Saturday 3 September 2011

Lilly Pulitzer and the Shift Dress


The shift dress first became popular in the 1920s with the flapper girls and then made a colourful revival in the 1960s. This was mainly due to Lilly Pulitzer who started to wear brightly coloured and patterned shift dresses to hide the juice stains when working at her juice stand in Florida. Customers loved her dresses and being the entrepreneur, she had some made and started to sell them alongside her stand. Plus it helped having a friend like Jackie Kennedy who also loved the style and Lilly’s dresses began to bloom.
Now the shift dress is again alive and well.
Lilly Pulitzer's Stephanie shift dress

 Most dress styles look too busy in bright colours and loud patterns, but not the shift dress. The simple style of the shift dress allows more flexibility on colour and design. This Stephanie Shift dress uses a mix of blues and if you want to tone it down then wear with neutral accessories whilst keeping jewellery simple and to a minimum.  The approx length is 37 inches from shoulder to hem.  Price is $168 www.lillypulitzer.com
La Redoute

Mixing masculine cuts with feminine styles is a great look, so keep jackets loosely fitted to complement the style of the shift dress, such as this masculine straight cut grey boyfriend jacket from Ellos at www.laredoute.co.uk . Price £45 Length 72cm Fabric 74% polyester, 23% viscose and 3% elastane.  Also available in fawn for those with a warmer complexion.
Dune's Judder shoe
Team with flats or dress up with Dune’s feminine Judder teal blue satin pointed toe courts. Price £80 www.dune.co.uk .

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