As we pulled into the legendary Breakers resort, I knew I made the right decision. I’d heard about this prized oceanfront monstrosity ever since I started a love affair with travel – which was a looong time ago. And here I finally was, walking towards my suite, getting so very lost in the 140 acres that make up The Breakers resort. “Thank you, but I can take the bags up myself,” I told the bellman. Poor decision. Always take him up on showing you to your suite.

The Backstory

It all started with a juice stand back in 1959. Lemonade, apple OJ, kale, you name it. Okay, maybe not kale, but the girl was an innovator through and through. Lilly Pulitzer wore bright printed shift dresses to sell her juices since she noticed they hid the stains quite well. Soon enough, she started hanging a few dresses outside the juice stand for some money on the side and boom. The dresses started selling more than juice, and Lilly said goodbye to lemons and hello to colors.

The Agenda

The Lilly team flew myself, Paola, Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, and Conde Nast Traveler out to PB so that we might get a deeper look at the brand and lifestyle surrounding it. From the prints to local Lilly legends, you can’t go to Palm Beach without running into her in some fashion, so allow me to count the ways.

Lilly Pulitzer Show Room – If you’re Lilly obsessed, hop on a bike from The Breakers and take a joy ride over to the show room to see ALL. Even next season’s goodies 😉 This is where the Palm Beach team makes the magic happen. Fun fact: each print is hand painted by the Lilly Print Designers, meaning each piece is an original work of art, in a way.

Barton & Gray by Lilly Pulitzer – I love a branded yacht. Especially one that comes in bold prints and makes a statement on the water. We took the custom Hinckley yacht out for a sunset cruise one evening and oh.my.gosh was this a highlight! I’m a sucker for anything on the water, but put some rosé in my hand, a ridiculous sunset above me with Lilly cushions below me, and I’m a happy girl.

Lilly Print Artist – Lounging poolside at The Breakers doesn’t suck. Neither does having a Lilly Print Artist whip up a custom-made print, just for you. I walked over to take photos of artist Melissa Sixma’s work as she mixed and matched colors on her canvas. As it turned out, we were both wearing coral prints, so we agreed she’d create a magical painting surrounding this theme. I was beyond impressed since I’m very much still mastering stick figures.

Worth Avenue – What’s in a name? Well, on palm-lined Worth Avenue, a whole lot. The upscale shopping district is world famous for its less than a quarter-mile of high-end shops and architecturally significant European vias, fountains and plazas. Lilly Pulitzer opened her first boutique in the vias off of Worth Avenue nearby Renato’s, one of my new favorite Italian restaurants with an uber romantic courtyard and old-world feel.

Next up: The Breakers! In the interim, see more of my time with the Lilly team below.

The Road Les Traveled was invited to Palm Beach and welcomed as a guest of Lilly Pulitzer and The Breakers, but our opinion is as always, our own.