Palm Beach has always had its own particular style—a cocktail of old money, old rules, and a kind of tropical exuberance—dating back to the late 19th century, when Henry Flagler extended his Florida East Coast Railway south and opened the Breakers, drawing wealthy Northerners down for the “season.” Lily Pulitzer launched her brightly printed dresses in the 1950s, making pink and green a local shorthand, while Slim Aarons cemented its reputation for glamorous leisure. The look remains preppy, polished, and a little playful—pastels, palms, wicker, and chintz, with a dash of madras and batik. Compared with Miami, Palm Beach is more discreet, and while the old codes still survive, a new generation has been loosening things up in refreshing ways.
Jack Rogers Sandals originated in Palm Beach in 1960 (after Jackie Kennedy brought back a pair of sandals from Capri and had them copied here) and still are an iconic staple of a chic warm-weather holiday.
No photographer captures the spirit of Palm Beach like Slim Aarons, which he described as the “queen of winter resorts.” He spent time there throughout his entire career, photographing society and the leisure class and his work (published in books such as Style) embodies the essence of the town like no other. Framed prints of “Young Society,” “Lake Worth,” and “Nice Pool” bring the feeling home.
Palm Beach has always had a major convertible culture—cruising the Dixie Highway in a vintage Mercedes SL from the ‘80s/’90s is our dream way to hit all of the vintage and thrift shops in town.
Wicker bags that mimic our favorite Palm Beach porch and lawn furniture. This Clare V one comes fitted with a bamboo handle even more fitting for the destination, and for a more minimalist option, we love this mini bag by Hunting Season. Frances Valentine makes another great option in clutch form. Straight from Palm Beach, this bucket bag from The Nix is pretty quintessential.
Nothing says old-school prep like bamboo accents. These place-card holders and napkin rings are perfect for PB hosting.
While Lily Pulitzer has strayed a bit too far from its iconic preppy roots, thankfully there’s a surplus of vintage items on eBay. Their capri pants are a standout, as well as the timeless shift-dress style worn by so many of the ladies photographed by Slim Aarons.
For a more subdued version, these are great.
For him: a Brooks Brothers patchwork Madras sport coat.
For her: a pair of patch madras shorts, or a wrap skirt.
For the dog: a matching madras bandana.
Vintage jewelry by David Webb, who had a store in Palm Beach from 1963-1982. There are still amazing collections of his work available for sale on The Real Real.
Stubbs & Wootton slippers originated in Palm Beach in 1993, and still grace the feet of many PB locals in Florida and beyond!
Palmer Palm Beach Magazine is a beautiful coffee-table style quarterly publication helmed by Stefano Tonchi, who was a visionary editor at both W and T Magazines.
This Pucci dress in a more muted color scheme…
These Bode Pink seersucker trousers and these linen Bermuda shorts put a fun spin on traditional prep.
Shrimp cocktails—topping class Palm Beach menus for decades, with a color palette to match.
An adorable terry set perfect for going from club to beach. (Top and Shorts.)
Rianna and Nina’s dresses capture the exuberant colors of Palm Beach on fabric.
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