The day before she passed, on 29 February, Iris Apfel celebrated her '102 and a half' birthday on Instagram with an ironic and funny post that fit her style perfectly. Eccentric, bright like the colours and accessories she liked to wear, and at the same time sincere and wise, Iris Apfel has left an indelible mark on the worlds of fashion and design.
Iris Barrel was born on 29 August 1921 in Astoria, Queens, New York. After completing her history degree at New York University and attending the Academy of Art at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, she began working as a copywriter for Women's Wear Daily magazine. In 1948 she married Carl Apfel, with whom she also collaborated artistically. Their marriage lasted 67 years, until Carl died in 2015 at the age of 100.
Iris Apfel became famous for her unique style, characterised by mixing haute couture and unique pieces found in flea markets, as well as eye-catching and multicoloured jewellery and the unmistakable glasses that became her distinctive trademark. She worked as a fashion designer and interior designer, even curating the interiors of the White House for nine presidents, from Harry Truman to Bill Clinton. Her long career led her to collaborate with world-famous brands like H&M, Ruggable, Ciaté London and Bernardaud. Her extraordinary collection of dresses, exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum in New York in 2005, is a tangible testimony to her passion for art and fashion.
Want to receive more articles like this via email? Sign up to our newsletter!
Apfel was a beloved figure on social media, with millions of followers who adored her lively, positive and authentic spirit and fabulous fashions. A self-proclaimed 'Geriatric Starlet', she always had a story ready to share with anyone who interviewed her. And she gave the world mottos and phrases that will remain forever embedded in the minds of fashion lovers: "More is more and less is a bore;" "Fashion you can buy, but style you possess;" and "When you don't dress like everybody else, you don't have to think like everybody else."
In 2018, Mattel created a Barbie in Apfel's image to celebrate her look. That same year, Harper Collins published her biography Iris Apfel: Accidental Icon, calling her a woman who "transcends time and trends." The following year, at 97, she signed a contract with the famous modelling agency IMG.
Iris died at the age of 102 at her residence in Palm Beach, Florida, on 1 March 2024. Throughout her career, she has always encouraged others to be themselves and "dare to be different," a message that will continue to resonate as her lasting legacy.
