About Lily Lily!™
Established in August 2007, Lily Lily!!™ was born out of a love for fashion and travel, a passion for beautiful things, and an infinite appreciation for culture and craftsmanship. Unique, sassy, timeless, fun and wordly — we are all of those things.
What makes us so special? We shy away from the ordinary, from the brands you already know about. We dig deep and scout endlessly for international and US contemporary designers, to bring you one-of-a-kind items that make a fabulous addition to your closet. Designers who are established overseas, or have an international flair or influence. Designers who are from the US, yet you can't seem to find them in your local stores. Fashion-forward pieces mixed in with some classic pieces that will last forever, for the perfect closet balance.
From Europe to Africa to the US, Lily Lily! is the Ultimate Shopping Escape!™ for the picky shopper who loves that special find and stands out wherever she goes. It's fashion with a good dose of culture! Style has no boundaries, no limits - and neither should you.
Lily Lily!™ also favors handmade items — to show our appreciation for creativity, craftsmanship and community support.
The ultimate goal? To always feel fabulous and original, while supporting the designers and artists that create these beautiful items. So welcome and happy shopping. The world is literally at your fingertips. And please feel free to send us questions, feedback or ideas — we love to hear from our customers.
Please review our store policies in their entirety first, to answer any questions you might have about Lily Lily. If you still have questions after reviewing, please email us and we’ll be happy to handle your inquiry.
Behind Lily Lily!™
A word (or two!) from Lily, Owner/Buyer of LilyLilyShop.com
It may seem odd for you to learn that a lawyer-by-training started this online boutique! But for me, creating Lily Lily! is perhaps the most true endeavor I have ever undertaken. True to myself, that is.
I have always worn many hats and never liked to do just “one thing” - something I discovered about myself not that long ago, truth be told. I refused to choose! - as author Barbara Sher so succinctly put it. And so I made the decision that there was nothing weird about being an attorney, a fashion model and a published writer all at once. But at the end of the day, fashion - more accurately, style - is my fuel.
My friends have called me “true fashionista” for as long as I can remember, but I often laughed it off. Dressing up, coordinating outfits, looking unique in appearance and scouting for that unique item was always second nature to me. Looking back, it really is no wonder. I was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, but raised in Côte d'Ivoire, West Africa - where French culture seeped into every aspect of our daily lives, from language, to food, to clothes. And more importantly, I grew up around a fashion icon - my mother - whom I watched dress daily in haute couture, from a very young age. In no time, Christian Dior, Charles Jourdan, and Yves Saint Laurent were very familiar names to me. My sister and I would constantly dream of one day possessing a wardrobe as fabulous as hers! And literally, she had clothes in every room of the house. She never wore the same thing twice - ever - and she was always amazingly put together, from head to toe. And always, always unique.
Over the years, I traveled quite a bit, picked up four languages, went on to live in England for a few years, and eventually moved to the United States - more precisely Washington DC - for college. My sister went on to New York's fabulous Fashion Institute of Technology and became a fashion designer, working for major fashion houses in “the city” - as she still does - while I remained in Washington and wondered why I loved fashion so much - or rather, it never occurred to me that I could also do something about it. That is, other than shopping tirelessly for myself on weekends.
Decades later, my love of style, travel and culture, grew stronger. On my trips overseas, I could hardly satiate myself of all the shopping available - what to buy?! - that was the question - whether in Europe, Africa or Latin America. But once back home, in Washington, it was an entirely different story. Exasperated by the lack of options, I started paying heed to the many comments I received on my clothes and accessories over the years - including the constant “where did you get that...?” (insert purse/necklace/dress/skirt/you name it!). So in August of 2006, after a trip to Spain and three pieces of luggage (the extra airline fee was worth it) chock full of new funky clothes, shoes and purses, I decided that was it! It was time to bring this joy to other women - and to myself! - the joy of being able to find clothes you love, the joy of wearing that special unique item which is not just a “thing” but represents culture, art, meaning... and creation. The item you wear that transforms your mood in a way you cannot explain. A world beyond the mass brand names, and a wardrobe infused with designers near and far, emerging and established.
And so, a year of planning later, Lily Lily!!™ was born, in August of 2007. If the last eight months are any indication, it’s the beginning of a long and exciting journey! And for me, it’s full circle from the days of my mother’s glorious closets.
So thank you for visiting and I hope we become your favorite escape!
With style always,
Lily
Creator, Owner - Lily Lily! Online Boutique
