Friday, April 12, 2013

For the Love of Lilly



Several great women passed away this week and fashion designer Lilly Pulitzer Rousseau was one of them. Famous for her tropical print dresses that were born out of necessity (the story goes she opened a juice stand and needed clothing that wouldn't show the grapefruit stains), "Lillys" became the rage from Palm Beach to Hamptons and everywhere in between.  The year was 1959 and a simple pink and green shift dress sold for $22.00.  Five decades later and $100 million in annual net sales, the line lives on. Yes, an empire literally began with a juice stand and this was one heiress who was not a lady who lunched.


The Palm Beach Princess in the sixties....


and in later years.

While her vividly colorful frocks may not be for everyone, here are a few notable celebs in their Lillys....

Actress Brooke Shields at Lilly store

Ever the trendsetter, Jackie Kennedy (shown with family in Hyannisport)  put Lilly on the map

Kristen Davis on set as Charlotte in Sex and the City

Rose and Kathleen Kennedy

"The View" host Elizabeth Hasselbeck

Tennis star Serena Williams in a halter Lilly

Suri Cruise with her famous dad Tom


One of my favorite Lilly designs were the keyhole patio dresses

Photo Credits: Cecil Sloughton/The White House via JFK Presidential Library and Museum, PRNewsfoto, Lilly Pulitzer, Getty Images

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