Lilly was a Palm Beach Princess who was born to upper class socialites and a classmate of my idol, Jacqueline Kennedy. She married Peter Pulitzer and had three children. After her youngest child was born she began selling juice (from oranges/grapefruits from her husband's plantation) on a trendy avenue in Palm Beach. She needed something to wear to hide the juice stains so she made simple little shifts. Ladies were interested in buying her dresses so she began selling them. The dresses took off and Lilly became a huge success! Pretty preppy patterns came to fruition and celebrities and socialites starting wearing her things! Lilly Pulitzer's brand went to the next level when Jackie Kennedy was photographed wearing her gingham dress. Since Jackie was the fashionista of the 20th century, every woman in the world wanted this dress. Lilly then became an international fashion icon. In the 1960s fashion world men ruled all. Preppy wasn't as prevalent and it would be a few more years until Ralph Lauren would bring preppy style to the public sphere. Lilly was it. She was also the perfect antidote to the burgeoning American fashion and beauty empire. *History dork time* Post WWII, America was the wealthiest country in the world and we had an increase in power and the disposable income to invest in American fashion. Also, the rest of the world's economies were not doing so well. America was rich! We had our boys coming home from Europe and we had the GI Bill. Women, more and more who were working to make ends meet because of the war (and some who enjoyed working) had disposable incomes for the first time ever. Women's dollars were now buying more than just dough, they were buying dresses! Lilly's were what they wanted! Lilly started her brand with a friend and after her divorce from Peter, she used it as a financial lifeline. Lilly also helped friends open satellite stores in trendy southern and northern beach towns. These friends were often divorcees who needed the income. Women from all over the world flocked to upscale retailers to scoop up their coveted Lillies! In the '80's Lilly Pulitzer closed its doors for financial reasons. In the early 90's the Lilly Pulitzer brand was revived and the flagship store opened in King of Prussia PA! And Lilly was brought to a whole new generation of Lilly Lovers! Lilly stayed on as creative director and gave birth to a new vision of modern, sophisticated, preppy happiness.
So here's to Miss Lilly and her fabulous love of all things fun! Lilly made clothes for women and girls who define their personal style as, "sophisticated and refined, yet at the same time, fun and flirtatious,". And isn't that the best way to be? I think yes! So to quote Miss Pulitzer:
"Wear pink and make all the boys wink!"
"Life's a Party, Dress Like It!"
1. “I was a gypsy, living a carefree life of ponies and tennis.”
2. “Anything is possible with sunshine and a little pink.”
3. “Style isn’t just about what you wear, it’s about how you live.”
4. “It's always summer somewhere.”
5. “If you haven’t any charity in your heart, you have the worst kind of heart trouble.”
6. “Being happy never goes out of style.”
7. “I designed collections around whatever struck my fancy ... fruits, vegetables, politics, or peacocks!”
8. “I didn't set out to be unusual or different. I just wanted to do things my way.”
9. “That’s what life is all about: Let’s have a party. Let’s have it tonight.”
10. “Jackie [Kennedy] wore one of my dresses – it was made from kitchen curtain material – and people went crazy.”
quote references: http://www.matchbookmag.com/daily/39-top-10-lilly-pulitzer-quotes
Photo Credit: http://fashionpearlsofwisdom.co.uk/2013/04/for-the-love-of-lily.html/screen-shot-2011-02-22-at-9-31-59-am
So Happy Lilly Pulitzer Birthday,
Erin
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