CULTURE BLOG

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Members from Oldest Episcopal Church established by Black Bahamian settlers in Miami tour historic Lake Worth in Palm Beach County, Florida. Tour celebrated Florida's 500th anniversary, Viva Florida

On Friday, July 19, 2013 nearly 40 members of the historic St. Agnes Episcopal Church of Miami, Florida were hosted on a private Narrated Bus Tours of Historic Lake Worth, Florida in Palm Beach County. The tour program is an Official Community Event Partner for the State of Florida’s 500^th anniversary, Viva Florida. The City of Lake Worth is also celebrating its centennial. The bus tour is an educational program of the non-profit Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History.

The Reverend Canon Richard Marquess-Barry (ret.) of St. Agnes, Lori J. Durante, Tour Director of MLFH's Narrated Bus Tour, and Donnie Dobson of Donnie's Southern Restaurant. The Narrated Bus Tour of Historic Lake Worth hosted for St. Agnes started its tour program for July 19th in Delray Beach with breakfast at Donnie's Southern Restaurant

It was a proud opportunity to host St. Agnes on a tour of Historic Lake Worth in Palm Beach County, Florida. St. Agnes in Miami was established in 1898 by black Bahamian settlers to Miami who arrived on “contract” to work on Henry Flagler’s Railroad, Flagler’s Royal Palm Hotel in Miami, the James Deering Estate (Vizcaya) in Coconut Grove and they worked planting fruit trees, pineapples, vegetables and flowers.

This cultural day trip hosted for St. Agnes included a buffet breakfast at Donnie's Southern Restaurant in the historic West Settlers Historic District in Delray Beach, Florida. City of Delray Beach Commissioner Shelly Petrolia and Florida House of Representative Bobby Powell, Jr. welcomed and greeted these elite guests from Miami.

Mayrene, General Manager of Donnie's Southern Restaurant in Delray Beach was presented with a Certificate of Appreciation from St. Agnes Episcopal of Miami

Donnie's Southern Restaurant in Delray Beach was presented with a Certificate of Appreciation from St. Agnes Episcopal of Miami. St. Agnes was in the area for MLFH's Narrated Bus Tour of Historic Lake Worth, Florida.

“St. Agnes is considered the “mother lode” of Episcopal churches in South Florida. It’s one of the oldest black churches in Miami and boasts one of the largest Episcopal memberships in South Florida with more than 1,600 people. The church is located in the (formerly known as) Negro Central District in Miami which was the name of the area during segregation. St. Agnes was designated historic by the Black Archives History and Research Foundation of South Florida and the City of Miami.

Buffet breakfast at Donnie's Southern Restaurant in Delray Beach, Florida

Donnie Dobson of Donnie's Southern Restaurant with Delray Beach Commissioner Shelly Petrolia and Florida House of Representative Bobby Powell, Jr. who welcomed St. Agnes Episcopal of Miami.

Donnie's Southern Restaurant in Delray beach, Florida hosted breakfast for the St. Agnes Episcopal Church of Miami for their tour of Lake Worth, Florida.

Delray Beach Commissioner Shelly Petrolia with MLFH volunteer Kenneth Durante at Donnie's Southern Restaurant in Delray Beach.

Following the breakfast, the tour bus traveled to Macy's Boynton Beach for private shopping and a reception sponsored by Chuck West, Financial Advisor for Morgan Stanley Wealth Management. Florida House of Representative Lori Berman prepared a wonderful welcome letter for their visit.

Private shopping was truly valued at Macy's Boynton Beach by St. Agnes Episcopal of Miami who were in the area for MLFH's Narrated Bus Tour of Historic Lake Worth, Florida. St. Agnes presented a Certificate of Appreciation to Macy's Boynton Beach.

(Center) Macy's Boynton Beach Manager Angela Miller was presented with a Certificate of Appreciation from St. Agnes Episcopal Church of Miami.

Chuck West, Financial Advisor for Morgan Stanley Wealth Management sponsored the reception for the private shopping hosted at Macy's Boynton Beach for St. Agnes Episcopal who were in the area for MLFH's Narrated Bus Tour of Historic Lake Worth, Florida.

The esteemed Father Barry (ret.) of St. Agnes with History Tour Director Lori J. Durante and Chuck West at Macy's Boynton Beach for the private shopping hosted for members of St. Agnes Episcopal Church of Miami who were in the area for MLFH's Narrated Bus Tour of Historic Lake Worth, Florida.

Origins cosmetics at Macy's Boynton Beach conducted mini facials for the private shopping hosted for St. Agnes Episcopal Church of Miami who were in the area for MLFH's Narrated Bus Tour of Historic Lake Worth, Florida.

Private shopping was truly valued at Macy's Boynton Beach by St. Agnes Episcopal of Miami who were in the area for MLFH's Narrated Bus Tour of Historic Lake Worth, Florida.

St. Agnes Episcopal members were hosted for private shopping at Macy's Boynton Beach which was a prelude to MLFH's Narrated Bus Tour of Historic Lake Worth, Florida.

Father Barry and Mrs. Virla Barry of St. Agnes Episcopal Church of Miami. St. Agnes Episcopal members were hosted for private shopping at Macy's Boynton Beach which was a prelude to MLFH's Narrated Bus Tour of Historic Lake Worth, Florida.

The bus then journeyed north for a tour of the historic black Bahamian neighborhood Lake Worth Osborne Addition, the Downtown Lake Worth, the LULA Arts District, and the Lake Worth Beach Casino Complex. Lake Worth art galleries were featured on the tour with visits to the Clay Glass Metal Stone Gallery; and the Lake Worth Art League Gallery. Lake Worth Commissioner Andy Amoroso met the group during the tour of the Lake Worth Beach Casino Complex.

Black Bahamians are among the earliest settlers in South Florida following Emancipation Proclamation and the new Frontier movement in Florida with the adoption of the Homestead Act in 1868 that made 160 acres available at $1.25 per acre. The black Bahamians came from areas in the Bahamas that are St. Andros Island, Cat Island, Eleuthera, Freeport, Long Island, Nassau, New Providence plus Key West, Florida. Upon the Bahamian’s arrival to southern Florida many migrated their way throughout the State working on farms, as domestics or helping to install Henry Flagler’s Florida East Coast Railway.

St. Agnes Episcopal arriving to St. John Episcopal Church in Lake Worth. The church was established in 1927 by black Bahamian settlers to Lake Worth, Florida. St. Agnes was hosted on MLFH's Narrated Bus Tours of Historic Lake Worth.

Father Joseph of St. John Episcopal in Lake Worth. The church was established in 1927 by black Bahamian settlers to Lake Worth, Florida. St. Agnes was hosted on MLFH's Narrated Bus Tours of Historic Lake Worth.

St. John deacons George Glinton and Theodore Morris shared the church history. St. John was established in 1927 by black Bahamian settlers to Lake Worth, Florida. St. Agnes visited the church for MLFH's Narrated Bus Tours of Historic Lake Worth

St. Agnes visited the St. John Episcopal Church for MLFH's Narrated Bus Tours of Historic Lake Worth.

Passing the plate. St. Agnes of Miami made a donation to St. John of Lake Worth. St. Agnes visited the St. John Episcopal Church for MLFH's Narrated Bus Tours of Historic Lake Worth

Father Joseph, deacon Theodore Morris and deacon George Glinton of St. John's with the church's famous Big Red Bell from year 1905

St. Agnes member takes souvenir photo with St. John's famous Big Red Bell in Lake Worth.

MLFH's History Tour Lori J. Durante, who coordinated the history tour, and Janelle Hall of St. Agnes and the Big Red Bell at St. John Episcopal Church in Lake Worth, Florida

St. Agnes members take souvenir photos with St. John's famous Big Red Bell in Lake Worth.

Several black Bahamian families settled in Lake Worth, Florida in their own neighborhood recognized as the “quarters” in the Lake Osborne 'Colored' Addition.

Most of these black Bahamians were of the Anglican Christian faith in their home island. In Florida the Episcopal denomination was the closest resemblance to their island churches.

St. Agnes Episcopal of Miami arriving to the Osborne School in Lake Worth, Florida. The Osborne School was built in 1947 as the Osborne 'Colored' School for black children. It is now a Head Start School operating as For the Children. The school was visited for the Narrated Bus Tour of Historic Lake Worth, Florida

Children at the Osborne School gave an educational presentation to St. Agnes Episcopal of Miami. The Osborne School was built in 1947 as the Osborne 'Colored' School for black children. It is now a Head Start School operating as For the Children. The school was visited for the Narrated Bus Tour of Historic Lake Worth, Florida

The teen summer camp operated by For the Children gave an enthusiastic Step Show performance for the visit by St. Agnes Episcopal of Miami. The Osborne School was built in 1947 as the Osborne 'Colored' School for black children. It's now a Head Start School operating as For the Children. The school was visited for the Narrated Bus Tour of Historic Lake Worth, Florida

St. Agnes Episcopal of Miami presented a Certificate of Appreciation to For the Children which is located in the Osborne School in Lake Worth. The school was visited for the Narrated Bus Tour of Historic Lake Worth, Florida.

Grant AME Chapel was also highlighted on the Narrated Bus Tour of Historic Lake Worth, Florida hosted for St. Agnes Episcopal of Miami. Grant AME was established in 1922 by black Bahamian settlers to Lake Worth, Florida

(right) Deacon Willis of Grant AME welcomes a member from St. Agnes Episcopal Church. Grant AME Chapel was also highlighted on the Narrated Bus Tour of Historic Lake Worth, Florida hosted for St. Agnes Episcopal of Miami. Grant AME was established in 1922 by black Bahamian settlers to Lake Worth, Florida

Deacon Willis and Rev. Clark of Grant AME in Lake Worth. Grant AME Chapel was also highlighted on the Narrated Bus Tour of Historic Lake Worth, Florida hosted for St. Agnes Episcopal of Miami. Grant AME was established in 1922 by black Bahamian settlers to Lake Worth, Florida

Wall of Diversity. Formerly known as the racial division wall in Lake Worth that separated the 'colored' section of Osborne Addition from the once all white neighborhood located directly west of that wall. The wall is now a tool for racial harmony and diversity celebration.

Touring the newly renovated Lake Worth Beach Casino Complex. The original building opened in 1922 and was designed by G. Sherman Childs who was an early white pioneer to Lake Worth and the first registered architect in Lake Worth. During its original construction in the early 1920s, the ground was cleared by and the building labor were black Bahamians. 'Casino' is its historic name as there is no gambling operation at the building.

(left) City of Lake Worth Commissioner Andy Amoroso welcomed St. Agnes Episcopal of Miami to the Lake Worth Beach Casino & Beach Complex. The original building opened in 1922 and was designed by G. Sherman Childs who was early white pioneer to Lake Worth and the first registered architect in Lake Worth. During its original construction in the early 1920s, the ground was cleared by and the labor were black Bahamians. 'Casino' is its historic name as there is no gambling operation at the building.

St. Agnes Episcopal Church with Lake Worth Commissioner Andy Amoroso. The original building opened in 1922 and was designed by G. Sherman Childs who was early white pioneer to Lake Worth and the first registered architect in Lake Worth. During its original construction in the early 1920s, the ground was cleared by and the labor were black Bahamians. 'Casino' is its historic name as there is no gambling operation at the building.

City of Lake Worth Commissioner Andy Amoroso gifted each member of St. Agnes of Miami with a commemorative centennial pin during their visit on the Narrated Bus Tour of Historic Lake Worth, Florida.

St. Agnes Episcopal arriving to the Clay Glass Metal Stone Gallery on J Street in Downtown Lake Worth's LULA Arts District. Clay Glass Metal Stone is an artists cooperative which was visited for the Narrated Bus Tour of Historic Lake Worth, Florida.

St. Agnes met local artist Anthony Burks (right) at the Clay Glass Metal Stone Gallery. Clay Glass Metal Stone is an artists cooperative which was visited for the Narrated Bus Tour of Historic Lake Worth, Florida.

St. Agnes met local artist Anthony Burks (left) and gallery director Joyce Brown (2nd left) at the Clay Glass Metal Stone Gallery in Lake Worth. Clay Glass Metal Stone is an artists cooperative which was visited for the Narrated Bus Tour of Historic Lake Worth, Florida.

Clay Glass Metal Stone is an artists cooperative which was visited for the Narrated Bus Tour of Historic Lake Worth, Florida. Tour guests made purchases of the some of the art accessories.

Lake Worth Art League hosted the St. Agnes Episcopal Church of Miami where the church members met local artists, viewed local art work and purchased locally-made art creations. St. Agnes was on the Narrated Bus Tour of Historic Lake Worth.

(right) Lake Worth Art League President Tara Maule welcomed St. Agnes. Lake Worth Art League hosted the St. Agnes Episcopal Church of Miami where the church members met local artists, viewed local art work and purchased locally-made art creations. St. Agnes was traveling on the Narrated Bus Tour of Historic Lake Worth.

The artists of the Lake Worth Art League.

The membership of St. Agnes and the guests on the tour represents significant black professionals. Some of the tour guests are current or retired attorneys, nurses, teachers (and educators with doctorate degrees), bank executives, governmental executives with Miami-Dade County or the State of Florida, business owners, military veterans, an Episcopal priest and a graduate student.

The finale was a tour of the Johnson 1916 Courthouse Museum in West Palm Beach where the St. Agnes members were greeted and welcomed by City of West Palm Beach Commissioner Ike Robinson.

Tour finale for St. Agnes of Miami was the Johnson 1916 Courthouse Museum in West Palm Beach, Florida

St. Agnes Episcopal Church received an amazing welcome from City of West Palm Beach Commissioner Ike Robinson (right) during their visit to the Johnson 1916 Courthouse Museum in West Palm Beach, Florida

St. Agnes Episcopal Church of Miami with City of West Palm Beach Commissioner Ike Robinson (center) with members of St. Agnes Episcopal Church of Miami. The Courthouse Museum was the finale visit of MLFH's Narrated Bus Tour of Historic Lake Worth.

The Barefoot Mailman exhibit at the Johnson 1916 Courthouse Museum in West Palm Beach was an informative experience for members of St. Agnes Episcopal Church of Miami. The Courthouse Museum was the finale visit of MLFH's Narrated Bus Tour of Historic Lake Worth.

Lori J. Durante, Tour Director for the Narrated Bus Tours with City of West Palm Beach Commissioner Ike Robinson at the 1916 Courthouse Museum in West Palm Beach, Florida

St. Agnes Episcopal presented a Certificate of Appreciation to Lori J. Durante who coordinated the Narrated Bus Tour of Historic Lake Worth, Florida

Photos by Lori J. Durante and n'GE, Inc.

Since 2004, the non-profit Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History (MLFH) has been hosting Narrated Bus Tours of HistoricPalm Beach County. MLFH’s first tour program is the often sold-out Narrated Bus Tours of Historic Delray Beach, Florida which has hosted more than 8,000 guests. In 2011, MLFH expanded its tour program to add the Taste History Culinary Tours of Historic Delray Beach & Boynton Beach which is commonly sold-out too. In 2012, due to popular demand, the Taste History Culinary Tours of Historic Lake Worth & Lantana was added. Also, in year 2012, the Narrated Bus Tour of Historic Lake Worth was included to the menu of tour choices. MLFH now offers a total of four history bus tour programs - two food tasting tour choices and two history bus tour choices (non-food tours). All the aforementioned tours are the first in Palm Beach County, Florida.

For more information, call 561-243-2662. Visit MLFHMUSEUM.org

Sunday, April 7, 2013

Lilly Pulitzer Rousseau passes away at age 81. From Juice Stand to Fashion Mogul, a tribute to Lilly Pulitzer and Memorial Photos

On April 7, 2013, fashion icon Lilly Pulitzer Rousseau passed away at age 81 in Palm Beach, Florida. Lilly inspired the famed namesake fashion brand that merged pink and green colors into bursts of floral prints.

From 2010 to 2012, the non-profit Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History presented in Boynton Beach, Florida the exhibit The Queen of Prep: Lilly Pulitzer Rousseau. The anthropological exhibit focused on the family history and origins of the Lilly Pulitzer fashion brand. Collectors from throughout the USA loaned or donated Lilly Pulitzer fashions for the display. The Museum also hosted an 80th birthday brunch for Lilly in November 2011. Click here to view photos. Lilly Pulitzer Rousseau visited the exhibit and with great delight met many of her fans. Due to popular demand, other museums have requested that MLFH organize a traveling version of The Queen of Prep exhibit.

Lori J. Durante with Lilly Pulitzer Rousseau at her 80th birthday brunch hosted at the Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History. Photo by Lucein Capehart Photography

Place setting for the 80th birthday brunch hosted in 2011 for Lilly Pulitzer Rousseau's 80th birthday brunch at the Musem of Lifestyle & Fashion History. Photo by Lucein Capehart Photography

Lilly Pulitzer Rousseau, Chuck West and Mary Lane at the 80th birthday brunch hosted for Lilly Pulitzer Rousseau's 80th at the Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History. Photo by Lucien Capehart Photography

(Left) Abbey & Katie Kerl, Willow Moffett (center-front), Lilly Pulitzer Rousseau and Lori J. Durante at the 80th birthday brunch for Lilly hosted at the Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History. Photo by Lucien Capehart Photography

The Lilly Pulitzer Story

More than fifty years ago, a trend of bright, bold and unique prints in the form of pink monkeys, green elephants and flowers in rainbow colors hit the American fashion scene. It all started when Lilly Pulitzer, a young, New York socialite, opened a juice stand in Palm Beach in the 1950s. The citrus stains that splashed upon her clothing inspired her to create brightly colored designs to help camouflage those stains. These designs ultimately became the unofficial uniform for the affluent, and Lilly’s signature pink and green colors emerged as the symbol of the authentic Palm Beach lifestyle. In 1959, Lilly became president of her own fashion company Lilly Pulitzer, Inc.

1970s Lilly Pulitzer maxi-dress from Kristina Krieger of California was displayed at the Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History

Born Lillian McKim in Roslyn, New York in 1931, she married Peter Pulitzer of the famous Pulitzer Prize family in 1952. The family settled in Palm Beach where a free-spirited Lilly Pulitzer operated a juice stand using produce from a citrus grove in Fort Pierce, Florida that was owned by Peter Pulitzer. The juice stand was located in a tiny shop in Via Mizner located right off Worth Avenue in the Town of Palm Beach, FL.

Lilly Pulitzer Rousseau at The Queen of Prep exhibit at the Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History.

Lilly Pulitzer tells the story like this in her Essentially Living book “there was this little juice and fruit bar in the back right here. I would slice the oranges and squeeze the fruit to make the juice. My friends would stop in and we would just talk and laugh and have fun. The twist (a citrus garnishment for cocktails) had just hit Palm Beach, so the Lilly shop was where it was all happening. But, boy, was it messy. At the end of the day I was covered in pulp and dribbles of orange juice. I had to do something. I used to have this wonderful Swiss lady make shifts for me. I found this bright, bright fabric, the same colors as the fruit, so that the splashes and mess wouldn’t show. People would say, ‘Oh, they’re great. Why don’t you have them in the shop?’ So I went down to Woolworth’s, got some fabric and had twelve dresses made for me, and I had just hung them haphazardly around the store. This was the early sixties. The Kennedy’s were down here; Jack had just been elected President. The eyes of the whole world were on Palm Beach. Jackie wore one of my dresses – it was made from kitchen curtain material – and people went crazy. They took off like zingo. Everybody loved them, and I went into the dress business.”

Billie Anne Hartl, Lori J. Durante, Lilly Pultizer Rousseau and Lisa Birnbach, author of the Official Preppy Handbook and True Prep, at the Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History

The initial style of the Lilly clothing designs were simple Shift dresses that appealed to a wealthy client base who included Lilly’s boarding school friend Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy. Kennedy and Pulitzer had attended together the prestigious college preparatory boarding school Miss Porter’s School located in Farmington, Connecticut. And, others who wore the Lilly designs were various descendants of the Gilded-age titans who included the Rockefellers, Vanderbilts and Whitneys. Because the Lilly-style was so strongly associated with wealthy people who attended and/or sent their children to preparatory schools and vacationed in affluent resort locales, Lilly Pulitzer became known as the “Queen of Prep.”

Lilly Pulitzer once described her iconic Shift dress as a “cross between a chemise and mumu.”

The Official Preppy Handbook author Lisa Birnbach (left) with Skyler Carosella and her mother Vanessa Carosella at the Lilly exhibit at the Meum of Lifestyle & Fahsion History

Lilly Pulitzer, Inc. thrived with more than 30 stores eventually offering wares for children, men and the home until the company closed its doors in 1984. Lilly’s original business partner was Laura Robbins who started with Lilly at the juice stand in Palm Beach, Florida. During the company's operation in 1959 to 1984, it had a factory located in Miami, Florida on 29th Avenue between 34th Street. And, the majority of the fabrics were designed and manufactured by the Key West Hand Print Fabrics company that was located in Key West, Florida. Key West Hand Print Fabrics was established by Bill Johnson, Peter Pell and Jimmy Russell who are all now deceased. Lilly provided the company with substantial business with her custom fabric orders. The fabrics company grew to more than 200 employees and was one of the largest employers in Key West, Florida. They had a team of skilled artisans lead by Suzie dePoo (aka Suzie Zuzek) who developed licensed print designs exclusively for the Lilly Pulitzer fashion line. The fabrics were hand printed via a silk-screen process and the yardage was sold to the Lilly company, and then shipped to her factory in Miami where Lilly provided more directive on the types of clothes styles to be made for her clients of old-money stock and the upper-class.

Lilly Pulitzer Rousseau, Mary Lane, Lori J. Durante and Vanessa Carosella at the Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History. Photo by Janis Bucher

Both Lilly’s company and Key West Hand Print Fabrics started around the same time and attributed to each others success. Moreover, Peter Pell was from the same socially acceptable pedigree as Lilly Pulitzer. Peter Pell is a descendant of the politically important Claiborne-Pell family whose family tree includes Congressman, Senators and Ambassadors who served office as far back as the late 1700s. And, the Pell of Key West was related to the Pell of the same last name who sponsored the US Pell Grant. And, Bill Johnson was from coal-money in Knoxville, Tennessee. His father was George Washington Johnson who owned the GW Johnson Coal company. The coal industry provided Bill Johnson with the financial means to fund the establishment of the fabrics company in Key West where he was the CEO and became a prominent businessman in the Keys.

Lori J. Durante with Lilly Pulitzer Rousseau at the Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History. The Palm Beach mural was designed Skyler Carosella

Jay Steinhardt of Steinhardt Textiles fondly remembered “my company represented Crisali Fabrics based in Los Angeles, CA and we sold fabrics to Lilly in the mid-1960s. About 2% of the fabrics that Lilly used came from Crisali but about 98% came from Key West Hand Print Fabrics in Key West.” “At my business meetings with Lilly she was always barefoot.”

Lilly Pulitzer dress from the Jubilee Collection from Siv Lam of San Francisco, California was displayed at the Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History

Lilly’s company became a legendary business headquartered in the Town of Palm Beach, Florida in Palm Beach County. The business offices were at 400 Royal Palm Way in Palm Beach, FL and eventually re-located their headquarters to 336 South County Road in the Town of Palm Beach. At its zenith, Lilly’s business grew to an estimated $10 million in revenue that had an economic impact in the Town of Palm Beach, Palm Beach County and the State of Florida that helped to create jobs along with defining an American Preppy look and imbedding the combination of pink and green as official colors of Palm Beach and Preppies.

The Colgate-Palmolive Company awarded to Lilly Pulitzer in 1973 the Colgate Winners Circle in the category of Sportswear Designer. In 1979, The Palm Beach Daily News awarded Lilly the Leadership Award of the year.

1960s Lilly Pulitzer cocktail tray and napkins from Molly McKeown of Saratoga, New York was displayed at the Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History

One of the first major department stores to carry the brightly colored fashion line was Lord & Taylor at their flagship store located on Fifth Avenue in New York City. This was a major coup because Lord & Taylor is one of the oldest major department stores in the USA. Lilly said of her initial experience in merchandising in those early days: “it took a little explaining that there would never be any wools and heavy knits in the Lilly collection – so it was either buy the line then or never.”

Students from the Fashion Camp at Lynn University of Boca Raton toured the Queen of Prep exhibit in Summer 2011 at the Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History.

In 1984, Lilly Pulitzer, Inc. filed for bankruptcy and closed its doors. During the 1980s the preppy-look had lost its popular image and preppy retailers were at cross-roads about how to change their image and appeal to a new audience and style of fashion.

Board members of the Boca Raton Museum of Art Auxiliary toured the Queen of Prep exhibit at the Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History.

The "Lilly Chair." Board members of the Auxiliary of the Boca Raton Museum of Art toured the Queen of Prep exhibit at the Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History

The fashion line re-emerged again in 1992 when the rights were purchased by Sugartown Worldwide, Inc. The owners of Sugartown Worldwide were Harvard-grads turned business partners Scott Beaumont, James Bradbeer and Nancy Gary. The company was founded for the purpose of reintroducing the Lilly line and is based in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania.

The Boca Raton Antiques Club (in front of the Lilly Palm Tree Mural) was hosted on a guided tour of the Queen of Prep exhibit at the Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History

The Boca Raton Antiques Club was hosted on a guided tour of the Queen of Prep exhibit at the Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History

When Sugartown reintroduced the Lilly Pulitzer fashion line in the 1990s, they established a partnership with C.Orricostores located in the Town Palm Beach to sell the Lilly clothes and to also operate what is known as Lilly Pulitzer Signature Shops or Lilly Pulitzer via Palm Beach.

Vintage Lilly Shift dress from the personal collection of Elinor Stephens was displayed at the Museum of Lifestyle & Fashon History. Stephens purchased many of her Lillys in the 1960s and 1970s from Lord & Taylor in New York.

Lilly Pulitzer Rousseau with her dearest friend Ann Fraser at the Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History.

Janine Picone of Artfully Baked created the pink and green cupcakes for the 80th birthday brunch for Lilly Pulitzer Rousseau hosted in November 2011 at the Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History.

American Red Cross Beach Bash 2013. Bobby Leidy with his fiancé Ivey Day and Lori J. Durante

Minnie Pulitzer with Lori J. Durante at the 2013 American Red Cross Beach Bash.

Lilly Pulitzer's grandson Bobby Leidy (right) with Ashley Cherowitzo at the 2012 American Red Cross Beach Bash in Palm Beach, Florida

A memorial service was hosted for Lillian Lee McKim Pulitzer Rousseau on April 11, 2013 at the Episcopal Church of Bethesda-By-The-Sea in Palm Beach, Florida.

The following are photos from the Memorial service. The memorial service was serene sprinkled with ladies wearing Lilly dresses and men wearing Lilly neckties.

The Episcopal Church of Bethesda-By-The-Sea hosted the memorial service for Lilly Pulitzer Rousseau on April 11, 2013.

The Episcopal Church of Bethesda By-The-Sea is a historic institution established in 1889. It's current building was constructed in 1926.

Hundreds of people lined-up at the Episcopal Church of Bethesda-By-The-Sea to pay tribute to Lilly Pulitzer Rousseau.

Men honored Lilly at the memorial by wearing her neckties

Vintage Lilly necktie. Men honored Lilly at the memorial by wearing her neckties

Men honored Lilly at the memorial by wearing her neckties

Wearing Lilly, Colleen Orrico at the memorial service for Lilly Pultizer Rousseau

The historic Episcopal Church of Bethesda-By-The-Sea in Palm Beach was host for the memorial service for Lilly Pulitzer Rousseau

Mary Lane at the memorial service for Lilly Pulitzer Rousseau

Vanessa Carosella with her daughter Skyler Carosella at memorial service for Lilly Pulitzer Rousseau.

On the great lawn of the Episcopal Church of Bethesda-By-The-Sea in Palm Beach. Hundreds of people donned Lilly Pulitzer fashions and accessories for the memorial service for Lilly Pulitzer Rousseau.

Lori J. Durante wearing Lilly Pulitzer at the memorial service for Lilly Pulitzer Rousseau

The Queen of Prep exhibit was displayed from 2010 to 2012 at the Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History. Due to popular demand, the exhibit has been invited to travel to another major museum.

Click here for Sun-Sentinel (Delray Forum/Boynton Forum) tribute to Lilly Pulitzer

Go here for St. Regis Hotel Bespoke Magazine 2014 profile about Lilly Pulitzer Rousseau. See page 34.

Go here to read Sun-Sentinel editorial about Palm Tree Mural created in honor of Lilly Pulitzer Rousseau.

Click here for FACEBOOK

Click here for YouTube Video Lilly Pulitzer Retrospective

E-mail: exhibits@mlfhmuseum.org
Call: 561-638-8277

Click here for the Taste History Culinary Tours

http://tastehistoryculinarytours.blogspot.com/

Bibliography:

Essentially Lilly – A guide to colorful entertaining. By Lilly Pulitzer and Jay Mulvaney. 2004. HarperResource. New York

The Official Preppy Handbook. Edited by Lisa Birnbach. 1983. Workman Publishing. New York.

Lilly’s Successes Are Profits and Dresses. August 1973. Florida Trend

Lilly Pulitzer Captures Initial Colgate Winners Circle Award. By Judith Clemence. April 11, 1978. The Palm Beach Post

Lilly of PB is Businesslike Winner. By Ellen Koteff. April 5, 1979

Richard McClellan. Phone interview conducted by Lori J. Durante. July 10, 2010

Joanne Chidron. Phone interview conducted by Lori J. Durante. April 20, 2010
Suzy dePoo/Suzy Zuzek, former head designer at Key West Hand Print Fabrics. In-person interview conducted by Lori J. Durante. May 30 & 31, 2010. Key West, FL
Martha dePoo, former designer at Key West Hand Print Fabrics. In-person interview conducted by Lori J. Durante. May 30 & 31, 2010. Key West, FL
Robert (Bobby) McKenzie, former employee at Key West Hand Print Fabrics. In-person interview conducted by Lori J. Durante. May 31, 2010. Key West, FL
Leigh Ann Martin Hooten, former designer at Key West Hand Print Fabrics.In -person interview conducted by Lori J. Durante. May 31, 2010. Key West, FL
Lilly Pulitzer Rousseau. Phone and in-person interview conducted by Lori J. Durante. August 2010 - February 2012