A Letter From Rose
The Cozy Jacket I Reach for Every Cool Morning
Soft as a blanket, light on your shoulders, and it doesn't make you look bigger. Here's why the Vanessa won me over.
Every year when the first cool mornings arrive in Florida, I watch the same thing happen in our boutique. Women come in wrapped in their husband's old fleece, or a sweatshirt from a grandchild's school, and say: "I just need something warm to throw on."
And I understand. Coffee on the porch, walking the dog, a quick trip to the market. You want something warm and easy. But most of what's out there is either a heavy coat, a sporty fleece that looks like it belongs on a hiking trail, or one of those teddy jackets that makes you look twice as wide.
I think we deserve a little more than that. Something cozy that still makes you feel like yourself when you run into a friend at the coffee shop.
I want to be honest with you: I didn't design the Vanessa. Olivia and I started out as fashion designers in Italy, but these days we hand-pick the pieces for our boutique. After a lifetime in fashion, I can tell within seconds whether a piece is made with care, and most go straight back.
I'll admit I almost passed on this one. I've never been a fan of fleece. Then I put it on, and I didn't want to take it off. Here's why.
Cozy and warm, without the weight
The first thing you notice is how soft it is. The plush sherpa feels like a warm blanket around your shoulders, but it doesn't weigh you down like a heavy coat. You can wear it all morning and forget you have it on.
★★★★★"I'm 64 and heavy jackets have started to bother my shoulders. This one feels so soft and cozy without weighing me down. I love being able to stay warm and comfortable without feeling like I'm carrying a heavy coat around all day."
Sylvia N., Helena, MT
Much prettier than a regular fleece
This is what Olivia checked first. The Vanessa has a neat, feminine shape, a soft stand-up collar and a little strap with a button at each cuff. Those small details make all the difference. It looks like a real jacket, not something you'd wear to rake the leaves.
★★★★★"I usually avoid fleece jackets because they tend to look too sporty for my taste. This one has such a neat, feminine shape. The stand-up collar and little button detail on the sleeves make it look much more polished. I can even wear it out to lunch!"
Lucille A., Athens, GA
See if your size is still available →
A teddy jacket that doesn't make you look bigger
Teddy jackets often add volume everywhere. The Vanessa has a straight, relaxed cut that falls cleanly from the shoulders, without puffing out around the waist and hips. You look warm and put together, not wrapped up.
★★★★★"I'm 62 and have always worried that teddy jackets would make me look bigger. This one has a lovely relaxed fit without adding too much volume around my waist and hips. It's comfortable, flattering, and doesn't make me feel bulky."
Yvonne R., Missoula, MT
Long enough to keep your hips warm
So many fleece jackets stop right at the waist and leave your hips out in the cold. The Vanessa falls just below the hips. It covers you nicely, without being so long that it gets in the way when you sit down.
★★★★"I've tried so many fleece jackets that stop right at my waist, leaving my hips cold. The slightly longer length on this one makes such a difference. It covers me nicely without feeling too long or getting in the way when I sit down."
Eileen K., Harrisburg, PA
Easy to throw on, every single day
A full-length zip, so it's easy to put on and take off. Two front pockets to keep your hands warm. And it fits comfortably over a turtleneck and jeans. It quickly becomes the jacket you grab on your way out the door.
★★★★★"This has become my favorite jacket for running errands and taking morning walks. The zipper is so convenient, the pockets keep my hands cozy, and it fits comfortably over my turtleneck and jeans. Just easy to wear and looks lovely too!"
Nadine S., Tulsa, OK
Finally, something pretty in your size
We carry the Vanessa from XS all the way to 7XL, in four easy colors: soft pink, navy blue, camel and black. So many women tell me they can never find anything pretty in their size. 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 68 and wear a 3XL, so finding jackets that are both comfortable and attractive isn't always easy. I followed the size guide and was so pleased with the fit. There's room to move without feeling shapeless. It's nice to find something that makes me feel good about how I look."
Bernadette F., Peoria, IL
The Vanessa, against the jackets 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 Vanessa is part of our final collection. When a size or color 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.
Vanessa | Sherpa Fleece Jacket
$119.95$59.95Retirement Sale, Save 50%
- Plush sherpa, cozy without the weight
- Stand-up collar and buttoned cuff straps
- Falls just below the hips
- Pink, navy blue, camel or black
Sizes XS to 7XL · 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've been reaching for an old fleece every cool morning, I hope you find your size and color 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 🤍
See the Vanessa →