Smarty Alert & Lilly Giveaway: The Lilly Pulitzer Store is opening in SouthPark TOMORROW!

It’s here, Lilly Pulitzer SouthPark is opening her doors at 10am tomorrow morning and we cannot wait! And of course we have a giveaway exclusive to a CSP reader, just because we love all things pink & green and know you do too!

As you have read over the past week, we have been hanging with our Lilly friends as they transformed their store into a tropical island retreat. They like to call it “Lillify.”

CSP got cozy with the talent behind the walls of Lilly. Here goes:

Jose Cuadra, Visual Director, on “what inspires you in designing the stores?”

Our designs are a team effort – I pull inspiration from Jane Schoenborn (Design Director) and the entire Print Team to come up with the most creative and innovative store design. We call it Glamification…..

When I think of Charlotte I think southern belle, southern hospitality, pretty flowers and PINK.. Oh did I mention something sparkly?! OK, Glitter everything – that’s more Jane…. Those were the key words that popped into our head when we started designing the store. Our approach has always been to paint the town PInk…Kidding, not really….OK seriously, our approach is to celebrate the city’s fun, beauty and culture in a Lilly way. Since this is Charlotte, we didn’t have to Lillify a lot since you gals are such Lilly Lovers already. We just needed to put a little bit more blush on your cheeks and add a little glitter in your step.

We wanted to design a store that oozes Fun, Color and Lilly…

The inspiration of the front rooms is the state flower – dogwoods – painted by Paige and Ashley. The walls are painted with dogwood flowers in pink of course with pops of green and turquoise. We added a 3-D effect (no 3D glasses required) of GLITTERED dogwoods…..let’s just say when you are sitting on the sofa, you will be surrounded by glitter and sparkle and no Lilly girl can resist that………oh did I mention a framed art work just for the store!!!!

The fabrics and furniture were designed to create a very cozy, fun feeling….. You will never leave the store, trust me. Between the cushions in fitting rooms, to the printed pillows on the sofa, you will just fall in LOVE with the store and of course the staff. Btw all the fabric for cushions, sofa, you name it can be purchased…..just ask.

Fitting Rooms: I sat down with Jane Schoenborn (design director) and the entire print team. We sat in the print room surrounded by all the prints that the designers designed, at this point it was for Resort 2012. Let’s just say we were equipped with tons of coffee, sweets and for us dieters- water….LOL…. We started the meeting with our signature themes for fitting room design – Lilly Story (everyone knows the story! Duh… We re-invent that room every Glamification – it’s what we say when we are painting a store – we do, so no store is ever alike) Color swatch room (did you know we name all our colors?!) and finally a toile room (dedicated to the state and city where the store is opening and for this one…..let’s just say it is AMAZING!) We try to include history in all designs – Charlotte has four fitting rooms – Charlotte Toile, Queen City, the Lilly story and equestrian room (don’t be alarmed when you see a gold horse head on the ceiling) Did I mention each fitting room and store is hand-painted by the print designers that design your your prints for your shift dresses??!!! No other company can do that…..only Lilly…..

Outside the fitting room area – I am calling it the shoe saloon …… I am a little obsessed with using one print all over the entire room – so I had Holly, one of the print designers, to paint on the walls the print of the ottoman, which is called “well connected” which was a Resort 10 print…..you should see it…….you just died and went to Lilly Heaven….

You will also notice a handful of iPads floating on walls….I had them all covered with Lilly Prints as well…you have to tell me what’s your favorite….and I almost forgot, custom made iPad shoulder bags for the iPad!

One more room – the bathroom – Rebecca one our very senior print designers did this awesome jungle themed room with!!!!! Inspired by the Carolina Panthers mascot, with a Lilly twist. Oh man it’s just so good. You definitely see the cats turquoise eyes.

The Charlotte store has been a dream to design and work on. Talented and creative people worked so hard to get all we dreamt up into reality. I am very honored and privileged to work with such amazing artists everyday.

Is there such a thing as too much PINK?

Never, ask any Lilly Girl, she will never get sick of PINK. She dreams and lives in PINK. Trust me, I know, I work with all of them in the pink palace.

Holly Guertin’s, Print Designer, favorite print (featured above with Jose)

“Reef Me Up”

What inspires you?

Turtles, obviously! The print has turtles swimming in every which direction and it is so fun, while still being calming and comfortable.

What is it like when you see a stranger walk by in one of your prints?

I am a new Print Designer for Lilly and haven’t yet had that experience, but it is the thing that I am the absolute most excited about. I can’t imagine the thrill of seeing someone wear the print that I painted in my living room a few months before. Seeing it from start to finish like that will be the ultimate experience.

Paige Smith’s, Print Designer, favorite print

It’s so hard to choose a favorite print. I will always remember my first design, “In the slim toile” and how fun it was to see people in my print. One of my other favorites was “First Impression” from Spring 11, there was something about the colors and design that made everyone look skinny and pretty! It looked good in every shape we put it in. I went to the Carolina Cup with Lilly last year and it was so fun to see so many girls in my designs, they were everywhere. Of course, the fabric and style my print goes into effects how I feel about the print too. I’m excited for a long strapless dress in my “Spring Fling Toile” coming out for Spring 12. “You Gotta Regatta” for Summer 12 was inspired by watching sailboats race on the lake, it is a new favorite that is coming in a super sassy dress I can’t wait to wear! Even before I designed for Lilly I used to enjoy seeing other girls in it, it felt like we were in the same club. By club I mean a very inclusive club where everyone loves color, feeling pretty and has a sense of humor.

“In the Slim Toile”

“First Impression”

Ashley Begley’s, Print Designer, on “what is it like when a stranger walks by in one of your prints?”

The first time I saw my work for Lilly Pulitzer was such a rush. I had just graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design earlier that day and could not wait to go back to Lilly. My family, friends and I were all celebrating the occasion in Newport, Rhode Island when my older sister noticed the simple flag embroidery I had designed the previous summer at my Lilly Pulitzer internship. The regatta embroidery was simple and playful. I immediately felt a connection with this super fun girl celebrating her bachelorette party! I was touched this she had chosen to wear my surface design for her last naughty night out with the girls. Needless to say, it was the best graduation gift ever!

My favorite print I have designed for Lilly Pulitzer is called “in the beginning”. This print tells the history of Lilly Pulitzer from the palm beach beginnings to the present day! It is the best conversation starter! Look for it in resort 2012!

Rebecca Allred, Print Designer, on “what is it like when someone wears your print?”

When I see someone wearing my prints or patterns for the first time I am sooo excited!! I am so happy that my print can bring joy and happiness to others and will be a part of their personal collection of Lilly! I hope that they enjoy wearing it, hope they feel special in it and they smile all day everyday!! 🙂

What is your favorite print?

I have several that I and my fellow designers have done that are my favorites… It is hard to pick one…:)

“Mariposa”

Mariposa that is coming out this Spring 2012 is one of my favorites…it just says spring is here!! The colors are bright, fun and interestingly combined in the flowers to make it look fresh!
There are pretty butterflies and also a surprise of hidden snails in the scrolly leaves and stems in the background…
Also don’t forget “Lilly” is hidden in every print… 🙂

The Lilly Pulitzer~Charlotte Smarty Pants Giveaway

Our Lilly friends want one lucky Smarty to get in on the pink & green fun so they are giving a $200 gift card to the Lilly store as well as a Murfee scarf of your choice – LOVE?! Smarties, this swag is valued at $318!! True to our Smarty style, you have to play along to enter to win. Here are the rules:

1) Leave your comment below with what you’re dreaming of in their Spring 2012 Collection.

2) “Like” Lilly Pulitzer SouthPark and Charlotte Smarty Pants on facebook and tag both in your comment on Lilly’s facebook page – here’s mine: “I {heart} Lilly Pulitzer!”

3) Wear pink and/or green all week in honor of Lilly!

*Please note: The winner MUST live in the Greater Charlotte area.

Our winner will be selected at random on Sunday, 2/19, at 9pm! Spread the Lilly & Smarty word – together, let’s paint this city pink & green!

You can find Lilly Pulitzer in the SouthPark Mall, right across from where Santa is – you can’t miss the Lilly Jeep! Suggested department store parking: Nordstrom’s. That’s the path of least resistance!