Founded in 1959 by Lilly (McKim) Pulitzer — a stylish Palm Beach hostess and socialite whose husband Peter Pulitzer owned several citrus groves — the brand has an ingenious origin. Lilly would turn her husband’s fresh oranges into juice, which she sold at a juice stand off posh Worth Avenue. She wasn’t a stranger to hard work, but Lilly never wanted to look anything but fashionable, so she created kicky printed shift dresses to wear while working at the stand because the patterns camouflaged the juice spills beautifully. Catching the eye of more than one passerby, including the likes of Jackie Kennedy, Lilly started selling her dresses at her juice stand, and American resort wear was born. Since then, Lilly Pulitzer has evolved into a brand that stands for boldness, individuality and optimism — every day’s a beach day when you’re wearing Lilly!
“Target is a design leader known for offering an unparalleled assortment of stylish, affordable products,” said Jane Schoenborn, vice president, creative communications, Lilly Pulitzer. “The Lilly Pulitzer for Target collection marks a new chapter for our brand, and we’re excited to give Lilly fans everywhere, including those who have loved the brand for years and those who will get to know it for the first time through this collaboration, a chance to experience this incredibly chic lifestyle collection.”
The late Lilly Pulitzer is famous for having said, “style isn’t just about what you wear, it’s about how you live,” and the new Target collection certainly embraces that sentiment.