A Letter From Rose
The Easy Morning Layer That Never Pulls Across Your Middle
Cut relaxed through the body and worn open, so nothing clings. Throw it on when the morning is cool, turn back the sleeves when it warms up. The Wilhelmine is the shirt you'll reach for every day.
You know the moment. You button up a blouse, turn sideways in the mirror, and there it is: that little pull across the bust, the gap between the buttons, the fabric hugging your tummy. So you take it off again and reach for the same old cardigan.
And then there's the weather. The morning starts cool, by lunchtime you're warm, and whatever you put on at eight o'clock is wrong by noon.
I don't think getting dressed should be this complicated. Sometimes all you need is one easy layer.
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 Wilhelmine. 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 loose shirt is often just a tent with buttons. Then Olivia put it on, left it open, and walked across the room. Here's why it passed both tests.
Finally, a top that doesn't cling
The Wilhelmine is cut easy through the body, and it's made to be worn open. So there are no buttons straining across your bust and nothing pulling over your tummy. It simply falls over your middle, and you can stop thinking about it.
★★★★★"I'm 64 and have a fuller bust and tummy, so finding tops that don't pull across those areas is difficult. I love the relaxed fit of this one. It falls comfortably over my middle, and I can wear it open without feeling like I need to hide anything."
Claudine R., Manchester, NH
Relaxed without making me look bigger
I know, a loose shape sounds like it will make you look bigger. But it's boxy through the shoulder and hip, so it falls open in a clean line. Worn open, the two front edges run straight down, and that long line is what the eye follows. You get the coverage, without the tent.
★★★★★"I was worried the loose shape would make me look wider, especially around my hips. But wearing it open creates such a nice, straight line down the front. It gives me the coverage I want without looking like I'm wearing a tent!"
Wilma H., Athens, OH
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Perfect for changing temperatures
This is what it was made for: a day that starts cool and warms up by noon. Throw it on over a tee when you leave the house, turn the sleeves back at the cuff when the sun comes out, and slip it off when you don't need it. One layer, all day.
★★★★★"I get chilly in the mornings but usually warm up by lunchtime. This is such an easy extra layer to throw on over a simple top. I love being able to roll up the sleeves when it gets warmer. Very practical for everyday wear."
Noreen L., Meridian, ID
Casual without looking sloppy
Loose usually means untidy. Not here. The point collar, the little buttons and the hip pockets are classic shirt details, and they're what make it look finished. It's casual enough for the grocery store, and neat enough that you won't feel underdressed.
★★★★"I'm always hesitant to buy loose tops online because I worry they'll arrive looking shapeless or untidy. The relaxed style and little buttons give this one a much neater appearance than I expected. It looks lovely with jeans and doesn't feel overly dressy."
Harper S., Tyler, TX
Simple but still looks put together
This is my part. A classic collar, simple buttons, no frills and nothing trendy. Wear it open over a plain tee with jeans or over black trousers, and you look put together without trying. That's the kind of style that never dates.
★★★★★"At 68, I don't want clothes that look too young or overly fashionable. The classic collar and buttons make this top feel timeless. I wear mine with a plain T-shirt and trousers, and it always looks nicely put together without any effort."
Rosamund P., Decatur, AL
So glad I followed the size chart
We carry the Wilhelmine in eleven colors, from XS all the way to 3XL. The fit is relaxed on purpose, so you have room through the arms and bust. My advice: check the size chart before you order. And if it isn't right, you have 30 days to send it back, and you get your money back.
★★★★★"I'm 62 and usually wear a 2XL, so ordering loose-fitting tops online can be a gamble. I checked the measurements and was very pleased with the comfortable fit. There's room around my arms and bust without making the top look too oversized."
Marietta V., Eau Claire, WI
The Wilhelmine, against the blouses 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 Wilhelmine 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.
Wilhelmine | Blouse
$119.95$59.95Retirement Sale, Save 50%
- Cut easy through the body, never clinging
- Falls open in a clean, straight line
- Sleeves turn back when the day warms up
- Point collar, buttons and hip pockets
Eleven 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're tired of blouses that pull and mornings that change their mind, 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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