I was so sad when I heard on the news that Lilly Pulitzer passed away yesterday at the age of 81. Mrs. Pulitzer’s dresses are recognizable everywhere.
The story behind how her brand came about is so interesting.
After eloping with Peter Pulitzer, the grandson of Joseph Pulitzer, the couple settled in Palm Beach, Florida. Peter owned orange groves in central Florida. Even though they were private people, they made frequent appearances in social circuit and in the Palm Beach Social Register. Together they had three children. Staying home was not something Lilly wanted to do forever, so she decided to help out at one of the orange groves.
At the end of every work day, her clothes would be stained in pulp and juice, so she asked a seamstress to make her a shift dress so colorful it would hide the juice stains. The Lilly Pulitzer dress was born.
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