The sky-blue ocean, poolside lunches and flower-filled garden parties brought great joy to the late designer Lilly Pulitzer and eventually inspired the designs for her eponymous clothing company.
To celebrate the brand’s 65th anniversary and pay homage to the founder/designer, Lilly Pulitzer asked her daughters Minnie and Liza Pulitzer to design a capsule collection. The 14-piece line of shifts, maxi kaftans, long-sleeved linen dresses, swimwear, cover-ups and high-rise white jeans was called Barefoot in Paradise, because Lilly was a free spirit who often went shoeless.
Lilly Pulitzer Bosa in Paradise collection.
courtesy of Lilly Pulitzer
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“Minnie and I were honored to be invited to work with the company on this collection because it honors our mother,” Liza, 67, a real estate professional in Palm Beach, Fla., tells PEOPLE of the breezy designs, which are offered in primarily blues and white with a retail range of $68 to $278.
“We’ve always loved mum’s prints and knew that anything we designed to reflect our mother and her legacy had to be fun, quirky, vibrant and make people smile. We are delighted that the collection is launching just before Mother’s Day.”
In 1959, when Lilly opened a juice stand in Palm Beach, she asked her seamstress for something to hide citrus juice stains. That effort resulted in comfortable Lilly Pulitzer sleeveless shoes in colorful printed cotton. She grew like a head and the fashion business was born. (Lilly died in 2013 at the age of 81.)
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Lilly Pulitzer Bosa in Paradise collection.
courtesy of Lilly Pulitzer
Today, the iconic fashion company, which was sold to Oxford Industries in 2010, operates 62 Lilly Pulitzer stores, including the Palm Beach location where the Barefoot in Paradise family and friends collection was launched.
The sisters, who live near each other in Palm Beach, began collaborating with the company’s designers last summer, keeping in mind their mother’s carefree and casually elegant lifestyle in Palm Beach.
Liza and Minnie, who meet every morning at 5:45 to walk the beach, watch the sunrise, chat and collect shells, have had numerous Zoom calls and follow-up meetings to refine designs after seeing their fashion ideas on models.
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Lilly Pulitzer Bosa in Paradise collection.
courtesy of Lilly Pulitzer
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Both agree that their mother would be delighted with the collection and its emphasis on blues, which she loved, as well as seeing her own children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren wearing the designs.
“Mom would be overjoyed, especially to see her great-grandchildren, whom she has never met, wearing items from this collection,” Minnie, 68, an artist, muralist and real estate professional in Palm Beach, tells PEOPLE.
Liza agrees: “We are such a close family, a big village and in each other’s lives.”
Both Liza, who actually designed a junior line (“Liza by Lilly Pulitzer”) with her mother in the 1980s, and Minnie, who had a children’s collection (“Minnies”) named after her, wanted airy fabrics, linens and general a comfortable design that they would personally wear.
“We designed for our family members and for us,” says Liza.
“I travel in the summer, so my favorite piece is white on white jeans, high-waisted and stretchy. It has a Lilly feel — even the floral print — and looks great with an oversized sweater or tee.”
Minnie’s favorite item in the line is the oversized seashell sarong, with the long-sleeved one-piece swimsuit a close second. “I love the sarong,” she says. “It’s versatile and can be worn from morning to night. I even tie it up and take it to the garden. And I like a bathing suit every day.”
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Lilly Pulitzer Bosa in Paradise collection.
courtesy of Lilly Pulitzer
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The sisters made sure this collection included popular Lilly Pulitzer truffles like deep pockets, swimsuit bows, eyelets, flowers, shells, animals, and of course moody blues and other ocean colors.
“Everything we designed was a tribute to our mom,” says Liza.
“We loved that her life was an open door and everyone was welcome. This was both day and night, for strangers, family, new people – always different characters. Our lives were free, boundless and always inclusive.”
When they were young, Liza and Minnie watched their mom build the business, often accompanying her to the factory in Miami where they played hide and seek among the hanging dresses. As they grew up, they studied the looks and types of people who buy clothes.
“We ended up finding that everyone who loved Lillys was a fun person,” says Minnie. “Clothes change personality, and customers look like they are filled with joy.”
Minnie’s daughter, Lilly Leas Ferreira, 35, a consultant for Lilly Pulitzer, agrees that the Barefoot in Paradise collection is filled with her grandmother’s love and legacy carried over by her mom and aunt.
“My grandmother’s first designs were filled with so much joy, and I feel the same way about this collection,” says Ferreira, who last year wrote a children’s book called Life and Lilly illustrating her childhood in Palm Beach.
“I have worked on many exciting projects, but nothing comes close to the love and authenticity of this collection. A large pareo with a seashell pattern is already my summer uniform.”
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education