Lilly Pulitzer
Encyclopedia
Lillian Pulitzer Rousseau (born Lillian Lee McKim on November 10, 1931), better known as Lilly Pulitzer, is a socialite
and prominent fashion designer. She is known for founding Lilly Pulitzer, Inc., which produces clothing and other wares featuring bright, colorful prints. Because the brand has been very popular with high society
, Lilly has been called the "Queen of Prep
".
d Lilly, was born to socialites Robert V. McKim and Lillian McKim
(née Bostwick) in Roslyn, New York
on November 10, 1931. She was the middle child, with older sister Mary Maude (called Memsey) and younger sister Florence Fitch (Flossie). Her mother, Lillian, was an heir to the Standard Oil
fortune. Lillian divorced Robert and married Ogden Phipps
in 1937.
Lilly attended the Chapin School in New York City
, along with Bouvier sister Jacqueline Lee
. In 1949, she graduated from Miss Porter's School
in Farmington, Connecticut
. She attended the college-finishing school Finch College
in New York City, but left after one semester to work as a midwife's assistant in West Virginia
and as a volunteer at the Veterans Hospital in The Bronx
.
In 1950, she eloped with Herbert (Peter) Pulitzer Jr., the grandson of publisher Joseph Pulitzer
. In 1969, Lilly and Peter were divorced. She married Enrique Rousseau shortly thereafter. Although she legally changed her name to Lillian Rousseau, her clothing company continued to operate under the "Lilly Pulitzer" label. Lilly continued to reside in Palm Beach. Enrique died from cancer in 1993.
Peter Pulitzer Jr. remarried, preceding a divorce, where he won custody of his two sons.
Lilly has three children from her marriage to Peter: Peter, Minnie, and Liza. Peter lives in BridgeHamptons,Hampton, with his wife, Elise, and five children: Fiona, Caleb, Stefan, Aaron, and Daniella.
Liza currently lives in West Palm Beach, Florida
, with her two children: Taylor and Annah.
"Minnie" lives in Palm Beach, Florida, with her husband Kevin and three children: Rodman, Lillian, and Jack.
, shortly after their marriage. Peter owned several Florida
citrus
groves
, and with produce from the groves Lilly opened a juice stand on Via Mizner, just off Worth Avenue
in Palm Beach.
In the course of working at the juice stand, Lilly found that squeezing juice made a mess of her clothes. Seeking to camouflage the juice stains, she designed a sleeveless shift dress
made of bright, colorful printed cotton. Lilly found that customers loved her dress, so she produced more in order to sell them at her juice stand. Eventually, she was selling more dresses than juice, and decided to focus on designing and selling what had become known as her "Lillys".
In 1959, Lilly became president of her own company, Lilly Pulitzer, Inc. The company's main factory was located in Miami, Florida
and the fabrics were produced by the Key West Hand Print Fabrics company in Key West
.
From the 1960s to the early 1980s, Lilly's bright, colorful clothes were very popular, worn by elites such as First Lady
Jackie Kennedy
and her daughter Caroline
, and members of the Rockefeller
, Vanderbilt
and Whitney
families. However, by 1984 Lilly felt she was not having as much fun as she used to and retired, closing down her entire clothing operation.
Today, the company maintains 75 Lilly Pulitzer Signature Stores (also known as Via Stores), several company-owned retail stores, sells to independently owned stores and is in major department stores such as Bloomingdales, Lord and Taylor, Nordstrom
, and Neiman Marcus
. On December 21, 2010, Sugartown Worldwide, Inc. was purchased by Oxford Industries, Inc.
. The company launched an exclusive Bridal Collection
in 2010.
Lilly Pulitzer has published a pair of lifestyle books—Essentially Lilly: A Guide to Colorful Entertaining and Essentially Lilly: A Guide to Colorful Holidays—with her friend, author Jay Mulvaney, showcasing the "barefoot elegance" that characterizes her entertaining style. She has also released two desk calendar books, Essentially Lilly 2005 Social Butterfly Engagement Calendar and Essentially Lilly 2006 Party Animal Engagement Calendar.
Lilly Pulitzer has been known to make special collections with sorority prints on them. She has held contests on her Facebook page to vote on which sororities will get their own prints.
's tongue-in-cheek "guides", The Official Preppy Handbook and its sequel True Prep: It’s a Whole New Old World, feature Lilly Pulitzer clothing as must-have items for "preppy
" women.
The Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History
in Boynton Beach, Florida
, ran an exhibit from August 2010 through May 2011 about the clothing and designs of Lilly Pulitzer. Museum director Lori Durante stated "Lilly Pulitzer fashion is relative to the American experience ... It is relevant to Palm Beach County, to Florida."
Socialite
A socialite is a person who participates in social activities and spends a significant amount of time entertaining and being entertained at fashionable upper-class events....
and prominent fashion designer. She is known for founding Lilly Pulitzer, Inc., which produces clothing and other wares featuring bright, colorful prints. Because the brand has been very popular with high society
High society
High society may refer to:* Upper class, group of people at the top of a social hierarchy* Gentry, origin Old French genterie, from gentil ‘high-born, noble* High society , social grouping which socialites may be affiliated with....
, Lilly has been called the "Queen of Prep
Preppy
Preppy, preppie, or prep refers to a modern, widespread United States clique, often considered a subculture...
".
Personal life
Lillian Lee McKim, nicknameNickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
d Lilly, was born to socialites Robert V. McKim and Lillian McKim
Lillian Bostwick Phipps
Lillian Stokes Bostwick Phipps was an American socialite and owner of Thoroughbred steeplechase racehorses.-Biography:...
(née Bostwick) in Roslyn, New York
Roslyn, New York
Roslyn is a village in Nassau County, New York, on the North Shore of Long Island. As of the United States 2010 Census, the village population was 2,770...
on November 10, 1931. She was the middle child, with older sister Mary Maude (called Memsey) and younger sister Florence Fitch (Flossie). Her mother, Lillian, was an heir to the Standard Oil
Standard Oil
Standard Oil was a predominant American integrated oil producing, transporting, refining, and marketing company. Established in 1870 as a corporation in Ohio, it was the largest oil refiner in the world and operated as a major company trust and was one of the world's first and largest multinational...
fortune. Lillian divorced Robert and married Ogden Phipps
Ogden Phipps
Ogden Phipps was an American stockbroker, court tennis champion and Hall of Fame member, thoroughbred horse racing executive and owner/breeder, and an art collector and philanthropist...
in 1937.
Lilly attended the Chapin School in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, along with Bouvier sister Jacqueline Lee
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
Jacqueline Lee Bouvier "Jackie" Kennedy Onassis was the wife of the 35th President of the United States, John F. Kennedy, and served as First Lady of the United States during his presidency from 1961 until his assassination in 1963. Five years later she married Greek shipping magnate Aristotle...
. In 1949, she graduated from Miss Porter's School
Miss Porter's School
Miss Porter's School, sometimes simply referred to as Porter's or Farmington, is a private college preparatory school for girls located in Farmington, Connecticut.- History :...
in Farmington, Connecticut
Farmington, Connecticut
Farmington is a town located in Hartford County in the Farmington Valley area of central Connecticut in the United States. The population was 25,340 at the 2010 census. It is home to the world headquarters of several large corporations including Carrier Corporation, Otis Elevator Company, and Carvel...
. She attended the college-finishing school Finch College
Finch College
Finch College was a baccalaureate women's college located in Manhattan, New York City, New York. It began as a finishing school for wealthy young women and later evolved into a liberal arts college...
in New York City, but left after one semester to work as a midwife's assistant in West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
and as a volunteer at the Veterans Hospital in The Bronx
The Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
.
In 1950, she eloped with Herbert (Peter) Pulitzer Jr., the grandson of publisher Joseph Pulitzer
Joseph Pulitzer
Joseph Pulitzer April 10, 1847 – October 29, 1911), born Politzer József, was a Hungarian-American newspaper publisher of the St. Louis Post Dispatch and the New York World. Pulitzer introduced the techniques of "new journalism" to the newspapers he acquired in the 1880s and became a leading...
. In 1969, Lilly and Peter were divorced. She married Enrique Rousseau shortly thereafter. Although she legally changed her name to Lillian Rousseau, her clothing company continued to operate under the "Lilly Pulitzer" label. Lilly continued to reside in Palm Beach. Enrique died from cancer in 1993.
Peter Pulitzer Jr. remarried, preceding a divorce, where he won custody of his two sons.
Lilly has three children from her marriage to Peter: Peter, Minnie, and Liza. Peter lives in BridgeHamptons,Hampton, with his wife, Elise, and five children: Fiona, Caleb, Stefan, Aaron, and Daniella.
Liza currently lives in West Palm Beach, Florida
West Palm Beach, Florida
West Palm Beach, is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and is the most populous city in and county seat of Palm Beach County, the third most populous county in Florida with a 2010 population of 1,320,134. The city is also the oldest incorporated municipality in South Florida...
, with her two children: Taylor and Annah.
"Minnie" lives in Palm Beach, Florida, with her husband Kevin and three children: Rodman, Lillian, and Jack.
Business
Lilly and Peter settled in Palm Beach, FloridaPalm Beach, Florida
The Town of Palm Beach is an incorporated town in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. The Intracoastal Waterway separates it from the neighboring cities of West Palm Beach and Lake Worth...
, shortly after their marriage. Peter owned several Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
citrus
Citrus
Citrus is a common term and genus of flowering plants in the rue family, Rutaceae. Citrus is believed to have originated in the part of Southeast Asia bordered by Northeastern India, Myanmar and the Yunnan province of China...
groves
Orange Grove
-Music:* Orange Grove , a Dutch/Antillean reggae band-Australia:* Orange Grove, Western Australia* The Orange Grove affair, a political scandal-United States:...
, and with produce from the groves Lilly opened a juice stand on Via Mizner, just off Worth Avenue
Worth Avenue
Worth Avenue, sometimes referred to as the Rodeo Drive of Florida, is a famous upscale shopping district in Palm Beach, Florida, in the United States. The street stretches four blocks from Lake Worth to the Atlantic Ocean. The street first became fashionable after the construction in 1918 of the...
in Palm Beach.
In the course of working at the juice stand, Lilly found that squeezing juice made a mess of her clothes. Seeking to camouflage the juice stains, she designed a sleeveless shift dress
Dress
A dress is a garment consisting of a skirt with an attached bodice or with a matching bodice giving the effect of a one-piece garment.Dress may also refer to:*Clothing in general*Costume, fancy dress...
made of bright, colorful printed cotton. Lilly found that customers loved her dress, so she produced more in order to sell them at her juice stand. Eventually, she was selling more dresses than juice, and decided to focus on designing and selling what had become known as her "Lillys".
In 1959, Lilly became president of her own company, Lilly Pulitzer, Inc. The company's main factory was located in Miami, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
and the fabrics were produced by the Key West Hand Print Fabrics company in Key West
Key West
Key West is an island in the Straits of Florida on the North American continent at the southernmost tip of the Florida Keys. Key West is home to the southernmost point in the Continental United States; the island is about from Cuba....
.
From the 1960s to the early 1980s, Lilly's bright, colorful clothes were very popular, worn by elites such as First Lady
First Lady of the United States
First Lady of the United States is the title of the hostess of the White House. Because this position is traditionally filled by the wife of the president of the United States, the title is most often applied to the wife of a sitting president. The current first lady is Michelle Obama.-Current:The...
Jackie Kennedy
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
Jacqueline Lee Bouvier "Jackie" Kennedy Onassis was the wife of the 35th President of the United States, John F. Kennedy, and served as First Lady of the United States during his presidency from 1961 until his assassination in 1963. Five years later she married Greek shipping magnate Aristotle...
and her daughter Caroline
Caroline Kennedy
Caroline Bouvier Kennedy is an American author and attorney. She is a member of the influential Kennedy family and the only surviving child of U.S. President John F...
, and members of the Rockefeller
Rockefeller family
The Rockefeller family , the Cleveland family of John D. Rockefeller and his brother William Rockefeller , is an American industrial, banking, and political family of German origin that made one of the world's largest private fortunes in the oil business during the late 19th and early 20th...
, Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt family
The Vanderbilt family is an American family of Dutch origin prominent during the Gilded Age. It started off with the shipping and railroad empires of Cornelius Vanderbilt, and expanded into various other areas of industry and philanthropy...
and Whitney
Whitney family
The Whitney family is an American family notable for their social prominence, wealth, business enterprises and philanthropy, founded by John Whitney who came from London, England to Watertown, Massachusetts in 1635.-Rise to prominence:...
families. However, by 1984 Lilly felt she was not having as much fun as she used to and retired, closing down her entire clothing operation.
Revival of the brand
In 1993, the rights to the brand were purchased by Sugartown Worldwide, Inc. They contacted Lilly with the hopes of reviving the brand because, "they just loved Lilly, their mothers and sisters loved Lilly, and they wanted to bring the line back," according to Lilly herself. Lilly is not involved in the day to day administration of the company, but she continues to serve in the role of creative consultant, approving new designs, fabrics, and collections, and branching out into other product lines.Today, the company maintains 75 Lilly Pulitzer Signature Stores (also known as Via Stores), several company-owned retail stores, sells to independently owned stores and is in major department stores such as Bloomingdales, Lord and Taylor, Nordstrom
Nordstrom
Nordstrom, Inc. is an upscale department store chain in the United States, founded by John W. Nordstrom and Carl F. Wallin. Initially a shoe retailer, the company today also sells clothing, accessories, handbags, jewelry, cosmetics, fragrances, and in some locations, home furnishings...
, and Neiman Marcus
Neiman Marcus
Neiman Marcus, formerly Neiman-Marcus, is a luxury specialty retail department store operated by the Neiman Marcus Group in the United States. The company is headquartered in the One Marcus Square building in Downtown Dallas, Texas, and competes with other department stores such as Saks Fifth...
. On December 21, 2010, Sugartown Worldwide, Inc. was purchased by Oxford Industries, Inc.
Products
Along with women's clothing, the company also produces men's clothing, children's clothing, maternity clothes, shoes, jewelry, accessories, bedding (revived in 2010), and stationeryStationery
Stationery has historically meant a wide gamut of materials: paper and office supplies, writing implements, greeting cards, glue, pencil case etc.-History of stationery:...
. The company launched an exclusive Bridal Collection
Designer Bride
Designer Bride is a bridal wear company carrying the bridal lines by ready-to-wear fashion designers Lilly Pulitzer , David Meister and Carmen Marc Valvo. They also carry the Angel by Angel Sanchez Collection. They are based in New York City.-History:...
in 2010.
Lilly Pulitzer has published a pair of lifestyle books—Essentially Lilly: A Guide to Colorful Entertaining and Essentially Lilly: A Guide to Colorful Holidays—with her friend, author Jay Mulvaney, showcasing the "barefoot elegance" that characterizes her entertaining style. She has also released two desk calendar books, Essentially Lilly 2005 Social Butterfly Engagement Calendar and Essentially Lilly 2006 Party Animal Engagement Calendar.
Lilly Pulitzer has been known to make special collections with sorority prints on them. She has held contests on her Facebook page to vote on which sororities will get their own prints.
Cultural impact
Lisa BirnbachLisa Birnbach
Lisa R. Birnbach is an author best known for co-authoring The Official Preppy Handbook, which spent 38 weeks at number one on the New York Times bestseller list in 1980.-Career:...
's tongue-in-cheek "guides", The Official Preppy Handbook and its sequel True Prep: It’s a Whole New Old World, feature Lilly Pulitzer clothing as must-have items for "preppy
Preppy
Preppy, preppie, or prep refers to a modern, widespread United States clique, often considered a subculture...
" women.
The Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History
Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History
The Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History is a non-profit organization located in Palm Beach County, Florida. It hosts the Barbie Museum exhibit.-Overview:...
in Boynton Beach, Florida
Boynton Beach, Florida
Boynton Beach is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. The population was 60,389 at the 2000 census. As of 2006, the city had a population of 66,714 according to the University of Florida, Bureau of Economic and Business Research...
, ran an exhibit from August 2010 through May 2011 about the clothing and designs of Lilly Pulitzer. Museum director Lori Durante stated "Lilly Pulitzer fashion is relative to the American experience ... It is relevant to Palm Beach County, to Florida."