The late fashion icon Lilly Pulitzer is known for her legacy of colorfully patterned clothing that has been an intergenerational sensation.
Now, an organization hopes to commemorate her contributions to fashion and Palm Beach by erecting a historical marker in her honor, on the street where her brand was born.
The Palm Beach’s Town Council on Sept. 9 will consider a request from the Florida Historical Women’s Marker Initiative to install a sign honoring Pulitzer near the entrance to the current location of the Lilly Pulitzer store at 240 Worth Ave.
Because the requested location is on town-owned property — a planting bed with a small tree near a bench and the entrance to Via Amore — the council must sign off, town staff told the council in a memo.
The marker has the support of Sugartown Worldwide LLC, the current owner of the Lilly Pulitzer brand, and the Worth Avenue Association, according to town records.
The proposed text of the marker includes information about Pulitzer’s time in Palm Beach and details about the early years of her eponymous brand.
In a letter to the town, Florida Women’s Historical Marker Initiative researcher Merle Shama said the organization will cover the $2,900 fee charged by Florida to make the marker. The sign would be maintained by the Florida Division of Historical Resources, she wrote.
“The story of the Lilly Pulitzer brand is one of optimism and entrepreneurship, and highlights the important role of Palm Beach, FL in the birthplace of American Resortwear,” Lilly Pulitzer chief executive Michelle Kelly wrote in her letter of support for the marker.
Pulitzer, who died in 2013 at age 81, established her namesake clothing line while running a juice stand near Worth Avenue in the 1950s. She famously chose brightly colored patterns for the dresses because they masked the stains from the juice. Her first clothing boutique was in 11 Via Mizner.
“Lilly’s story is an integral part of our rich history and signifies, among other designers, the birthplace of luxury brands,” Worth Avenue Association board president Frank Steinhart wrote in a letter supporting the marker. “The location where Lilly had the orange juice stand is featured in our Historical Walking Tours as well as the corporate flagship store where you can design your own shift dress from limited edition Lilly Pulitzer prints designed specifically for the Worth Avenue store.”
The marker would be made of aluminum and stand on an aluminum post, Shama wrote. The marker itself would be 42 inches wide and 30 inches tall, painted blue with white letters, she said.
The initiative was founded to increase the number of historical markers honoring women in Florida, she said in her letter. The initiative has placed markers for women such as Julia Tuttle, Betty Mae Tiger Jumper and Amelia Earhart, Shama wrote.
The Lilly Pulitzer brand last year celebrated its 65th anniversary since Lilly Pulitzer Inc. was formed.
Kristina Webb is a reporter for Palm Beach Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach her at kwebb@pbdailynews.com. Subscribe today to support our journalism.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Fashion history: Proposed Worth Avenue marker would honor Lilly Pulitzer
Reporting by Kristina Webb, Palm Beach Daily News / Palm Beach Daily News
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