Reach For Every Time the Evening Turns Cool
A soft knit that doesn't itch, a long length that falls over your hips, and two little button tabs at the waist that give it shape. The Sophie keeps you warm and still looks put together.
Picture an October evening on the porch. The sun is going down, your tea is still warm, and the air has that first little chill of fall. You reach over the back of your chair, slip on a soft cardigan, and stay outside a little longer. No itching at your neck, no shapeless sack hanging off your shoulders. Just warm, and nicely dressed.
Most of the women I know have a drawer full of cardigans they never wear. One scratches. One hangs like a bathrobe. One is so short it stops right where you'd rather it didn't.
I don't think staying warm should mean looking like you gave up.
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 Sophie. 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. An open cardigan without buttons usually just hangs on you. Then Olivia pointed at the two little button tabs at the waist, and when I put it on, it suddenly had a shape. Here's why it passed both tests.
Finally, a cardigan that doesn't itch
This is the first thing Olivia checks on any knit: she rubs it against the inside of her wrist. The Sophie is a soft knit that doesn't itch and feels light against your skin. The open shawl collar lies flat, so there's nothing scratchy around your neck.
★★★★★"I have sensitive skin and usually avoid knitted cardigans because they feel scratchy, especially around my neck. This one feels lovely against my skin, and the open neckline doesn't irritate me. It's comfortable enough to wear throughout the day."
Delia R., Columbia, MO
Beautiful shape without looking baggy
An open cardigan usually falls straight down and makes you look wider than you are. On the Sophie, a small knitted tab with two buttons sits on each side at the waist. It gently gathers the front, so the cardigan follows your shape instead of hanging like a sack.
★★★★★"I was worried an open cardigan would just hang straight down and make me look shapeless. But the little button details at the waist give this one such a pretty shape. It looks relaxed yet nicely put together, which is exactly what I wanted."
Mavis T., Auburn, IN
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Flattering around my tummy and hips
The button tabs sit at the waist, and below them the cardigan keeps going, down to mid-thigh. So the eye goes to that little detail, while the long front panels fall over your tummy and hips. You get some shape, without anything clinging where you'd rather it didn't.
★★★★★"I'm 66 and don't like sweaters that draw attention to my stomach. I was hesitant about the waist detail, but the longer length falls beautifully over my hips. It gives me some shape without clinging to the areas I'd rather not emphasize."
Renee F., Ashland, OR
Ordering felt much less risky
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 Sophie isn't what you hoped for, you have 30 days to send it back, and you get your money back.
★★★★"I've had cardigans lose their shape after a few washes, so I always hesitate before buying another one online. Knowing there was a 30-day return policy made me feel more comfortable ordering. The cardigan looks beautiful with my favorite jeans."
Georgia P., Sarasota, FL
Perfect for lunch with friends
This is my part. The wide shawl collar and the button tabs make it look more polished than an ordinary sweater. Over a white top with your favorite jeans and a pair of loafers, you're dressed for lunch with friends, without looking like you tried too hard.
★★★★★"At 63, I want clothes that look nice without making me feel overdressed. The shawl collar and button details make this cardigan feel much more polished than an ordinary sweater. I can wear it with jeans and still feel nicely dressed for lunch."
Lorna B., Stillwater, OK
Finally, an easy fit to order online
We carry the Sophie in beige, off-white, bordeaux and brown, from XS all the way to 3XL. The fit is relaxed, with long sleeves and a longer length. My advice: check the size chart before you order. And if it isn't right, you have 30 days to send it back.
★★★★★"I usually wear an XL and always worry about ordering sweaters without trying them on. I checked the size chart and was very pleased with the relaxed fit. The sleeves are comfortable, and the longer length is just what I was looking for."
Estelle M., Roanoke, VA
The Sophie, against the cardigans you usually find
Why it's only $64.95 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 Sophie 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.
Sophie | Cosy Knitted Cardigan
$129.95$64.95Retirement Sale, Save 50%
- Soft knit that doesn't itch
- Button tabs at the waist for a pretty shape
- Long length that falls over tummy and hips
- Shawl collar, polished enough for lunch
Four 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 your evenings on the porch are getting cooler, 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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