Hey y’all! In honor of the three year anniversary of Lilly for Target coming up in less than a week, I wanted to share this ensemble featuring my Lilly for Target headband that I wore for a morning coffee date with a friend last week. It also includes another piece from the Lilly archives: a cotton Elsa top.
Cotton Elsa Top
The Elsa top is one of Lilly Pulitzer’s most popular pieces. However, they typically only come in silk. While I love the flowy look and gold button detail of the Elsa, I don’t love dealing with dry cleaning. Some people in the Lilly Facebook groups claim their Elsas do just fine with washing at home, but I wouldn’t trust myself. I have one Lilly silk top in a different style, but I don’t wear it often because I don’t want to make trips to the dry cleaners. As a rule of thumb, I avoid “dry clean only” clothes as much as possible. Several years back Lilly made some Elsa tops in cotton. I was super excited to score this pink cotton Elsa on Rue La La back in 2012. It has held up really well, and I so wish I had more colors.
Lilly for Target
Event though it was three years ago, I remember the Lilly for Target launch like it was yesterday. There was much anticipation leading up to it as Lilly lovers everywhere previewed the look book and made their wish list. And there were even some who were outraged that Lilly would be sold in Target. (These people clearly had no idea how Target + designer collaborations work. And I believe you should wear a certain brand of clothing because you like it, not simply because it’s an exclusive status symbol.)
On the morning of April 19, 2015, I drove to my local Target to meet up with two friends. We probably got there about 10-15 minutes before the store opened at 8:00 and got in line. There were tons of people in line in front of us who had probably been there since 6:00am. We were not that hardcore. Once the doors opened at 8:00 it was mass chaos. Everyone filed into the store in line, but once inside people were grabbing things left and right and the racks and shelves were empty within minutes. I honestly can’t remember if we even picked up anything during the initial rush.
However, once people had things in their carts they decided they didn’t want, they would walk around offering them to others. I definitely heard tons of stories of people buying a cartload of stuff and then marking up on eBay, but people at my Target were pretty thoughtful for the most part. My friends and I were actually able to score quit a few things while walking around after the initial rush, including my headband. When I saw someone put this pouf back on the shelf, I made an assertive dash to pick it up.
I love having this pouf in my living room as some fun & simple extra seating.
I also got a pineapple print cosmetic case, wine charms, special edition Essie nail polish, and special edition lip gloss.
A Personal Shopper
One of my friends happened to be in Wisconsin visiting family and friends the day of the Lilly for Target launch. She kindly texted me and asked if there was anything she could be on the lookout for. Since Lilly isn’t as popular in Wisconsin, Target wasn’t as nearly as crowded or crazy up there. I asked her if she would get me a beach towel, and was able to get this pink & orange giraffe print one for me. It had definitely faded a good bit since I got it, but it’s still super cute. It’s simply more pastel now rather than bright & vibrant. (I am hoping that my Lilly for Pottery Barn beach towels maintain their color better though.)
Coming Up Next
So I also think it’s super fitting that the Lilly for Target anniversary falls so close to the launch of Hunter for Target. I am going to be doing another post tomorrow with some picks from Target’s collaboration with Hunter, which kicks off this Saturday, April 14. There is so much more than rain boots in this collection, so stay tuned!
Did you shop the Lilly for Target collaboration back in 2015? If so, what was your experience?
Also, do you have any cotton Lilly Pulitzer Elsa tops, and do you wish Lilly would bring them back?
-xoxo Liz
