All photography in today's post by Melissa Lynn Studios
Today's post is in collaboration with The Pink Colony. Today's post also contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting the brands that support Southern Belle in Training!
It's no secret that I'm a huge Lilly Pulitzer fan, and I look so forward to this biannual sale. Lilly's colorful prints and patterns make my closet and heart happy, but their clothing and accessories at full price don't always make my wallet happy. So the After Party Sale really is my favorite time of the year, and it's when I purchase most of my Lilly pieces!
This year, I am so excited to be bringing you a very fun and different first blog post for this After Party Sale. I am teaming up with Pink Colony, which is Vermont's first and only Lilly Pulitzer signature store, to bring you a style and sizing guide for some APS items and also a few pieces from Lilly's newest winter collection. I'll be starting this post off with a Q&A about Pink Colony, and why it's important for Lilly lovers to shop APS from both Lilly's website AND local signature stores! Next, I'll be sharing all of the beautiful outfits that I got to play dress-up in during my recent visit to Pink Colony (and also sharing which came home with me!). Everything that I'm wearing is linked under each photo to Pink Colony's website- be sure to order quickly if you like something as things will sell out during the sale! And finally, Pink Colony's sweet owner Jessica was kind enough to run two giveaways to celebrate the After Party Sale, one on my Instagram and one in this blog post! So be sure to read through to the very end of the post so you don't miss the best part. 😊
Lilly Pulitzer Signature Store Q&A:
*What is a signature store? Lilly lovers have the option to shop their favorite colorful clothing through a couple different retail options! The Lilly Pulitzer brand operates corporate owned retail stores (under the Lilly Pulitzer store name) in several states. (There was one in Charlotte at SouthPark Mall that I used to shop at.) Lilly is also sold at some high-end department stores. One of my favorite ways to shop Lilly though is through signature stores! These are locally owned boutiques which are licensed to sell Lilly Pulitzer, and their majority of what their store sells is Lilly, which gives them the official signature store designation! You can spot a signature store as it usually has "pink" in the title- hence Pink Colony in Vermont!
*How do signature stores differ from official Lilly stores? A few ways! Since they're locally owned, the store itself is often decorated in very fun ways. I love the look of a true Lilly store, but I always love shopping at signature stores when I travel to an area with one, as I feel like you can really get a feel for how Lilly Pulitzer fits into the local area when shopping at one. Signature stores also area allowed to sell other preppy brands, which makes for a super fun shopping experience! (Think things like Jack Rogers, Kiel James Patrick, Hunter boots, etc.) And lastly- the SALES. While signature stores like Pink Colony do participate in the After Party Sale, they often have amazing clearance racks of things you'd never find on sale throughout the year on Lilly's website or in official Lilly stores! I've gotten some of my favorite Lilly purchases through the years on amazing sale at the signature store in my hometown.
*What is Pink Colony? Pink Colony is a Lilly Pulitzer signature store that was opened by owner Jessica Cameron in July 2017, so it's still brand-new to Vermont! They're proud to carry the largest selection of Lilly Pulitzer in the Green Mountain State! Jessica is a Florida native who is excited to bring her sunny and preppy style to New England. In addition to Lilly, Pink Colony also carries 20 other preppy brands and a wide assortment of jewelry. They're located right in the mountains in the scenic ski village of Stowe, just an hour from Burlington!
*How does Pink Colony do their APS? Pink Colony's After Party Sale is STOREWIDE- which means that not only the Lilly is on-sale, but also the other preppy brands that they sell! It runs today and tomorrow, January 3rd and 4th, just like the regular Lilly sale online. Excluding new arrivals, everything else in the store is 40-50% off!! You can shop in-store, and if you're not located in New England, you can order via phone at 802-253-PREP or shop online.
Lilly Pulitzer APS Style + Sizing Guide:
*Look #1: Workout Look
Surprise, surprise... for yet another year in a row one of my New Years' resolutions is fitness based! This year I got a head start on it though and started making the gym a priority again in November, so I'm planning to actually conquer my specific resolution this time, instead of making excuses. Cliche as it sounds, one of the best ways to get excited about going to the gym is by wearing cute athletic apparel! I already own one pair of Lilly Pulitzer Luxletic leggings, but I knew I needed a second pair. Jessica suggested that I pair the leggings with this Larina velour zip-up hoodie, and it was super comfy!! Wouldn't this be a cute outfit to hit the gym with now that it's 2018?! The leggings are one of the things that ended up coming home with me and I can't wait to wear them!!
Sizing: I wear an XS in Lilly Luxletic leggings, so they run large. I wore a small in the jacket.
*Look #2: White Elsa + Bright Shorts
Lilly Pulitzer's Elsa top is one of their staple items, and when I think of it I always associate it with bright prints. It's easy to forget that one of their essential tops also comes in essential basic colors, like this lovely white hue! I styled it casually here with printed Callahan shorts and Lilly wedges, but wouldn't this top also look great with dress pants, a blazer and heels for the office? I'm all about versatility when considering APS purchases!
Sizing: I normally wear in S in Elsa tops but this one was an XS and it still fit! More of a "true fit" rather than a relaxed tunic feel. I'm wearing a 2 in these cute shorts (my normal size). The clutch I'm carrying is called the Bask in Clutch and it's just darling! My wedges are also Lilly and in stock at Pink Colony.
*Look #3: PJ Day... Lilly Style
Most of us associate Lilly Pulitzer with their colorful shift dresses, and sometimes it's easy to forget that Lilly makes so many other things in their iconic patterns! I was just delighted when Jessica showed me Pink Colony's selection of Lilly loungewear and pajamas. I was lovingly dubbed the "Bathrobe Queen" in college by many of my friends and I pride myself on having a large robe collection, so you bet that this darling and plush Lilly robe came home with me and is now in my closet! These PJ pants were oh-so soft and cozy, and I also had to snatch up these adorable Lilly coffee mugs (I definitely have a problem with mug hoarding!).
Sizing: I'm wearing a S/M in the robe, and a S in the PJ pants. Mugs of course are one size fits all. 😉
*Look #4: The "Champagne" Dress
This dress is a bit different for Lilly, and also a bit different than what I'd normally go for when shopping Lilly! Jessica encouraged me to try it on, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I loved it! Just a few days after we shot the photos for this post, I had a last minute semi-formal event come up, and I realized how few winter cocktail dresses I own. I was so frustrated I hadn't gotten this at Pink Colony- lol! It would make the ideal winter dress for a semi-formal event or wedding! Jessica and her staff lovingly named this the "Champagne" dress, but its real name is the Mango Shift in Gold Scuba. The elegant clutch that I'm carrying here is called the Ibiza.
Sizing: I'm wearing an S, but there was definitely some extra room so I could have also worn an XS.
Look #5: Color Blocking with an Elsa top + Callahan shorts
Here's another look with an Elsa top and Callahan shorts, but I feel like this is totally different that Look #2, which also featured that! I was surprised by how much I LOVED these shorts! Their color is called Berry Sangria, and I could picture myself styling them with so many different summer tops. This blue and white Elsa was also really cute! My sorority's colors is blue and white, so for any of my fellow ADPi's - this top would be perfect for us (especially if you're still in college!). I'm carrying the fun Cha-Cha straw pouch here as well.
Sizing: I'm wearing a 2 in the shorts and my normal size, a S, in the Elsa top. I like my Elsa's to be a tad loose!
Look #6: Winter Swing Dress
A struggle for any Lilly lover living in New England (or any northern climate) is making your Lilly appropriate for all four seasons. You've already seen some of the outfits featured earlier in this post- and most definitely aren't suited for Vermont's harsh winters! It's always such a delight for me to find winter-appropriate Lilly pieces, especially living in New England! I'm wearing the Olive Swing dress here, it's made of velour and would look so cute for winter paired with tights and booties! It's also super soft- I kept "petting" the dress in between these photos, ha!
Sizing: I'm wearing a S here, but this dress is supposed to fit very loosely and run large. Jessica told me that the S fit properly for the dress, and not to go down to an XS.
Look #7: The Lilly LBD
I saved my favorite outfit for last! The color black is probably the last thing that the Lilly Pulitzer brand is associated with, but let me just say that when Lilly does an LBD, they do it oh so well! This ended up being my very favorite look from my try-on session at Pink Colony! How elegant is this Mila shift dress? It would be perfect for any type of fall or winter event under the sun (or under the snow if you're in Vermont, lol!). I'm also carrying the gorgeous Bask in Clutch again in this look.
Sizing: I'm wearing a size 2 here. It fit snuggly but well. I probably could have worn a 4 as well for a slightly looser fit.
I hope you enjoyed seeing all of the fun outfits that I got to try-on and style during my Pink Colony visit! Now for the best part of the post... a giveaway! Jessica and Pink Colony are sponsoring not one, but two giveaways with me to celebrate the After Party Sale! One is happening here on the blog, and this one will run through Sunday, 1/7/18. That's after the sale ends, but the winner will have a great chance to pick up an extra Lilly gift or two for themselves (consider if the "After the After Party Giveaway")!! And over on my Instagram @miss_alk there's a second gift card giveaway with Pink Colony, but that one only runs for 24 hours! That way the winner will be able to shop in the APS. Be sure to enter both giveaways to double your chances- good luck!!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Stay tuned for more After Party Sale coverage and posts on social media and the blog tonight and tomorrow! I'll be sharing my picks from Lilly's official sale online as well!
God Bless,
xoxo Annaliese
These photos are beautiful and this seems like a dream collab! Love all these looks but I think my favorites have to be 3, 4, and 6. So many adorable looks. I have never shopped the APS, but I definitely need to do so!
ReplyDeleteGIRL so happy for you for this collab! These photos and outfits are darling and I think number 5 may be my favorite!! Can't wait to see what you scored this year!
ReplyDeleteHow cute are you!?! I hope you got that champagne dress because it looks amazing on you!
ReplyDeleteoh my gosh. these are so adorable. i had no idea they had signature stores! i love the robe. looks so fun and cozy :D
ReplyDeleteWow what an awesome collab! You look so cute in all of these dresses - I think the last LBD may be my favorite of all of these! :]
ReplyDeletexo Deborah
Coffee, Prose, and Pretty Clothes
ahh love me some Lilly! I had no idea about signature stores! so fun!
ReplyDeleteSo many cute pieces! I actually don't own any Lily - I think I need to pick something up!
ReplyDeleteThe gold dress is so stunning on you! I wish you would've bought that one too ;)
ReplyDeleteThese are all such cute Lilly looks!! I got SO many cute things for the spring today online - so excited!
ReplyDeleteThese outfits are so cute!! I need some lily in my life.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like the perfect partnership for you. I love all of the pieces you tried on. Everything is so colorful and looks so magical. My favorite is the gold cocktail dress. Even though you were hesitant about it at first, I'm glad she talked you into it. It looks great on you!
ReplyDeleteLoove the workout outfit! All these outfits look great on you.
ReplyDeleteI love all of these outfits! The workout gear and the black dress are my absolute favs
ReplyDelete-xo, Azanique | www.lotsofsass.com
OK I want ALL of these. That gold dress and the black one are perfection.
ReplyDeleteI was so excited when I found out Lilly now has workout clothes! My link zip up from them is so soft, not to mention bright and colorful :) Makes working out much more fun.
ReplyDeleteOMG I haven't shopped Lilly in forever! They have so many cute new things!
ReplyDelete