Lilly Pulitzer, 1931-2013

When I was growing up, there was a Lilly Pulitzer shop near our house that I just loved. In addition to selling the clothes, the shop also sold the signature fabrics. This was when Lilly was popular the first time around. It was always such fun to look at the brightly coloured and cleverly designed fabrics and pick Lilly’s name out of the pattern.

I thought it would be such fun to make a patchwork quilt out of all of the fun prints. Alas, I didn’t know how to sew (then) and it never got made.  Fast forward a number of years and I came across a stash of fabulous Lilly prints, and snatched them all up!  I made pillows and pennants, and even a shower curtain in the Racy Lacy print!

Each print had a name, and it was usually a clever pun on the images in the print, like this print called “Tail Lights”. The prints were colourful and bright, mainly pink and green with motifs that reflected the affluent East Coast life that Lilly knew.

I had a chance to see some of the Lilly Pulitzer furniture at High Point Market last April, but I think that the line’s been discontinued.

It was emblematic of the fabrics – fun, whimsical and bright!  And look! There’s the quilt I wanted to make, all of those years ago.

Lilly Pulitzer Rousseau changed the way many people dressed, made cheerful clothing and was an unintentional icon. RIP