RIP Lilly Pullitzer

Farewell to fashion funstress Lilly Pulitzer.  She died over the weekend at 81.

Life's a party-dress like it!  That was Lilly's tagline for her line of bright, comfy clothes.  Lilly married into the famous Pulitzer family in the 1950s. 

(with husband Peter in 1951)

After the Palm Beach socialite had a breakdown, her therapist recommended she "do something with herself". 

(Jackie was often seen sporting LP A-line dresses.)

Her husband had citrus groves in Florida, so she opened a juice stand.  She kept staining all her clothes with juice, so she asked a seamstress to make some summery dresses in a riot of colors.  They disguised her juice stains, but better yet-women adored the fashions and her clothing line was born.

 
Those little kerchiefs are adorable.  I think Violet and Piper need them ASAP.

Cute.

Fun furniture and a great waiting room, yes?

Here's Lilly holding court at one of her famous parties.  That looks like a rocking party, doesn't it?

One of my favorite things about Lilly Pulitzer fabric was the hidden 'Lilly' in all the prints.  Whenever I find a vintage LP piece of clothing, I immediately scour it for the secret 'Lilly'.

Isn't that a delightful thing?  I've long wanted to design fabric.  If I ever do, I am SO going to sneak in my name.  Or maybe the girls' names.

Now I just have to get Adam into a pair of those pants.

This is a sweet photo of Lilly and her daughters.  We may have to recreate this in front of a wrought iron gate someday.

P.S. Yes, I know Margaret Thatcher died, too.  I'm not ignoring her, but I have a soft spot in my heart for Lilly.

Comments

[Maria]

I love that her dresses are so iconic and yet so wearable decade after decade. The dresses in the vintage photos look as good today as they did 50 or 60 years ago.

(And YES to the kerchiefs for Violet and Piper!)

[Maria]

I love that her dresses are so iconic and yet so wearable decade after decade. The dresses in the vintage photos look as good today as they did 50 or 60 years ago.

(And YES to the kerchiefs for Violet and Piper!)

[stacy]

I had NO idea that she died.

Geez.

AND Annette Funicello

Like my Monday hasn't sucked enough???

I think I'll go put on a kerchief and go to bed.