23 hours Ago
— Downtown Winchester was awash in pink and green this past Sunday morning as 20 women from Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Northern Virginia converged for a special meetup.
Known as Lilly Lovers of NoVa, this spirited group has grown from a handful of friends sharing a love of the bright, cheerful prints of Lilly Pulitzer into a regional network that not only celebrates the iconic fashion brand but also champions small, local businesses. “The group started because people love the Lilly Pulitzer brand,” said Winchester resident Diane Griffin, who organized Sunday's event and is a longtime Lilly enthusiast. “They came together to see how others style their outfits, but it grew into a big social networking group.
There are Lilly Lover groups all over the U.S. now, hosting all kinds of events.
” Today, Lilly Lovers of NoVa has around 300 members — women who share everything from restaurant recommendations to weekend getaway plans, all anchored by a mutual love for Lilly Pulitzer. “I’ve been to many Lilly Lover events over the years, and you become close friends,” Griffin said. “You meet so many wonderful people from all walks of life, careers, and ages.
My invitation to them was, ‘Come visit me in the Land of Pink and Green,’ which was the Apple Blossom Festival theme a few years ago.” The Winchester visit began at 10:30 a.m.
, with the group gathering on the front steps of Kimberly’s on Braddock Street for a commemorative photo — flamingo-pink and kelly-green dresses forming a vibrant patchwork against the boutique’s pale yellow façade. Afterward, the women sipped champagne and browsed the latest Lilly arrivals at the shop, pausing to admire ruffled shift dresses and bold, botanical-print tunics. Next on the itinerary was a visit to nearby Scarpa Alta for more shopping.
By noon, the group had worked up appetites and headed to TT Walls for lunch, where tables were set with crisp white linens and vintage-inspired glassware. Over homemade chicken salad croissants and fried green tomatoes, conversation flowed easily as friends caught up on each other’s lives. “TT Walls even made a special cocktail for us that we named the ‘Lilly Floral Fizz,’” said Griffin.
“It was delicious!” After lunch, the group visited Catherine Campbell for more boutique shopping. Both TT Walls and Catherine Campbell had opened their doors specially for the Lilly Lovers. “It’s a win for us and a win for them,” Griffin said.
“We had so much fun exploring Winchester together, and the businesses got to meet new customers who might otherwise never have discovered them.” The history of Lilly Pulitzer is a point of pride among the group. The brand traces its origins to a Florida orange juice stand owned by heiress Lilly Pulitzer, where a spill prompted her to design a brightly patterned shift dress to hide the stains — sparking a fashion empire.
Today, the brand also offers purses, shoes, menswear, children's clothing and housewares. Jackie Kennedy helped cement the brand’s status in 1962 by famously wearing Pulitzer’s prints at family gatherings and public events, said Griffin. “When Jackie wore her Lilly Pulitzer dress on the cover of Life magazine, the line really took off,” Griffin explained.
“It’s a very iconic, classic American style. Lilly’s slogan is, ‘Create Your Sunshine.’ I love the bright colors, and so do all the people who love Lilly Pulitzer.
” The Apple Blossom Festival provided a perfect backdrop for the visit. Streets lined with blossoming trees and pink-and-green festival buntings created an atmosphere that was equal parts festive and quaint. For the Lilly Lovers of NoVa, the day was about more than just a photo op — it embodied the ethos of the brand they adore: community, color, and a dash of Southern charm.
“Everyone had a great time and was so impressed with Winchester,” Griffin said. “It was Southern hospitality at its finest. “It’s a way to bring people to see our town.
If you haven’t been here for Apple Blossom, you can’t fully grasp what it’s about until you experience it.” Naturally, the colorful group attracted attention. “People would stop us and ask about our dresses and what the occasion was.
They were very curious,” Griffin said. Before leaving town, Griffin encouraged her friends to drive by the stunning Handley High School, known for its Neoclassical Revival architecture. “It’s the most beautiful high school in Virginia,” she said proudly.
As the afternoon sun dipped lower, the group gathered back at Kimberly’s to pick up their purchases and raise one final toast — to friendship, small-town America, and the enduring legacy of a single orange juice stand that changed fashion. As they waved goodbye to Winchester’s Land of Pink and Green, plans were already underway for their next get-together in Annapolis, Maryland, in June. With friendships strengthened and new memories made, the group left Winchester carrying not just shopping bags, but the joy of community, and the promise of more colorful adventures ahead.
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