On Sunday April 7, 2013, one of our favorite fashion icons, Lilly Pulitzer, passed away at the age of 81 years old. Since Lilly created and inspired so many of the fantastically preppy looks we all love so much at BC, we couldn’t let her passing go without a celebration of her life, her clothes, and the lessons she teaches to us collegiettes.
Lillian Lee McKim was born on November 10, 1931 in Roslyn, New York. She was born into a prominent horseracing family, and when she attended Miss Porter’s School in Farmington, CT she befriended prominent Jacqueline Kennedy (who wore one of Lilly’s creations in a magazine photo shoot).
Lilly met her husband Herbert (Peter) Pulitzer Jr., of the well-known and wealthy Pulitzer Publishing family, when she was vacationing in Palm Beach. Lilly and Peter quickly eloped and lived the dream life—living in the orange groves at his family’s estate and partying, not caring what the social elites thought of them.
Lilly certainly got herself a cutie.
To keep herself busy Lilly opened up a juice stand, but when she found herself facing juice stains, she decided to create a patterned dress that would conceal the juice spills. Needless to say, her design took off and her collection became extremely popular among elite old-money families. Her first dresses sold for only $22 (If only they cost that much now…) and although her marriage with Peter ended, her business boomed. Lilly avoided personal publicity and lived a private life with her second husband. She retired and her business continued on successfully.
Lilly teaches us quite a bit. She teaches us to do what we love and make decisions that make us happy. She teaches us to go after our dreams. She herself said, “We focus on the best, fun and happy things, and people want that. Being happy never goes out of style.”
She also teaches us that style is about what makes us happy. “Style isn’t about what you wear, it’s about how you live.”
Lastly, Lilly teaches us how to have fun and how to throw a great party, which never ever goes out of style. “That’s what life is all about: Let’s have a party. Let’s have it tonight.”
Most importantly, Lilly taught us to always be classy, independent and happy women.
Thank you, Lilly Pulitzer. You are forever a fashion icon to us Boston Collegiettes. Stay classy, stay preppy, and rest in peace.
Sources:
http://pinterest.com/thepinkpalm/lilly-life-quotes/
http://www.ibtimes.com/lilly-pulitzer-fashion-icon-dead-81-1176017