For six decades, Lilly Pulitzer and her signature fashions have been recognized as the leading symbol of tropical resort wear and the true icon of Palm Beach style. Born Lillian McKim, the designer lived life on her own modern, unconventional terms. She was studying to become a nurse in Appalachia before eloping at the age of 19 with Peter Pulitzer. That union brought Lilly to Palm Beach, where she opened a juice stand on Worth Avenue and designed the first Lilly shift dress.

In the 1960s, Pulitzer had her seamstress create a few patterned cotton shifts to wear while she sold her orange juice. Lilly wanted a dress that would be comfortable, allow her to stay cool, and camouflage juice stains with bright, splashy colors. The results were so popular that Lilly sold them from the stand, single-handedly changing the island’s style by embodying the essence of the exclusive resort lifestyle.

A Lilly shift, flat sandals, and sunglasses became an iconic image once the fashionable Jacqueline Kennedy was spotted wearing the look in Palm Beach. The brand and legacy of Lilly Pulitzer-Rousseau have become the symbol of a carefree life in a sunny place—and one of Palm Beach’s true treasures.