Fashion Designer Lilly Pulitzer Dies at 81
Posted on April 7, 2013
Socialite turned fashion designer Lilly Pulitzer Rousseau died today at the the age of 81. The company posted this on its Facebook page:
"Early this morning, Lilly Pulitzer Rousseau passed away peacefully in Palm Beach, surrounded by family and loved ones. Lilly has been a true inspiration to us and we will miss her. In the days and weeks ahead we will celebrate all that Lilly meant to us. Lilly was a true original who has brought together generations through her bright and happy mark on the world."
Lilly eloped with Peter Pulitzer when she was only 21. The couple headed to Palm Beach, Florida, where her husband owned orange groves. Lilly decided to open an orange juice stand. She had some brightly printed cotton shift dresses made that would disguise any stains. Soon, the dresses were selling faster than the drinks.
When Lilly's school friend, Jacqueline Kennedy (now first lady) wore one of the shift dresses in Life magazine, the dresses became wildly popular with celebrities and socialites. So Lilly became a fashion designer. She had success for many years, before a downturn caused her to file chapter 11 bankruptcy.
The company was bought and revived. Although she retired in 1993, she remained a consultant. Her iconic bright prints are still classics as the line's popularity continues. She loved to entertain and wrote books on how to throw a great party.
You can read The New York Times' obituary here.