Summertime & Lilly Pulitzer

Members of the Vanderbilt, Rockefeller, and Whitney families wearing Lilly Pulitzer in 1964

  Bright prints and classic styles. It's the one and only shift dress matched with your natural summer spirit, all wrapped up in the fabric of a Lilly. Every dress is refreshing, chic and the perfect mix of classy and playful. That is the magic of the Lilly (yes, magic). American fashion designer Lilly Pulitzer wanted her dresses to embody the "fun in the sun" vibes that came with living in Palm Beach, where she and her husband resided. Her vision of ripe fruits, vegetables, and fashionably acceptable colors made her homemade dresses a hit, and were soon being worn by former first ladies like the iconic Jackie Kennedy. 

     Not only were “Lillys” the must-have summer item in your closet, they were the start of a huge fashion phenomena. Lilly’s designs were so bold and unique that as soon as you saw one you thought, now that’s got to be a Lilly. Fashionable, classy, and fun, Lilly’s were the perfect symbol of summer. Without realizing it, Lilly Pulitzer introduced the fashion world to a different side of paradise, life through prints. Of course, the Lilly Pulitzer brand has grown tremendously since its breakout in the 60’s and 70’s, but if one tried to argue that a bright pink and yellow dress didn't remind them of pink lemonade, they might be a little crazy. Or that the crabs, seashells, and beach sketches illustrated across their Lilly agendas didn’t remind them of a beautiful island in the caribbean, they too, would be mistaken. It all screams Lilly. 

     There’s a certain amount of beauty that comes from a brand that was purely influenced by a lifestyle. Lilly Pulitzer’s life became her work when she figured out a way to replace the juice stains of her husband’s orange grove with decadent patterns that brought lively to a whole new meaning. Local socialite, mother, wife, and well acclaimed designer, Lilly Pulitzer found the niche where her life could be put into art, and as a result her legacy continues today with flashy prints, and the perfect dress for any summer occasion. Alas, happy summer. As always, La Vie est Belle. 

Jackie Kennedy wearing a "Lilly," 1960

1970 vintage Lilly pattern






image source:www.pinterest.com