Monday 17 March 2014

Pulitzer Prize

Do you know about Lilly Pulitzer? She was born Lilian McKee, and went to school with Jacqueline Bouvier [then Kennedy, then Onassis] but married Peter Pulitzer [grandson of the journalist who established the P. Prize in 1917] Peter was also the owner of a number of citrus groves in Florida. Lilly started a juice stand in Palm Beach using the family’s oranges.

03p/50/hgsa/15533/19She kept getting juice stains on her clothes, so started making herself shift dresses in splashy prints. The dresses were so popular that in the end she sold more frocks than fruit juice and started a fashion company. The rich and famous women of Palm Beach – Roosevelts, Vanderbilts, and of course, Jackie started wearing them. Here are a crowd of them photographed together in 1964. Pulitzer Prints made big bucks!

#11 Lily pulitzer tunic

IMG_1628When my neighbour gave me the yellow fabric, she also gave me a lovely splashy pink/purple/blue/green print. It reminded me immediately of Lilly Pulitzer prints. So I used the Lisette pattern again and made a tunic. I made the sleeves without a ruffle [too fussy]

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I found some turquoise blue vintage buttons in the stash for trimming. guterman 4109

Also I used some Guterman multi-colour thread to do the decorative top stitching round the neckline, sleeves and hem.

I’m really pleased with this little top which I shall wear over leggings.  Lilly died last year, but her designs remain popular.

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Another project to cross off!

52 projects

8 comments:

  1. I love the colours and the top stitching is so pretty!
    Re the carrot cake - the recipe is on my 52 Projects post of 24th January ( just click on the photo of the recipe and it should be large enough to read). I just subbed the eggs with 3 tablespoons of linseeds heated with 9 tablespoons of water, used white sugar rather than brown and added some black treacle.

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    1. Thanks Scarlet - I knew I'd seen it somewhere on the blog, but couldn't find it earlier [got distracted by your adjacent post about the wedding!!]

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  2. What lovely fabric. It has made such a pretty top.

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  3. Very pretty! I love the story! Smart!

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  4. That's beautiful! So chic.
    Jane x

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  5. That is amazing! It looks lovely! I love the thread a well - I can't resist a pretty thread and your stitching looks immaculate (from someone who can't sew but can stand back and admire in awe) WS xxx

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  6. Lovely top, well done. Thanks for the all the info on Lilly P - fascinating. You are doing well on your 52 projects challenge. Vee x

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  7. Very nice job, Angela! I love the history lesson too. :-) Lovely!

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