Wrapped in Summer

Summer – the best season of all the seasons! What can top endless sunshine, blue skies, warm weather, bike rides, days spent by the water and all the colorful clothes that make up summer? When you think of those colorful clothes and the fashions of this favorite season of mine, one lovely lady must come to mind. She is the pioneer of bold brights and spunky patterns and her designs say summer without ever uttering the word. Of course, it’s none other than Lilly Pulitzer.

Lilly patterns make me smile! They evoke emotions of this splendid season that brings me joy. My closet is full of her frilly frocks, which you may not know all came to be by accident. Lilly’s now eponymous patterned shift dress started out as a uniform she made to wear while working in her Florida juice stand. A Palm Beach socialite, she was influenced by her colorful and tropical lifestyle, and it showed in her uniform design.

While her customers liked her juice, they loved her look, and eventually she squeezed her last orange, and started solely selling her “Lilly’s.” She is now a namesake in American resort wear and her love of bright, bold patterns lives on in generations of all ages. If you know Lilly, you will recognize her fashions instantly, and maybe, like me, you will smile thinking of the summer sunshine or your favorite tropical locale.

Since Lilly’s frocks (no longer smocks) speak volumes just in their patterns and colors, accessories can be simple and sweet. This particular wrap dress is so reminiscent of Lilly Pulitzers early years in fashion, I wanted to play on the mod vibes and integrate those into my accessories. Block pattern sandals, green lucite-like sunnies and tassled bangles seemed the perfect match. To keep the ensemble feeling fresh and tropical, a fringe straw purse completes the look!