Why I Wear Lilly

I think it's a shame that the girls I work with at my Lillypad do not subscribe to the ideology of the Lilly Pulitzer brand and all it represents, in the same manner that I do. Thank God I have found Melanie to obsess over Lilly with!!

Melanie, Specialist from Dillard's Rock Park in Little Rock, AR, aka my Lilly Bestie and partner in crime on this blog!

 Yes, Lilly is nauseatingly cheery and bright, and sure, maybe I do dress like I am vacationing in Palm Beach 365 days out of the year even though sometimes it gets pretty cold here in Texas. But Lilly is the first brand of clothing I've worn that I feel impacts who I am as a person.

Some purchases from the Resort365 Collection :)

I often say that I do not want to associate with people who do not bring out the best in me and vice versa. The same motto applies to clothing. I don't wear clothes that do not bring out the best of me either. It makes perfect sense. Slipping on that pretty printed fabric makes me feel happier than I have ever felt in any clothing.  I used to dread putting outfits together for myself- even though I do believe my taste is quite cavalier- because I did not feel comfortable and beautiful in the trendy pieces I was choosing to wear, quite frequently opting for sorority tees and Nike yoga pants with a Vineyard Vines popover and a Masters Tournament baseball cap. I would even sometimes skip events because I could not find anything that I felt confident in, despite having an overstuffed and plentiful closet of designer clothes. My self confidence was slowly dying and needed a serious revival. I found that in my first Lilly purchase. In summer 2012, I gave in to the urge to buy my first Lilly piece- Callahan shorts in "You Gotta Regatta". My mom had dressed me in Lilly at times as a little girl, but I had never pursued exploring the brand on my own. 

You Gotta Regatta Callahan shorts. Borrowed photo!

 I can't explain the instant connection to the Lilly heritage I felt putting on those shorts. It felt like sunshine instantly started seeping through my skin, sending waves of happiness through my veins and warming my heart in a way I can't explain. Positivity and the urge to adventure and have fun was abundant in the aura surrounding me as I wore the shorts. Not to mention, they fit perfectly and were more comfortable than any pair of shorts I had ever put on.

A typical day-at-work outfit: White Amalie cardigan, Bait and Switch Dune top, Navy J. Crew Frankie Chinos, Jack Rogers Delfino Platinum Flats, J. Crew Cluster Pearls, James Avery and David Yurman Silver Bracelets, and Lilly GWP Tortoise and Gold Bangles!

As my Lilly addiction grew and grew, so did my collection. I began wearing the clothes I once referred to as looking like "the Easter bunny had vomited all over them" every single day. I even took a job working with Lilly. Knowing that I am not wearing at least one Lilly piece at all times makes me feel a shred of guilt for some reason, like I've cheated on a longtime lover. I don't foresee myself giving up Lilly any time in the near future, but if it ever happens I will always have fond memories of the brand that helped me transform into the woman I am today!

 

Lilly has become a part of my essence and being. I wouldn't be who I am today without it. I wear Lilly because it brings out the best in me in every possible way. And it's always summer somewhere, right!?