A Letter From a Reader

The cardigan I throw on when I want to look put-together without trying

A soft button-front cardigan with a neat collar, relaxed fit, and cheerful color. Comfortable, easy to layer, and polished enough to make the simplest trousers look finished.

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by linda parker· mount pleasant, south carolina

Posted August 2026 · 6 min read
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Photographed at home..

At 68, I want to be comfortable, but I'm tired of cardigans that make me feel as though I've simply thrown on another layer. Grey, beige, navy. Practical, certainly, but not exactly something that makes you happy when you catch yourself in the mirror.

 

What I really wanted was one easy cardigan that felt soft and comfortable but still looked properly put-together, something I could wear over a simple top without having to think about the rest of my outfit. Everything I owned was either comfortable or polished, never both.

 

It was my sister who told me to stop settling and try one from Brooks & Bennett Newport, a bright collared cardigan she thought would look wonderful with the white trousers I already wear constantly. Before I tell you what happened, I think you should know what finally convinced me.

 

The cardigan is called The Josephine, and what surprised me was how practical it was underneath that lovely color. The button front, relaxed shape and neat collar were exactly the little things I care about now. I'm going to walk you through them, because they say more about it than I could.

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As comfortable as your old cardigan, but far more put-together

We made The Josephine as a soft button-front cardigan with a proper collar and an easy, relaxed shape. It's every bit as comfortable as the cardigan you keep by the chair, but instead of looking like an afterthought, the clean collar and beautiful color make the whole outfit feel finished. You put it on over a simple top and suddenly you're dressed.

"It feels like my comfortable old cardigan, but looks so much nicer. I wore it with white trousers and felt completely put-together."

Diane M., Greenville SC
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Soft and comfortable without feeling heavy

Some cardigans feel bulky the moment you put them on, while others are so thin they hardly feel worth wearing. Not this one. It has that soft, comfortable feel you want from an everyday layer without feeling stiff or cumbersome, the kind of cardigan you put on in the morning and happily leave on for hours.

"Soft, comfortable and easy to wear. I had it on all afternoon and never once felt like taking it off."

Janet S., Bluffton SC
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A button front that makes getting dressed easy

It buttons all the way down the front, so there's no pulling anything over your hair and no wrestling with a tight neckline. Wear it buttoned when you want a more finished look, or leave a few open over a simple camisole or tee. Easy on, easy off, and no fussing once you're dressed.

"I love that I can just button it on instead of pulling another sweater over my head. Such a small thing, but it makes a difference."

Carol R., Charleston SC
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The collar does more than you'd think

That simple collar was one of the things that caught my eye. It gives the cardigan just enough structure around the face to make it feel more polished than an ordinary sweater, without making it stiff or dressy. Add your usual trousers and shoes and it already looks as though you've made an effort.

"The collar is what makes it for me. Comfortable like a cardigan, but much more polished when I wear it out."

Patricia L., Columbia SC
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It works with the clothes you already own

There is nothing complicated about wearing it. White trousers, jeans, simple slacks, a plain top underneath if you want one. The bright color does most of the work, so you don't need scarves, necklaces or clever styling to make the outfit interesting. One easy layer and you're done.

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The Josephine, against your usual cardigan

Typical fall cardigan

The Josephine

The feel

Heavy or disappointingly thin

Soft and comfortable

The look

Plain and forgettable

Cheerful color that lifts an outfit

Getting it on

Straight and ordinary

Button front, easy on and off

Neckline

Basic straight hem

A neat, flattering collar

The wear

Needs dressing up

Makes simple trousers feel finished

THE USUAL WINTER TOP

Clings, or hangs like a sack

Hot, stiff fabric

No pockets, or too shallow

Bare arms, or a hot cardigan

Loud or cheap-looking print

THE PATRICIA 

Skims with a soft A-line

Soft, lightweight, breathes

Deep, hidden side pockets

Sleeves that cover, and breathe

A cheerful wildflower, noticed for good reasons

Why they're clearing it now

They priced The Josephine at $199.95 when it launched, and it sold at that price all season. But for the Brooks & Bennett Newport Clearance Sale, we wanted to give something back to the women who have supported us since 2001, so the remaining Josephine cardigans are now $59.95, well under a third of the original price.

 

Mine arrived folded in tissue with a little handwritten note on top. I threw it on over a tee that same cool morning and felt wonderful — it's barely left me since.

THE JOSEPHINE BUTTON-FRONT COLLARED CARDIGAN

4.7 / 5 from 1200+ reviews

$199.95

$59.95

A thick, chunky knit with a cozy weight and comfortable give

Relaxed through the body — comfortable without clinging

Five oversized gold-tone buttons that make the whole cardigan

Lantern sleeves, ribbed cuffs and a classic pointed collar

Sizes XS–5XL · Free UPS shipping · 30-day money-back guarantee

See if your size is still in stock →

The Josephine · $59.95 while sizes last

Our Clearance Sale ends tonight.

Buy 2 get 10%, buy 3 get 15%, buy 4 get an extra 20% off. When it's gone, it's gone.

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Since 1996

Family-owned in Newport

I don't usually write things like this. But The Josephine gave me exactly what I'd stopped hoping to find, one cozy cardigan that's warm and comfortable but still full of personality, soft without a hint of scratch, easy to wear, and lovely over everything I own.

 

It's barely left me since it arrived. If you've been resigned to plain, forgettable sweaters the way I had, this is the one I'd tell you to try, while the sale is still on.

— Linda Parker · South Carolina

See the JOSEPHINE — $59.95 →

This is a personal account from a Brooks & Bennett Newport customer. Linda was not paid to write it. · Brooks & Bennett Newport · Timeless Women’s Fashion · Free Shipping · 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee.

See the JOSEPHINE — $59.95 while sizes last