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Lillyth
Photographed By Evan Sung
Model: Guenia Lemos
Styled by Mikal Saint George
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Top by Thamara Capelão;
Jeans by CAOS;
Sandals by Schutz |
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Top by YES Brazil;
Bracelets by R. Sobral
Tucked away in
a quiet Soho street, the sun and sands of Brazil beckon
to those in the know with a taste for fun and color.
Lillyth offers New Yorkers a taste of some of the highest
end Brazilian designers whose reputations are fixed in
the fashion firmament of Brazil and growing rapidly here
thanks to Lillyth’s popularity. Lillyth is the result
of two Brazilian sisters, Leila Araujo and Lilian Metzger,
who have successfully transplanted their years of fashion
experience in Brazil to the demanding New York scene,
where anything outside of the spectrum of black and grey
is eyed suspiciously. They offer fashionistas a little
refuge of flirty skirts and bold, sexy colors that evoke
the tropical chic of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paolo while
evolving the stereotypes of Brazilian fashion as consisting
of little more than thong bikinis (though you’ll
find some of those too!).
Skirt by CAOS
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Heels by Schutz
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The first Lillyth opened in 2001 in
Astoria, Queens. Leila tells New York Cool that when she
finally moved to New York after visiting her sister here
several times, she realized that there was only one thing
she really knew and loved to do – which was keeping
up with the hottest looks and designers from her native
Brazil. After years operating her own mini-fashion empire,
Amora, back in Bahia-Porto Seguro, Brazil, she had close
connections with the major designers and the hottest looks
and knew there would be a niche for these vivid, breezy
looks here in her adopted city of New York.
Accessories
by R. Sobral
Leila and Lillian often say how surprised
they were to find that people in New York, undeniably
one of the fashion capitals of the world, dressed in such
muted colors. They were also frustrated by the idea most
people had of Brazilian culture and fashion, a perception
largely perpetuated by other Brazilian stores that sold
the same old Carnivale tchotchkes and soccer jerseys.
Leila and Lillian knew that they could bring a more authentic
vision of Brazil to New York City.
Accessories by R. Sobral
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Handbag by CAOS |
As the reputation of Lillyth-Astoria grew, thanks in large
part to a Brazilian ex-pat grapevine, the two opened up
a second branch in Soho in 2003. Leila is constantly on
the run, making appearances at both stores, and dealing
with an onslaught of press and publicity that Lillyth
has been enjoying of late. Lillian keeps a slightly lower-profile
and functions as the primary buyer for the store, returning
often to Brazil to find new product, keeping an eye on
the newest designs from the biggest Brazilian designers
like Schutz, R. Sobral and CAOS, always on the lookout
for something fresh and different.
Top by Thamara
Capelão; Skirt by CAOS
Judging from the response of passers-by,
the formula works. As I spoke to Leila in the SoHo branch
one afternoon, people couldn’t resist the eye-catching
window displays, and were constantly interrupting our
conversation to inquire about various items. And how can
you blame them? Just looking at the palette of warm oranges
and tropical greens is enough to conjure up visions of
the brilliant sun and sand of Rio, or the multicultural
cosmopolitan buzz of Sao Paolo. Next time you feel like
complaining about New York’s unending winters, or
the gray of the concrete jungle. Take a trip to Soho and
look up our friend Lillyth. Brazil is closer than you
think.
Top by Traffico
Lillyth
130 Thompson St - #212 228.4549
31-90 37 th St , Astoria - #718 274.8376
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