Ginchy Gal of the Week: Lilly Pulitzer

 Hey there princess!

Lilly Pulitzer (November 10, 1931- April 7, 2013) was an American fashionista, socialite, and entrepreneur. 

In 1950, she eloped with her husband Herbert (Peter) Pulitzer Jr., who was the grandson of Joseph Pulitzer who the Pulitzer Prize is named after. Together they moved to Palm Beach, Florida to live in the lap of luxury among their numerous orange groves. Now, a lesser woman would have been content there but Lilly needed a little more excitement in her life.  So, she decided to open up her own little juice stand to quench the thirst of her neighboring millionaires on hot summer days.

While juicing her oranges, Lilly noticed that the citrus was staining her clothing so she did what any woman would do - she asked her dressmaker to make her a set of ensembles in bold and colorful prints that the juice stains could blend into seamlessly. As it turned out - her customers liked her clothes better than the juice and in 1959 Lilly became president of her own company, Lilly Pulitzer, Inc. 

 

A preppy icon was born! Through her connections and fabulous style, Lilly Pulitzer clothing was a staple of '60s style. Her clothing was worn by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis (below) and her daughter Caroline Kennedy, not to mention members of the Rockefeller, Whitney, and Vanderbilt families. There's certainly something to be said for having friends in high places!

Today, Lilly Pulitzer is as popular of a brand as ever. The company's signature bold prints and patterns are iconic in the fashion industry and girls around the country can identify another Lilly lover on sight. Her clothing is mentioned in the ever-fabulous Preppy Handbook, and generations of women have been able to express their love of color and Palm Beach style through their clothing. 

I will always remember my first experience with Lilly Pulitzer. My mom always let us pick out a new outfit for Easter Sunday, and the year I turned 14 I chose a pink Lilly top with a pair of brightly patterned capris. I wore them to death and loved every minute of it! When I went through sorority rush at Baylor, my mom bough me a pair of green Lilly ballet flats that I swore were magical. I took my engagement pictures in Lilly and got my marriage certificate in Lilly and had a Lilly bridal shower and wore Lilly on my honeymoon. You could say I am a fan!

Be more like Lilly:

Don't be afraid to use your connections

Be bold

Don't shy away from color

Embrace your entrepreneurial spirit

Think of creative solutions to messy problems

A Summer Birthday Party

Hey there princess!

Over the weekend, we were able to get together as a family to celebrate my mom's birthday. The afternoon was very festive, and incredibly fun! 

To get the party rolling, we all put on our swimming suits and jumped in my parents' pool. Their yard has an abundance of shade, which was perfect on this hot summer day. My sister put together this perfect fruit tray for while we were having fun, and my mom put on fun music (click here for her amazing bluetooth, waterproof speaker). It was the perfect picture of summertime relaxation. The tray pictured below is so cute (linked here) and has amazing pop-ins that you can change with the season (fish pop in here). Flamingo toothpicks can be found here, and you can click here for the green leaf ones!

Many years ago, my mom found these amazing metal flamingos on Ebay and they have been a constant companion to our home ever since (click here for a really close copy). They were such a fun touch to add to the kitchen decor! All of the fun pops of pink were perfect for my mom, who loves all things Palm Beach and Lilly Pulitzer.

As a fun little side snack, my sister decorated these fun ice cream sandwiches with multicolored flamingo sprinkles. If that isn't sweet enough, she also dipped Rice Krispy sandwiches in the same sprinkles. The older I get the harder I come down off of that sugar high, but I just couldn't help myself! I mean, my mom only has one birthday a year and it should be celebrated to its fullest.

I mean just look at how cute those little flamingo and pineapple sprinkles are! You can't really tell in this picture, but we are using another pop-out tray for the Rice Krispy treats (click here to see in all its glory). This was topped off with a little anchor pop-in which was super cute (click here for anchor)!

Like every party at our house, there was also a beautiful bouquet of flowers! I love these pink roses with baby's breath. They are perfect and girly and oh so happy!

Party food doesn't always have to be fancy, the most important thing is that it is fun and enjoyable for all of the guests present. For us - pizza is a crowd pleaser 100% of the time! We are lucky enough to have a Mellow Mushroom within a close driving distance to my parents' house. Any pizza is good, but Mellow Mushroom is great!

Before we knew it, it was time to open presents and blow out candles. This pink sprinkle cake is super cute, and if you can believe it - came from Walmart! It tasted amazing, and was tie dye on the inside! It was the perfect end to the perfect party. 

I am so thankful to have gotten to spend this weekend with my family celebrating a special milestone with my mom. Throwing parties isn't just about an excuse to be fancy and eat copious amounts of desert. For me, every party is an opportunity to make life-long memories with family and close friends.

What kinds of memories are you making during this time of social distancing? What are the most important elements in planning a party for you? I love sweet treats and fun themes!

Sparkle on!