Meet the most recent addition to my vintage Lilly Pulitzer shift dress collection. I call this one Pink Lemonade.
I wore Pink Lemonade to the last First Friday of summer 2026.
the vintage lilly pulitzer dress
In the words of Stefon, this second generation Lilly Pulitzer dress has everything.
This one actually does have every hallmark of the ideal vintage Lilly Pulitzer shift dress: crochet trim at the neckline and hemline, and a punchy print that features the hidden “lilly” incorporated in it, deep dual vents at the bottom hem. The vents are the best part of the dress; they allow for chasing down the littles, while the longer hemline keeps me from any inappropriate exposure.
I will say that this dress is giving me slight deja vu, as I think I had a yellow version of this dress years and years – prepandemic and prepregnancies – ago. The nausea I had while wearing the dress one particularly hot and humid morning in DC, actually motivated me to sell it on the secondary market. Seller’s remorse.
My dress was a size 18 when it was purchased…sixty years ago. Who knows how many times it was actually taken in. While it is a bit short, it does surpass my fingertips and the evening I wore it was especially hot and humid and one of the last days of the summer.
how to shop vintage lilly pulitzer
When perusing eBay for vintage Lilly Pulitzer, I recommend searching for the following, in order of my success:
- vintage Lilly Pulitzer shift
- vintage Lilly shift
- 1960s Lilly Pulitzer shift
- 1960s Lilly shift
- vintage Lilly Pulitzer maxi
- vintage Lilly maxi
- 1960s Lilly Pulitzer maxi
- 1960s Lilly maxi
- vintage Lilly Pulitzer dress
- vintage Lilly dress
- vintage Lilly Pulitzer
Since I have purchase most of my vintage from eBay, I have never been able to try on prior to buying. Learn from my lessons:
- Always look at the measurements of the item. If the measurements are not included in the item listing, then request them from the seller.
- Vintage Lilly Pulitzer runs small. I only purchase items that are at least a size larger than what I would wear in today’s line. I once fell in love and bought a dress that was four sizes larger than what I would typically wear. A trip to the tailor and I have a dress customized to my size perfectly. I wore it to my birthday party two years ago.
- Read the fine print about the item because finding a NWT condition vintage Lilly item is impossible. If you have any doubts about an item, ask the seller if there are any flaws and subsequently, for photos.
dress: vintage Lilly Pulitzer via eBay • shoes: Jack Rogers • clutch: vintage Lauren Merkin • sunglasses: Krewe • earrings: • initial necklace: Maya Brenner via Baublebar • link necklace: Tuckernuck • earrings: J.Crew • watch: Cartier (also here) • lip color: RMS • nail color: OPI
more vintage lilly pulitzer