Lillian Lee McKim Pulitzer Rousseau By Stephanie Alcantar
Lillian Lee McKim was born November 10th, 1931 in Roslyn, New York Early Life Lillian Lee McKim was born November 10th, 1931 in Roslyn, New York Socialites Robert V. McKim, and Standard Oil heiress Lillian Bostwick McKim had 3 daughters, Mimsy, Lilly and Flossie
Early Life cont… Lilly attended Finch College for a short time Lilly and her sisters attended Chapin School in New York and Miss Porter’s in Faramingham, Connecticut The girls met the Bouvier sisters at Chapin Lilly attended Finch College for a short time before dropping out to become an assistant midwife
Lilly and Peter were ‘madly in love’ and eloped in 1952 Married Life Lilly and Peter were ‘madly in love’ and eloped in 1952 The socialites were the‘life of the party’ They had three children, Peter, Minnie, and Liza in 4 years
Motherhood The transition from care-free socialite to 3 children in 4 years was a little to stressful for Lilly to handle She checked herself into a mental institution in 1957
The Lilly The Lilly was created out of necessity for her and her friends, Laura Clark, juice Business The ‘Lilly’ was constructed from cheap, vibrant fabric and a business was born in 1959
Key West Fabrics Lilly loved colorful fabrics and contracted a screen printing business, Key West Fabrics to fabricate the “Lilies”
Eccentric Lilly Lilly was known for her eccentric personality and free spirited soul She hardly every wore shoes and disliked the feel of undergarments, thus it is why the Lily was constructed with a broadcloth lining
Kennedy Influence Jacqueline Kennedy was a friend of Lilly’s and wore the Lilly on the cover of Life in 1962, which made the brand a national phenomenon
Lilly Pulitzer expanded into Men’s and Children’s Apparel, Bedding, Swimsuits and Accessories in 1966
Members of the Vanderbilt, Whitney and Rockefeller families
Divorce And Love In 1969, Peter and Lilly divorce, but she found new love in a Cuban man named Enrique Rousseau They lived happily ever after till his death in 1993
Bankruptcy In 1984, Lilly Pulitzer Inc. expanded too far and couldn’t keep up with the new trends such as shoulder pads, muted colors and minimalist lines, and Chapter 11 bankruptcy was filed
Lilly Pulitzer Today In 1991, Lilly Pulitzer Inc. was revived by Sugartown World Inc. and now has a new set of Americans, including celebrities, …
Lilly Pulitzer Today con… the wealthy, and ever sorority girls wearing and living the Lilly life style
Lilly Pulitzer, Passed Away on April 8th, 2013 at 81 Years Old Lilly officially retired in 1993 after helping Sugartown World Inc. revive the brand she created in the 60’s, but still consulted with Oxford Industries, who bought Lilly Pulitzer Inc. in 2010, till her death
They still design everything by hand in the studio!