On Wearing Lilly Pulitzer At Work

During my latter years of college and pre-workforce days, the idea that Lilly Pulitzer attire was not meant to be worn in the workplace was very much emphasized. Unless you worked at a Lilly Pulitzer boutique and had a business casual dress code, the idea that you are to wear bright and colorful attire such as the likes of Lilly Pulitzer felt very taboo. Well, that idea of wearing Lilly Pulitzer in the workplace felt very taboo to those that were around me. However, ever since I’ve been in the workforce since July 2021, I have seen the benefits to embracing one’s personal style in the workplace *even* if that consists of bright colors and wearing Lilly Pulitzer at work.

*Disclaimer: Please note that this post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase through one of my links, then I will receive a small commission. This commission is at no extra cost to you. Additionally, this post is not sponsored, and all opinions are my own.*

For more preppy style & grand millennial home content, check out my Preppy Fashion & Grand Millennial Home page.

I primarily work from home in my 9-5 and while I love the freedom and flexibility of that lifestyle for the time being especially to be with my Papa and dog Rosie on a workday basis, I also love that it brings me the freedom to express myself within my own workplace attire. I do share my daily work outfits on the blog (see here, here, here, and here to find some in the archives!) on a monthly basis and have since April 2023. I find joy in getting dressed and truly expressing myself and showing my outfits off to those around me. Some days though, I do go into the office and show off my personal style within the business causal yet jeans are allowed dress code that my employer has set forth. Andddd, my personal style involves …. Lilly Pulitzer!

A few years ago, a coworker and mentor of mine within my own career and I were discussing the growing desire for us women to show off our own personal styles within our workwear. For both of us that involves wearing bright colors such as PINK to work. I have seen this coworker of mine who I adore styling sparkly pink blazers as well as sparkly bow heels to corporate events and networking mixers. She has also worn bright pink dresses and bright colored pantsuits to speak on company-hosted panels. Truly, she is a fashion icon and inspiration within the corporate world of style. Especially in my home base of Washington, DC, the fashion world especially within my industry and many of the major industries here can be seen as well … boring and bland. However, corporate fashion, regardless of industry or where you live, doesn’t have to be boring and/or bland. Simply putting, we need a few trailblazers such as my coworker and mentor to show us that you CAN embrace your own individuality within the workplace when done appropriately.

On Wearing Lilly Pulitzer at Work

Yes, there have been several occasions that I’ve worn Lilly Pulitzer to the office. I do have a few favorite pieces that I adore specifically for those workday occasions. My favorite go-to Lilly Pulitzer workwear piece is the Elsa top, which I have worn for company promotional events and videos (and gotten several compliments on from women in my own company’s leadership, too!). At the same time, I adore wearing a Lilly Pulitzer printed dress (not too revealing) with a pair of neutral flats/heels, a cardigan/blazer, and accessories, too. In fact, I’ve worn a bright pink Lilly Pulitzer shift for my company headshot! Needless to say, I’m a firm believer that if styled appropriately for your office’s dress code, you can wear Lilly Pulitzer to the office.

Speaking at a work-sponsored conference in Lilly Pulitzer!

Styling a Lilly Pulitzer dress for a company event!

The moment after I styled a Lilly Pulitzer Elsa top for a company video!

Styling a Lilly Pulitzer blouse for a company symposium!

Wrap-Up:

From company-sponsored conferences to company videos, events, and symposiums, Lilly Pulitzer has truly been the one constant within my wardrobe at each occasion. Unlike my fears of having to reevaluate my love of Lilly Pulitzer and desires for entering the corporate world post-graduation from college, I am so glad that those fears have since been debunked. If only 21 year old Katie could see herself today!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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The Life of Katie!

Hello friends! It has been a whirlwind of a few weeks since my last Life of Katie post (here). Anyhow, my mid-late April 2025 has been nothing short of all the feels. For starters, I launched my group trip to Italy scheduled for April 11-17, 2026 and I’d LOVE to have YOU join me (check it out here!). I celebrated Easter weekend close to home with my family – some of whom traveled to be here with us. To top it all off, I have been working on strategizing and refining my professionals goals within my 9-5, which I am pretty excited (and overwhelmed) about. Nevertheless, I am excited to share what’s been on my mind and what’s to come.

What I’ve Been Eyeing Recently + Recent Buys

J Crew Factory’s Spring/Summer 2025 collection – In recent years, I have ADORED getting to browse and shop J Crew Factory’s collections. Usually, I wait until the pieces that I love go on clearance to purchase them, as the clearance deals are pretty great on their site (be sure to check them out if you haven’t already!). I filmed a styling haul that y’all LOVED and plan to do more of them soon of some of my J Crew Factory clearance finds from the Resort/Spring 2025 collection. As always, I am a pretty big fan of what J Crew Factory has to offer, including their most recent Spring/Summer 2025 collection – shop my favorite pieces here!

Kate Spade x Target collaboration – I adored the affordability and beautiful clothing, accessories, home decor, and hosting pieces that the Kate Spade x Target collaboration has to offer! I ended up getting mostly some home decor and hosting pieces from this notable Target designer collaboration that I am excited to share with you all in an upcoming post *very soon*! Oddly enough, I am also ecstatic that peplum is BAAAACKKK and ended up purchasing this beauty (here) that was still available in sizes 12+ as of about a week ago online. I cannot wait to style this dress *very soon* and share with YOU!

Daisy Canvas – Recently, on my Alma mater’s marketplace, I had been admiring some beautiful originally painted canvases from The Painted Perennial. I opted to self gift myself a gorgeous canvas with my Alma mater’s flower on it: the daisy! Shop similar canvases and paintings here.

Summer dresses + accessories – I don’t know about you, but it’s personally felt as if Pisces and Aries seasons have both FLOWN BY (if you know, you know!). ANDDDDD, Summer is *just* around the corner. Nevertheless, I’ve been eyeing a few fun Summer dresses (via Lands’ End and Kenny Flowers) AND accessories (via Lilly Pulitzer). The Lilly Pulitzer pink and green moments are SOOOOOO tempting!!! Shop it all here.

The Life of Katie!

Summer trips (+ one Fall trip!) are booked! – I am feeling so much excitement and relief to say that all of my Summer and one Fall trip have been booked (!!!!). While my trips haven’t been fully planned out in terms of the day-to-day as I want to wait until at least few weeks prior to make any necessary arrangements, I am SO excited to have all lodging and transportation ready to go. This Summer, I will be visiting another new-to-me state via a solo trip that’s been on my bucket list for awhile as well as some much-needed road trips to Delaware, North Carolina, and some new-to-me spots in Virginia. As for this Fall, due to my busy work schedule, I moved my September London and Paris trip to November anddddd I’m going to do ALLL the Christmas things in London and Munich. Tomorrow, I am actually going on a road trip to Charlotte, Asheville, and Winston Salem in North Carolina and I couldn’t be more excited!!!
Easter 2025 – My family and I enjoyed a lovely sunrise (well hour after!) service in the beautiful amphitheater via the trails behind our church. I LOVED getting to style my Lilly Pulitzer Pollie dress from a few years’ back. After the service, I spent the entire morning reflecting on the lovely Easter sermon and how it’s impacting my life on a day-to-day basis. Honestly, it was really nice to apply a sermon to my current days.
I discovered my horrible allergy to … pollen – I discovered that I am … severely allergic to pollen. Not surprising for many of us. However, every time I wouldn’t shower in the evenings the night before thinking there’s no pollen on me, I would wake up the next day feeling sick ALL DAY LONG. Don’t forget your showers, friends, if you struggle with the pollen too!
All the Spring things! – When my body wasn’t struggling with the pollen, I have truly enjoyed getting to take in Spring. The blooms all around us are such a blessing and a reminder to us that every dreary day ends and a new beginning is always around the corner. To enjoy Spring and celebrating my friend Briana’s Birthday, we all enjoyed an afternoon of tea via Tea Around Town in Washington, DC (see my review here). Occasionally, I LOVE getting my camera out and snapping some photos of the stunning blooms that surround us.

Katie & Rosie as a Barbie!

Nevertheless, I hopped on the current Chat-GPT trend of creating myself and my dog Rosie as Barbies. SOOO many of y’all over on Instagram (let’s be friends @_thepinkchickadee) reached out to me asking how I created it. Feel free to reach out via any of my social media channels if you’re curious!

Andddd, that’s all for now folks!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Lisbon, Portugal Travel Diary

Our final leg of our European adventure throughout Spain and Portugal was to … 2 days in Lisbon, Portugal! I met up with my best friend Shivani in Lisbon after my solo leg in Porto, Portugal (here) and week in Spain by way of Madrid (here) and Barcelona (here). Lisbon is the capital city of Portugal and is a popular travel destination within Portugal. Lisbon is close to the Atlantic Ocean and offer several lovely waterfront opportunities for its visitors to enjoy amongst its vibrant and fun colorful buildings and tiles. Being a preppy and pink grand millennial, I, indeed, fit right in whilst in Lisbon!

For more travel abroad inspiration, check out my exploring 50 Countries Expedition page.

Lisbon, Portugal Travel Diary

Getting There (From Europe & the United States):

There are a variety of different ways to get to Lisbon, depending on where you’re coming from. Our 2 days in Lisbon, Portugal started with me coming from Porto, Portugal and leaving Europe to go back to the United States via my home base in Washington, DC. Whilst, there’s several options to get to/from Lisbon depending on where you’re going to/coming from.

From Europe: Getting to the capital city of Portugal is best reached by plane if coming from another European country. Portugal and even between Spain and Portugal do not have a reliable unified train line. That all being said, Portugal is best reached by plane, if you’re coming from another European country. If coming from another city within Portugal, I would suggest either taking the train or plane. I opted to fly via Tap Air Portugal – Portugal’s *very own* airlines from Porto to Lisbon, as Portugal’s train line doesn’t have many options for checked bags on their trains (it’s usually carry-on only) and the price was about the same as the train to fly.

From the United States: Lisbon was my last city on my Spain and Portugal European adventure. Back to Washington, DC, I ended up lucking out with a direct flight on my airline of choice: United Airlines. Upon landing, I learned that Washington, DC-Lisbon is a daily offered flight on United Airlines. In addition to United Airlines, TAP Air Portugal which I flew within Portugal offers several direct flights and Transatlantic options, depending on where you’re coming from.

Tip on Taxi vs Uber: Upon arrival into Lisbon, avoid taking taxis at ALL costs. There will be taxis within a taxi pickup line outside of each airport and train station. However, unlike Spain which is the exact opposite, taxis are much more expensive in Portugal than Ubers. Each of my Ubers were under $20 with tip each way, including to/from the airport.

Where To Stay:

We called the Editory Riverside Hotel our home for 2 days in Lisbon, Portugal. And, I will say that the Editory Riverside Hotel is probably my favorite hotel that I’ve EVER stayed at! Located within one of Lisbon’s iconic train stations, the Editory Riverside Hotel was renovated from previously train station offices into hotel rooms and includes the original tile work alongside its hallways and in each of the rooms. The hotel also overlooks the waterfront and we could see cargo ships each day, which was pretty neat. Each day that we were around for lunch and happy hour, I would enjoy a lovely lunch and cocktail at their onsite Impulso Restaurante (more on that below!) and was truly blown away. At the same time, the people who work at the Editory Riverside Hotel are lovely and extremely kind and hospitable – something that I learned throughout my time in Portugal is how wonderful the people are! Truly, you will feel right at home at the Editory Riverside Hotel (whether it’s for 2 days in Lisbon, Portugal or more!).

What To Do:

Get lost in the colorful streets – Lisbon is known for its magnificent colorful streets! One of my favorite things to do, as previously mentioned in pretty much all of my European city guides, is to simply explore and get lost in the city streets. And, Lisbon has no shortage of beautiful streets to explore!

Take a day trip to Sintra & Cascais – One of the things that we were highly eyeing doing while in Lisbon is living out our royalty dreams at Peña Palace in nearby Sintra. We ended up going on a group bus tour to Sintra as well as the gorgeous coastal town of Cascais and made some friends while at it. On our day trip, we got to see Peña Palace and tour its interior alongside seeing the stunning Portuguese beaches. Stay tuned for a travel diary alongside more about our lovely tour operator on our day to Sintra and Cascais soon!

Catch a streetcar going by – One of the things that Lisbon is known for is their beautiful streetcars! While wandering the city’s magical streets, be sure to catch a streetcar (or two!) going by!!

Tour the Lisbon Cathedral – Built in 1147, Lisbon Cathedral is the oldest cathedral in Lisbon. It is a Roman Catholic cathedral that is open to visitors to come and tour. Please note that tickets must be purchased either onsite or online via GetYourGuide.

Do some retail therapy at Women’s Secret & CHIcoracao– Lisbon has several opportunities for those looking to do some retail therapy to do just that! We happened to make some purchases at a few different unique to Portugal shops. Women’s Secret is a Spanish and Portuguese lingerie, loungewear, and pajama shop known for its fun printed clothing items that my preppy and grand millennial self LOVED. CHIcoracao is a unique to Lisbon shop selling high quality Portuguese woolen goods handmade on a loom. Everything from scarves to blankets are sold at CHIcoracao and is something unique to get while in Lisbon.

Admire tile work at the magnificent National Azulejo Museum – On our *very* last day in Lisbon, Shivani and I checked out the National Azulejo Museum. The National Azulejo Museum showcases some of the many magnificent Portuguese tile work from centuries prior to today. Truly, the tiles that we saw were incredible and totally Instagram-worthy and fun to admire, too! Tickets can be reserved onsite or via GetYourGuide.

Where To Eat:

Personally, some of the best restaurants I’ve ever eaten at and experiences at them were in Lisbon. Before I get into where to eat in Lisbon, I am going to mention that Shivani and I had THE BEST TIME at the restaurants that we dined at during our first day in Lisbon SOOOO much so that we ended up dining at them multiple times! That all being said, the quality of the food and restaurants in Lisbon are superb and there are several delicious dining options to choose from. At the same time though, there are incredible restaurants that you’ll want to dine at multiple times and I highly recommend giving yourself the wiggle room to do so while in Lisbon!

Bica dos Cavalos – Our absolute favorite restaurant where we dined both Monday and Wednesday evenings, Bica dos Cavalos is a newer-to-Lisbon restaurant with a variety of delicious Portuguese eats to choose from. We enjoyed some lovely wine more specifically the “Catarina” white wine aka my name Katie in Portuguese alongside some delicious dessert and seafood/vegetarian dishes. At Bica dos Cavalos alongside the amazingly delicious eats offered, the people ranging from their owner, waiters, and chefs are truly some of the most hospitable, kind, and welcoming people I have ever met. If you are in Lisbon, I highly recommend you immediately make a reservation at Bica dos Cavalos!

Impulso Restaurante – The delicious onsite restaurant at our hotel, Impulso Restaurante is open not only to hotel guests but to the general public. I had the BEST seafood rice at the Impulso Restaurante both Monday and Wednesday for lunch and enjoyed taking part in the restaurant’s hosted happy hour on both of those days, too, with an Aperol Spritz in-hand!

Azul e Branco Restaurant – I stumbled upon Azul e Branco Restaurant as I was looking for a nice early afternoon pick-me-up. I ended up ordering an Aperol spritz alongside some oysters and was truly AMAZED at how yummy these oysters were. The location of Azul e Branco within a town square in Lisbon makes it to also be a fun place to people watch!

Wrap-Up:

Not only is Lisbon such a beautiful city and place to be, especially weather-wise in late February, but the people made our experience in Lisbon such a memorable one, too. There is so much to enjoy, eat, and take in within Lisbon and I am so lucky that I’ve been able to experience this incredible city. 48 hours in Lisbon, Portugal truly isn’t enough time!! Til next time, Lisbon!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Currently Eyeing: 12 Preppy Summer Workout Dresses

The other week, my friend Haley and I were enjoying a lovely stroll at a local park. I ended up styling my favorite preppy summer workout dress for our walk (see some local Fairfax County, Virginia parks to take a stroll at here). Haley immediately asked me where I had purchased it from, and I was so excited to rave about it being from … Amazon! Throughout our lovely stroll, I got to thinking about sharing the details of this cherished workout dress of mine while sharing other adorable pieces that I’m currently eyeing.

Truly, the preppy summer workout dress is such a staple in my own wardrobe and I know will become a staple in yours this summer, too. I will note that the preppy summer workout dresses that I’ve rounded up are priced upwards of $200 to under $50. Whether you decide to invest in a preppy summer workout dress or opt for something a little more cost-effective or are still considering/browsing, you will truly not go wrong with adding one to your wardrobe this summer! ANDDDDD, before I get into sharing the details behind all of the adorable summer workout dresses that I’m eyeing, I also wanted to mention that my favorite preppy summer workout dress (here) is included within the lovely round-up. The best part?!?! It is currently under $50 and sold in multiple colors (as are many of the other dresses shown in this post!!).

For more preppy style & grand millennial home content, check out my Preppy Fashion & Grand Millennial Home page.

12 Preppy Summer Workout Dresses

Happy shopping!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Tea Around Town in Washington, DC Review

Ever since Tea Around Town made its Washington, DC debut, I have been wanting to experience it myself. To end this year’s National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, DC, my friend Briana invited me and some of our friends out to celebrate her Birthday in style via Tea Around Town. Today, I am going to be sharing my authentic Tea Around in Washington, DC review. I will note that this post is not sponsored and is fully me and my friends’ opinions from our experience. Nevertheless, we had a FABULOUS time at Tea Around Town in Washington, DC!

Please note that this content is apart of my exploring the Washington, DC area series. For more information on planning your own trip to Washington DC (here), Northern Virginia (here), the Virginia Wine Country (here), Maryland (here), and beyond (here), please use the corresponding links for some recommendations and inspiration.

Tea Around Town in Washington, DC Review

About Tea Around Town:

You’ve probably seen others sharing their own Tea Around Town experiences over on social media and may be wondering … what exactly is it?! Tea Around Town is a 90-minute unique sightseeing and high tea experience where guests get to enjoy a high tea while on a double decker bus sightseeing around town. The double decker bus is decked out in all-things PINK for a lovely high tea. All guests are given complimentary water and high tea treats, from sweets to savory, and samples of four different teas all while listening to lovely music and being given a guided bus tour of the city that they are in. Every guest gets to take home an adorable souvenir tumbler to commemorate the occasion!

Currently, Tea Around Town is offering high teas and tours in the following cities:

Washington, DC
New York City
Houston
Dallas
Atlanta
Philadelphia

Tea Around Town also has two different fares for guests to choose from:

Petite – offering a private table, high tea, 360 degrees sky deck seating, and a souvenir tumbler
Luxe – in addition to all of the Petite fare offerings, the Luxe fare offers an enhanced menu including lobster rolls and caviar, a delightful mocktail, and priority boarding

See more about Tea Around Town & book your experience here.

My Experience:

Now that you know a bit more about Tea Around Town, it’s time for my Tea Around Town in Washington, DC review! As previously mentioned, this post is not sponsored and contains my own honest and authentic opinions as well as if I would do this experience again.

It is important to note that all Tea Around Town guests must be approximately 15 minutes early for prompt boarding and tour takeoff. Each of us arrived promptly for boarding and were excitedly greeted by the ultra-kind Tea Around Town staff on-board. In terms of accessibility as we were on the top level of the double decker bus, the staff kindly assisted each of us as we entered and departed to make it a as seamless as possible process. When it comes to seating, there were 6 of us celebrating Briana’s birthday for our lovely high tea experience and tour and we were seated on the same row with a table for four and a table for two with an aisle separating us. The seating arrangements made our experience perfect for interacting with one another and truly getting to celebrate Briana and catch up. Overall, the boarding process was lovely and ultra-accommodating!

Once our bus took off to show off Washington, DC to us, our high tea began! Upon arrival all of our high tea eats (one three tier platter per group of two!), souvenir cup, and complimentary water and mocktails were waiting for us. Our high tea eats were covered in clear wrap, which was honestly a bit of a tedious and annoying process to unwrap. Honestly, it’s something I wished that our staff would have helped us with. Throughout our high tea experience, we were given pours of four unique teas – which honestly I don’t remember what they were – but they were lovely to taste. As for the high tea eats, I wasn’t the biggest fan of how they tasted and neither did those in my party. They felt like pre-packaged airline food and nothing really special and exciting. I honestly didn’t eat a ton and was glad that I had brunch beforehand. When it came to the teas, I felt a bit rushed when the staff came back for more pours of the four teas. I wanted to truly savor the teas that I was given, and I felt a bit rushed. When the staff came around for the next tea, we were sometimes still working on the previous tea. Given the cost of the experience ($100+ with tax and fees) I would have liked to enjoy better food for our high tea experience.

Throughout our tour, we were able to simply chat and enjoy a high tea with those that we came with. We went all around Washington, DC from the Capitol to the Jefferson Memorial to everything in between. Each city has its own unique route and routes can change given city events. One of the things that my group and I struggled with was hearing the guided tour portion of our Tea Around Town experience. There was a lovely guide sharing all of the tea on Washington, DC’s sights to see, however, we continuously struggled amongst the ongoing music and talking to really hear what was being said. Thus, if you’re looking to enjoy a nice sightseeing tour of the city in which you’re doing Tea Around Town in, I would not recommend this vendor for that. Rather, Tea Around Town is more for the high tea experience on a sightseeing bus with a limited guided experience.

One of the highlights that we all experienced on our Tea Around Town experience was the enthusiasm from the lovely staff. The people truly made our experience special and they were so hospitable the entire time and lovely to talk to! While on board, the staff sang “Happy Birthday” to Briana and our fellow Tea Around Town guests celebrating their birthdays which was SOOO special. And, one of the fellow guests on board out of the kindness of her heart used her mega singing talent to beautifully serenade Briana for her birthday. The personal touches and the people we met throughout our experience were LOVELY!

Would I Do Tea Around Town again?!

No.

Overall, Tea Around Town in Washington, DC was a nice one-time experience. It was a great venue for celebrating Briana’s birthday and to truly allow her to feel special on her special day. And while the people and entertainment were great while on board, the lack of a guided tour, the rushed pouring of teas, and the not-so delicious high tea eats make Tea Around Town something that I would do only once. Personally, I feel that this is a great experience to do once if you really want to, especially if it’s for a fun celebratory experience such as a birthday, Bachelorette, etc. It’s fun to dress up and be with those that you love! However, I would not recommend Tea Around Town if you’re looking for a high tea experience or a sightseeing bus tour of a new-to-you city – I would go elsewhere either way especially for the cost. Honestly, at the end of the day, I feel you go on Tea Around Town for the hype of it and for the vibes and less for the food and high tea experience. It’s a great time to connect and celebrate with others once but not twice.

Wrap-Up:

I loved experiencing Tea Around Town in Washington, DC as a special celebration for Briana and those that we all love. I am so grateful that I got to experience Tea Around Town for myself. Overall, if you want to give Tea Around Town a try, I say do so!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Currently Eyeing: 35 Preppy and Grand Millennial Coffee Mugs

A few weeks ago over on my Instagram (let’s be friends @_thepinkchickadee), some of my home decor posts from a few years ago (see all of them here!) started to gain traction. Andddd this newfound social media traction in the interior design realm of things got me wanting to start sharing more of it with y’all on all of my channels! It was really exciting to see something that I hadn’t really focused on sharing as much in recent times gain so much excitement amongst my audience and even attract new friends to my audience. SO, nevertheless, thank YOU for your support and for being here! I am SO excited to share more home decor content here, including today’s blog post. One of my favorite things to collect that I use multiple times a day at home and I know YOU do too is … MUGS. One of the BEST things about mugs is that they’re usually a low cost and high use product to add to your kitchen. So, today I have rounded up several adorable preppy and grand millennial coffee mugs to add to your collection.

Luckily for YOU, I have already done the shopping and rounded up 35 preppy and grand millennial coffee mugs most of which are budget-friendly with a few splurges in between. SO, why not treat yourself to a brand-new preppy and grand millennial coffee mug?!?!

35 Preppy and Grand Millennial Coffee Mugs

Happy shopping!!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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How To Launder Lilly Pulitzer

***Please note that this How To Launder Lilly Pulitzer guide will be updated and recirculated periodically to reflect the most up-to-date information. This guide was most recently updated as of July 2026.***

If you know me, then you know that Lilly Pulitzer is my favorite fashion brand! With its bright colors and prints coming in delicate fabrics, it may come as a challenge to launder your Lilly Pulitzer garments. As someone who values convenience over time most of the time, I am going to share some tips for taking your Lilly Pulitzer finds to the local laundromat or how to laundering Lilly Pulitzer yourself (which can even be a bonus when you are on the road!!!).

For more preppy style & grand millennial home content, check out my Preppy Fashion & Grand Millennial Home page.

Interested in getting the latest scoop on all the preppy + grand millennial fashion and decor (& more!) deals?!?! Be sure to join in on the fun over on Substack!

How To Launder Lilly Pulitzer

What I Regularly Use to Launder Lilly Pulitzer

To shop current Lilly Pulitzer products, look no further than the Lilly Pulitzer website using this link.

Laundromats

Wherever you may be, locally-owned Laurdromats are probably near by. The majority of them are corn-operated, as seen in the movie’s. One of my latest and favorite laundromats is The Clothes Spin. The Clothes Spin is a laundromat that is based in Lynchburg, Virginia. Unlike the majority of laundromats, The Clothes Spin has 24/7 access for all of their customers. That being said, you can easily come in and launder your garments when it best fits for your schedule. The best part of it all?! This 24/7 laundromat located in Madison Heights allows you to pay for you to wash your clothing through an app rather than with change! I most definitely do not carry huge chunks of change in my pocket anymore, and I know many others who do not either.

Tips For Laundering Lilly Pulitzer

Whether or not you choose to go to a laundromat or launder your Lilly Pulitzer garments at home, there are quite a few do’s and don’t’s that will make it so much more helpful for you to take care of your garments to the best that you can. I have washed my Lilly Pulitzer and do pretty frequently. Knock on wood, I have not had that many issues with washing them, as I strictly follow these do’s and don’t’s as well as the tips that I also list below, too.

Do’s

Wash in cold water, in order to prevent shrinking and color run
Wash your white’s and colored clothing separately, in order to prevent color bleeding on your white garments (no one wants a white shirt to unintentionally become pink!)
Wash garments with embroidery inside out. Embroidery may include pom poms, sequins, or delicate buttons.
Hang or lay your Lilly Pulitzer to dry, rather than drying it! This will prevent your garments from shrinking. If the garment is 100% cotton, then most definitely be sure to lay or hang it to dry as it will shrink a size if put in the dryer!
Wash garments inside out, in order to prevent pilling

Don’t’s

Wash light-colored garments and dark-colored garments together. Darker colored clothing items can rinse into lighter colored clothing items, which can most definitely change their colors. Typically, I wash my whites separately from all of the other colored garments and have not had many issues.
Put 100% cotton, cashmere, sweaters, or other vulnerable garments into the dryer – they will shrink a size! It’s best to lie them flat to dry.
Hang popovers or Finn tees to dry. The shoulders will be stretched out. Rather, lay them flat to dry.

Detergent & Bleach

I am a loyal Tide user. Ever since I went off to college, I have used Tide detergent in the scent April Spring. To go with it, I use Febreeze Fabric Softener in the same exact scent. However, recently, I have used Kirkland’s detergents and fabric softeners from Costco that actually come in a similar scent. Personally, I am someone who is extremely particular about the way my clothing and things smell, so it works well for me. As for bleach, I find OxiClean, a classic soap and water combination (especially when traveling!), or Tide To Go to be one of the best out there! Not only does it do the job, but it does the job well!

When it comes to traveling, running around on the go, or being on a time crunch, having something such as Tide To Go and anti-wrinkle spray has been my best friend when I have either a stain, wrinkle, or both!

Regular Wash VS Delicate Wash

When washing Lilly Pulitzer garments, it varies per item which type of wash that you would want to do on your washing machine. For most garments, I use regular, however, for some I use the delicate wash. I have listed down below what type of wash I use for which Lilly Pulitzer styles that I own!

Regular Wash

Sophie shift
Mila shift
All Luxletic products
Delia shift
Ophelia shift
Kelly pants
Adalee shift
Skirts/skorts
Popovers
Cotton tops (including cotton Elsa’s, Essie’s, and Etta’s)

Delicate Wash

Elsa Tops (especially those coming in silk fabrics)
Anything with embroidery (i.e. pom poms, sequins, delicate buttons)
Anything that is cashmere
Scarfs or wraps

To shop current Lilly Pulitzer products, look no further than the Lilly Pulitzer website using this link.

Wrap-Up

However you choose to launder your Lilly Pulitzer garments, the consistency that you choose to wash them is key. Over the years, I have remained consistent in my techniques for washing my Lilly, and it has worked. That being said, whatever works for you is what you should do!

XOXO – Katie <3

A special thank you to The Clothes Spin for sponsoring this blog post. Without their support, The Pink Chickadee wouldn’t be where it is today.

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5 Car-Free Day Trips From Dublin, Ireland

As I’m writing this, this time a year ago I was on my first-ever incredible solo adventure to Ireland. My solo adventure to Ireland is one of the best things I’ve ever done for myself. Throughout my time in Ireland, I decided to create a home base for myself in Dublin (here), given that I am NOT interested in solo driving on the other side of the road – LOLLLL! Not only did my solo adventure teach me tons about myself, but it also taught me so much about Ireland, including how to visit different places within the Emerald Isle and meet so many incredible people and hear so many impactful stories all along the way. During my trip, I took 5 car-free day trips from Dublin, Ireland via local bus tour operators.

For more travel abroad inspiration, check out my exploring 50 Countries Expedition page.

Where To Book?!

If you’re considering I highly recommend downloading the GetYourGuide app on your phone to help you select which day trip(s) make the most sense for you. That way, you’re able to see which tour operators have availability on the days that work for you given your group’s interests and preferences.

Additionally, if you’re looking for lodging while in Dublin, Ireland, there are plenty of options to choose from!

5 Car-Free Day Trips from Dublin, Ireland

1 – Cork County

Cork County, Ireland covers the majority of Ireland’s southwest coast upwards. From fertile farmlands and castle country to the North to rugged coastlines and peninsulas to the South, Cork County, Ireland truly has it all. It is also home to Ireland’s second-largest city and the 2nd stop on my Ireland tour … Cork! Cork is home to much of Ireland’s tech hub, having both Apple’s and Amazon’s international headquarters (including several other tech companies) located there. Some of the most notable sights in Cork County (which I saw on my incredible day there) include Rock of Cashel and Blarney Castle which is home to the well-known Blarney Stone.

Book your Cork County adventure here.

Read more about my day trip to Cork County here.

2 – Cliffs of Moher

The Cliffs of Moher are rugged cliffs that stretch approximately 14 kilometers across Ireland’s Atlantic Way in County Clare. The Cliffs of Moher are walkable and you can *even* hike across them, too, although it may not be highly suggested throughout parts of it. Just like with Netflix’s Irish Wish, the Cliffs of Moher are featured in several well-known films, photos, etc. Truly, I GASPED when I saw the Cliffs of Moher in-person, as it was such a grand sight to see!

Book your Cliffs of Moher adventure here.

Read more about my day trip to the Cliffs of Moher here.

3 – Northern Ireland (Giant’s Causeway & Belfast)

Northern Ireland is apart of the United Kingdom, sitting on a part of the Emerald Isle aka Ireland. Ireland is a predominantly Catholic nation, whereas, Northern Ireland, a British territory has a Protestant majority. Though Northern Ireland has a Protestant majority, it does have a Catholic minority and hence caused conflicts between the residents: a Protestant majority who wanted Northern Ireland to remain apart of the United Kingdom and a Catholic minority who wanted Northern Ireland to reunify with Ireland. From 1968-1998, Belfast as the heart of Northern Ireland, was central to these secular conflicts that created unrest worldwide. As a result of these conflicts, over 3,500 people died with many more people injured and a heightened level of trauma, suffering, and anxiety face and linger amongst the people of Northern Ireland to this day. It is said, according to the tour guide, that the people of Northern Ireland are known to have a darker sense of humor as a way to cope with the things that they’ve been through over the decades. And, in some towns, such as Londonderry, Northern Ireland, the Catholic people and Protestant people remain separated to some extent. I find it important to share the history of Northern Ireland as it shows the power that conflict has in our world as a whole and especially in Northern Ireland and with their people and culture. While a small part of the world, a brutal 3-decades long conflict is still significant as shown throughout Northern Ireland.

Book your Northern Ireland adventure here.

Read more about my day trip to Belfast and Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland here and here.

4 – Connemara

Connemara is rather remote for Ireland (which is a country the size of the state of South Carolina in the United States!), yet boasts some unique stories. With a population of ~32,000 people, Connemara is the only region in Ireland where the majority of its population speaks the native Irish language. In fact, Irish families send their kids in ~middle school-high school for a Summer away to stay with a host family in Connemara to learn their native tongue. I learned from my tour guide that some of the Irish’s Summers away in Connemara were where many teenagers experienced their first kiss, went to parties, went on dates, and more! Connemara’s economy is mostly focused on agriculture, fishing, artisan crafts, and tourism. One of the most distinct things about Connemara is its gorgeously unique landscapes and scenery playing homage to Ireland’s only fjord.

Book your Connemara adventure here.

Read more about my day trip to Connemara here.

5 – Glendalough

Located in a glacial valley with two stunning adjacent lakes within the gorgeous Wicklow Mountains, Glendalough is home to a 6th century monastic heritage sight. This 6th century monastic heritage sight was founded by St. Kevin who resided there as a hermit and attracted followers of the Christian faith who aspired to do the same. Indeed, Glendalough is a placed of pilgrimage and has been for over 1,500 years. While not much is accurately known about St. Kevin’s time at Glendalough, stories have been passed down over the centuries, some of which are of Irish mythology (which is contains a fascinating array of stories in itself!). Surrounded by natural beauty with an upper and lower lake, the Wicklow Mountains, the remains of two mining sites, and the monastic settlement, truly Glendalough is a peaceful place to simply reflect, enjoy your surroundings, and feel pride for those that have done the same before us. Learn more here, including information on the first-ever pilgrimage aka a series of walks on St. Kevin’s day on June 1, 2024!

Book your Glendalough adventure here.

Read more about my day trip to Glendalough here.

Wrap-Up

Ireland is truly such a magical country and there are so many options to see the Emerald Isle without the hassle of driving. Dublin is an excellent city and home basis within Ireland, making most of the country easily accessible within a day’s trip reach. Truly, there are SO many car-free day trips to take from Dublin!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Porto, Portugal Travel Guide

Annddddd after a week in Spain via Madrid and Barcelona, I headed for 2 days in Porto, Portugal while my best friend Shivani went elsewhere. It was a LOVELY time getting to explore a brand new-to-me city in a brand new-to-me country solo before our final stretch of our European adventure in Lisbon, Portugal. I was drawn to Porto due to its appealing historic charm, beautiful tile work, and Port wine. Nevertheless, Porto totally blew me away and I cannot wait to come back to this coastal Portuguese city!

For more travel abroad inspiration, check out my exploring 50 Countries Expedition page.

Porto, Portugal Travel Guide

About Porto:

Located alongside the Douro River in northwestern Portugal, Porto is a coastal city notorious for producing Port wine and its iconic Six Bridges. It is the second largest city in Portugal (after Lisbon) and has a vast industrial industry in addition to producing Port wine. Porto also has gorgeous cobblestone streets with a beautiful a lively historic district and several tile-lined walls and ancient churches. Personally, I found Porto to be an extremely walkable city filled with lively and colorful buildings as well as distinct architecture that I had never seen before! Porto has also been known to be an extremely romantic city with its charming streets and unique cafes and restaurants, as well as stunning riverside views and … PORT WINE!

One of the biggest things that I’ll mention about Porto and Portugal as a whole is HOW CHEAP it is to travel there! From Ubers with tips being under $20 USD to/from the airport to most meals being under $30 USD with drinks and tip, you can truly have a lovely time in Portugal without breaking the bank.

Getting There (From Spain):

I ended up traveling from Barcelona, Spain (see my adventures there here!) to Porto, Portugal. Coming from Spain to Portugal, it is much easier to travel via plane than train, as direct international train rides are pretty limited on the Iberian Peninsula and bus rides are pretty long. Being fully transparent, I experienced a pretty stressful time at the Barcelona Airport flying to Porto, Portugal. I ended up flying RyanAir, as it was the cheapest option and will likely choose not to fly RyanAir again moving forward if given the choice. Here are my tips for navigating RyanAir and European airports if you do fly within Europe:

Most airports won’t post your gate upon entering Security until about 30-45 minutes before boarding the plane. That being said, make use of your time at the terminal if you do arrive at the airport and make it through security early. Perhaps, grab a snack or a drink or *even* do a little bit of Duty-Free shopping as most European airports have plenty of Duty-Free shopping opportunities!
Some budget airlines won’t allow you to check your bag if you arrive too early to the airport. Airlines (such as RyanAir) will make you wait until a certain time before your plane departs to have you even get in line to check your bags. This happened to me and it was very frustrating at first, but it is something that the airlines across the Atlantic do in terms of crowd control.
RyanAir and potentially other budget airlines will have you stand in line to board your plane. The boarding process is rather than organized in into boarding groups, but is based on priority boarding versus general boarding. People upon immediately arriving at the gate will wait in line to get the first dibs on boarding.

Overall, I found the RyanAir flying experience to be an extremely stressful one for me. I learned while in Barcelona from other fellow Europeans that this airline gets a bad reputation and I honestly see why. However, I am aware that sometimes flying budget airlines such as RyanAir may be someone’s only option in terms of travel and should not deter you or anyone else from traveling. Instead, I’d rather empower you and others with the tips to best navigate flying a budget airlines such as RyanAir if you do so.

Where To Stay:

I stayed at the beautiful Vincci Porto alongside the iconic Douro River. Overlooking my hotel room, I had a beautiful view of the colorful Porto skyline! Within the mini fridge, there was a mini bottle of Port Wine – which Porto is *very* well-known for at an additional cost that I enjoyed throughout my stay. And, immediately upon exiting the doors of Vincci Porto, I was greeted not only by the beautiful Douro River but also one of the city’s well-known Six Bridges. I ended up ordering room service one night while at Vincci Porto and it definitely impressed me alongside their delicious breakfast, which you can opt to include within your reservation upon reserving or during your stay. Although this hotel is not within the heart of Porto’s city center and is about a scenic 15-20 minute walk, its riverside location and overall luxury definitely adds to its appeal! Overall, I was pretty impressed with the quality and overall value of Vincci Porto. I would definitely stay at Vincci Porto next time I visit Porto, as I loved the additional opportunities to get lost in the city’s magical streets!

What To Do:

Port Wine tasting + tour at Calem – Calem is one of Porto’s many Port wine wineries! I learned ALL about Port wine also known as port – a Portuguese fortified wine which is produced in Northern Portugal’s Douro Valley region – while on a guided tour of Calem. Throughout my guided tour, my group’s wonderful guide transported us to the world of developing Port wine, from the temperature-controlled rooms full of barrels producing it, to learning about port food pairings, and the heritage of what Portugal proudly calls a “spiritual drink.” At the end of the guided tour, a complimentary Port wine flight and tasting was included and such a lovely time to end the tour! Book your guided tour at Calem or one of Porto’s many other wineries producing Port wine via GetYourGuide.

Wander alongside the Douro River and walk across the Six Bridges – One of the best ways to savor your time in Porto is to simply enjoy the several waterfront views alongside the city’s notable Six Bridges. Visitors can also walk across several of the Six Bridges, too, via pedestrian walkways (I recommend following the people and crowds, though, for safety purposes whenever you do!). Whether it be sunrise, sunset, or midday, you will easily never get over the riverside beauty and charm that Porto has to offer!

Port Wine tasting at Ramos Pinto – Ramos Pinto is one of the Douro Valley’s oldest and well-known wine producers. After walking across one of Porto’s notable Six Bridges, I found myself strolling into Ramos Pinto for a nice glass of Port wine within its tasting room. Ramos Pinto also offers tastings, too!

Get lost in the streets – One of my absolute FAVORITE things to do when I travel as previously mentioned in both my Madrid and Barcelona posts (here and here), especially when in a brand new-to-me city is to simply get lost in the streets. Luckily for you, Porto is home to some of the most brightest and colorful buildings, some of which consist of unique tile work on its magnificent structures. Portugal is known for its gorgeous tiles and Porto has no shortage of them!

Take a Six Bridges Douro River Cruise – An excellent way to learn more about wonderful Porto is to see the city on the river via a Six Bridges River Cruise. I opted to do a Sunday afternoon river cruise lasting approximately an hour, which was a great way to see the city in Portugal’s semi-chilly late February weather. Personally, I could not stop snapping photos on my camera and getting to know Porto from the river! Book your Six Bridges Douro River Cruise via GetYourGuide.

Where To Eat:

UVA By Calem – Offering a friendly atmosphere and quality hospitality while overlooking Porto, UVA By Calem focuses on curating delicious Portuguese eats with incredible wine pairings to top it all off!

Miradouro Ignez – A hilltop terrace bar overlooking the city as well as the Douro River. Coincidentally, I happened to stumble upon this lovely spot upon getting lost in the stunning Porto streets near my hotel. And, Miradouro Ignez was a TOTAL surprise and dream come true of a spot to be, as I happened to show up during sunset. Indeed, a right place at the right time moment!!

Restaurante Provas – A riverside restaurant overlooking Porto, Restaurante Provas had some of the BEST seafood dishes that I’ve ever had! Truly, I was blown away by the high-quality Portuguese cuisine that is offered.

Tasquinha do Be – Offering Portuguese cuisine with gluten-free and other dietary-friendly options, Tasquinha do Be has extremely friendly staff that make you feel right at home alongside their menu full of authentic eats and beverages.

Wrap-Up:

With its magical lust from vast tile work to colorful architecture and the river and port, Porto is seriously such a lovely gem of a place. Not only does Porto make for an incredible romantic destination to add to your European getaway, but it is also just as perfect of a destination to add to your solo European getaway, too. Through it all, I am SO glad that I visited Porto and I hope this post has shown you the love I have for this amazingly vibrant city, too!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Hill House Nap Dress Review

***Please note that this Hill House Nap Dress Review will be updated and recirculated periodically to reflect the most up-to-date information. This review was most recently updated as of March 2026.***

Hello Nap Dress nation and enthusiasts!!! You may be wondering why I’m writing a post all about the Hill House Nap Dress when there are yet SO many dupes out there that I’ve highlighted (here) on the blog. However, as someone who adores this classic staple, I am going to be addressing the question which may be on many of y’all’s minds: is the Hill House Nap Dress really worth it? This review of the Hill House Home Nap Dress will help YOU decide for yourself!

For more preppy style & grand millennial home content, check out my Preppy Fashion & Grand Millennial Home page.

Hill House Nap Dress Review

My Experience:

As a preppy fashion enthusiast and self-proclaimed grand millennial, when the Hill House Nap Dress rose to popularity and caught my eyes on my Instagram feed circa 2021, I was honestly hesitant to click “add to cart” due to its hefty price tag. In recent times, I have noticed the price tag of these iconic dresses (like everything else, honestly) to have risen, too. With the rising cost of living overall, it is definitely a purchase that can feel intimidating and sometimes unattainable. That all being said, this dress IS an investment piece that you will add to your wardrobe.

As someone who finds the Hill House Nap Dress really worth it, I will note that this iconic dress is a classic staple. With its lightweight fabric and flowy nature, the Nap Dresses are perfect for styling for several occasions, whether it be church, celebrations, dinner/drinks out on the town, or even a work day. This dress can be paired with a cardigan or blazer, tights or leggings, sandals or flats or heels, and *even* a sweater/tee underneath it. It is also worth noting that this is a great investment for mothers or mothers to be, as I’ve seen from my fellow content creators in those stages of their life who rave about it! There is SO much innovation and creativity that can come when styling them, too.

I also want to mention that the Hill House Nap Dress is extremely timeless. Not only is it timeless in its classic style and appearance, but also in its nature. The Nap Dress adapts to your body as it changes alongside your life. I’ve experienced some changes with my own body and personal life throughout my time owning a nap dress and the dress has changed with me! HOW special is that?!?!

Where To Buy

The Hill House Nap Dress comes in a variety of styles. In this style guide, I am mostly styling the Ellie Nap Dress. But, it is worth mentioning that Hill House offers SOOOO many incredible nap dress styles in a variety of silhouettes!

Shop the Hill House Nap Dress here!

Would I Buy a Hill House Nap Dress Again?!

The answer is a resounding YES! I have found this popular dress to be well worth the price tag within my own closet. Alongside my several Nap Dress dupes, I have invested in multiple nap dresses since Spring 2022. Nevertheless, my Nap Dresses (and dupes!) have been and continue to be what my hands gravitate towards the most within my own closet. Truly, the Nap Dresses are such a lovely staple to have within my own closet and will remain so for the foreseeable future.

Wrap-Up:

Now that I’ve gushed to you about the Hill House Nap Dress for some time and why I think it is really worth it, the choice is simply up to you on whether or not you should buy it. Personally, I LOVE the Hill House Nap Dress and I’m grateful I’ve taken the plunge to purchasing some of my own. However, the hefty price tag of the it may not be worth it for others, especially if you’re still finding your style and/or simply can’t afford it right now. If either are the case for you, then I highly recommend checking out my suggestions for Hill House Nap Dress dupes (here) and reevaluating purchasing from the brand at another time. Regardless of the decision you make today, Hill House will ALWAYS be there for you if/when you’re ready to take the plunge!

XOXO – Katie <3

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