A true beacon of fashion passed away today. Lilly Pulitzer Rousseau, the pioneer who made the colorful floral dresses a staple in the wardrobes of millions of women passed away this morning at the age of 81. After marrying Peter Pulitzer, the then 21-year old Lilly and her new husband moved to Palm Beach, where she started a juice stand. To cover up the stains from the fruits, Lilly had a seamstress make her a shift dress made out of a colorful printed fabric.
Mrs. Pulitzer made the decision to turn her colorful dresses into a clothing line, which took off immediately after First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy appeared in Life Magazine wearing a Lilly Pulitzer dress on vacation. “Jackie wore one of my dresses – it was made from kitchen curtain material – and people went crazy. They took off like zingo. Everybody loved them, and I went into the dress business,” said Lilly Pulitzer. Mrs. Obama and Kate Middleton aren’t the only two icons who could move products.
For over fifty years, the Lilly Pulitzer brand has stayed prominent among socialites, Southern belles and the preppy set and influenced many contemporary brands like Tory Burch, Shoshanna and Trina Turk. Even men don colorful Lilly Pulitzer trousers and accessories come spring and summer, proving that real men wear pink. Lilly Pulitzer is a household name, a favorite among women of all ages. In honor of the iconic woman behind the iconic brand, here are nineteen of our favorite looks from socialites and celebrities wearing Lilly Pulitzer.
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