2.22.2011

Palm Beach Week: Lilly Pulitzer Love

Some people are one-of-a-kind.
They have that certain joie de vivre that inspires the rest of us.






Lilly Pulitzer is that kind of woman.

A New York native living in Palm Beach with her husband,
Lilly ran a juice stand at their orchards.
After creating some gloriously colored shifts that camouflage the inevitable splatters,
customers were so enamoured she had her dressmaker create extra
"Lillys" to sell at the store.






Later divorced and remarried, 
Lilly Rousseau continued operate her company under the Lilly Pulitzer name.
Her shifts were worn by everyone, 
including dear friend and First Lady Jackie Kennedy and her daughter Caroline.






In 1984 Lilly retired and closed down her clothing line,
but in 1993 it was revived and the Lilly Pulitzer empire now includes
homegoods, shoes, jewelry and mens clothing.










I've read and re-read her Guides to Colorful Entertaining and Colorful Holidays.
what comes across so clearly is how bright Lilly's spirit is.
As her son Peter says,
"mom has an amazing zest for life.
It's like a big hug."
Not one to get hung up on details,
 it's Lilly's "who gives a fig"attitude and her incredible hospitality
that has made every day a party, literally.
If you haven't read these books, go get them!






Her Palm Beach Store is the epitome of Lilly,
who said long ago that she had an aversion to
"people who didn't respond to her humor".
(Jay Mulvaney, Colorful Holidays)






Lilly Stills lives in Palm Beach, in her "jungle".
(although it has recently been listed for sale)









I love her.

Pop by tomorrow for Celerie Kemble gorgeousness,
another Palm Beach girl.



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8 comments:

Carol@TheDesignPages said...

Wow Anne Marie. what an amazing introduction to a beautiful and very talented lady. I'm going to look for her book. Her lines are amazing:) Carol

Anonymous said...

i love Lilly! These colors are so perfectly me!

abby @ a delightful design said...

Wow! I would love a piece of her furniture.

Kori said...

I'm just discovering her if you can believe it! Hope you had a great day. I'm having a fun giveaway to celebrate my blog makeover! Make sure to enter before Friday if you haven't already! Kori xoxo

http://www.blondeepisodes.com/2011/02/makeover-blog-giveaway.html

Kori said...

I'm just discovering her if you can believe it! Hope you had a great day. I'm having a fun giveaway to celebrate my blog makeover! Make sure to enter before Friday if you haven't already! Kori xoxo

http://www.blondeepisodes.com/2011/02/makeover-blog-giveaway.html

Carissa @ the Fabulous Design File said...

Amazing post! I love it! I'm off to amazon to order those books. And the spring 2011 looks are super fabulous.

k said...

so interesting!!! how gorgeous are her pretty white dress (even if it wouldn't hide juice splatters:)) And thanks for your really nice comment on the decorating large walls post!

Elle Uy said...

I'm drowning in all the colors, and I'm loving it! :) Love this series of yours!

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