What Do You Mean by “Healthy”?
Lilly Pulitzer seems to be polarizing; people seem to love it or hate it.
But probably not many look at Lilly Pulitzer in terms of how “healthy” it is.
But what exactly do I mean by healthy?
Is the brand healthy for your body?
Is the brand healthy for the environment?
Is the brand healthy for your mind?
Let’s take a look at these three aspects and see how Lilly Pulitzer measures up.
Your Body
If you’re concerned about toxins in your clothes, then Lilly Pulitzer probably wouldn’t be your first choice. Unfortunately, none of their clothes are organic, GOTS certified, or the like.
However, if you don’t plan on giving up your Lilly (and I don’t), then you can make some better choices when you do shop there. Look at labels and opt for clothes made out of 100% cotton as opposed to rayon, nylon, spandex, etc.
But hands-down, the healthiest Lilly Pulitzer you can buy actually comes in the form of bedding. The Lilly Pulitzer and Pottery Barn collaboration has brought tons of healthy bedding options. Most of the bedding from this collaboration is made of 100% organic cotton and GOTS certified!
The Environment
The manufacturing process of Lilly Pulitzer takes a toll on the environment. Even when choosing the “better” options in terms of fabrics. Growing cotton for instance, is harmful to the environment, and even more so when pesticides are used.
Despite this, I would argue that buying Lilly Pulitzer is actually better for the environment than many other brands. This is especially true when compared to “fast fashion,” an increasingly popular trend (think Target, Forever 21 & H&M).
Lilly Pulitzer is a timeless and coveted brand. For this reason, there’s a greater chance that these clothes will stay out of the landfill. People love these clothes and take pride in them. If there’s a stain, people make an effort to get it out. If a hole appears or a button falls off, people make an effort to repair it. Further, there is a huge second hand market for Lilly Pulitzer.
Your Mind
Similar to the impacts the Lilly Pulitzer has on the environment and your body, there are contradicting views on whether or not Lilly Pulitzer is “healthy” or good for your mind (mental health).
On one hand, I think everything Lilly lover can relate to the overwhelmingly positive power wearing Lilly can have on you. It can boost your spirit and confidence. It can make you walk a little taller. It can turn that frown upside down. You get the gist.
However, there is a less positive, less talked about effect that wearing Lilly can have on you. If you’re not careful, it’s easy to fall into the “addictive” trap of Lilly, where you’re always wanting more and never satisfied.
The business strategy of Lilly Pulitzer feeds into this ploy. It’s actually pretty genius marketing. They constantly come out with new prints and then “retire” them soon after. If you fall in love with a print, it’s basically buy it now or never.
There’s also a huge “cult-like” following, especially on social media (hello Instagram). It’s easy to find yourself wanting more and more and feeling down on yourself when you feel you can’t keep up.
Bottom Line
When it comes down to it, Lilly Pulitzer is as healthy as you make it!
