“More is More and Less is a Bore” - Celebrating the life and style of Iris Apfel

Larger-than-life designer and businesswoman Iris Apfel was, and still is to this day a fashion icon. Her bold and eccentric style mirrored her vibrant personality, with her looks making waves in the fashion industry. As a self-proclaimed “geriatric starlet”, Iris showed the world that aging isn’t something to be afraid of, becoming a pioneer of the growing old (dis)gracefully movement. Known for her oversized round glasses, statement jewellery and eclectic mixtures of patterns and colours, Iris Apfel became a symbol of maximalism and self-expression.

Her journey into design began with a love for art and fashion from a young age, sharing a passion for clothing with her mother who ran a fashion boutique. She would often take the subway to Manhattan to explore vintage shops and start building her unique collection of jewellery that she is so renowned. She also learned skills like sewing and repairing during the Great Depression. She attended New York University, studying art history and later attended Wisconsin’s Fine Arts School.

From there she delved into the fashion world, becoming a copywriter and textile correspondent for Women’s Wear Daily. The fashionista met her husband of 67 years and biggest supporter, Carl Apfel, and the two married in 1948. Two years later, the couple launched a textiles company, Old World Weavers, dedicated to replicating antique fabrics.

To say her career in interior design took off would be an understatement. She began taking on private clients such as Estée Lauder and became a restoration consultant for the administrations of nine US presidents, working on projects including curtains, upholstery, draperies, and other fabrics. Iris and Carl travelled the world together, sourcing inspiration for their business, up until their retirement and Carl’s passing in 2015 (aged 100).

Iris Apfel and Carl Apfel's Marriage: All About Their Decades-Long Romance (people.com)

Iris didn’t just stop there. Even after retirement, her ambition showed no bounds. In an interview with Dazed Magazine in 2012, she remarked: “Just because you get to a certain number doesn’t mean you have to roll up into a ball and wait for the grim reaper.”

At 83, she collaborated with The Met to put on an exhibition “Rara Avis: The Irreverent Iris Apfel” in 2005, showcasing remarkable pieces from her wardrobe and expansive jewellery collection she had gathered throughout her life and cementing her status as an influential figure in fashion. The exhibition was a huge success, garnering the attention of prominent designers Karl Lagerfeld and Giorgio Armani.

If there is one thing you could be sure of when Iris attended an event, it was that she would be showing up dressed to impress, sporting her signature look of bold, innovative designs, and of course a lot of bangles. Yet she always found a way to surprise and wow with her looks.

It’s hard to summarise all of the collaborations and achievements Iris accomplished in her life. A documentary by Albert Maysles called Iris was released in 2014, showcasing the warm relationship between the two as stated in a review in the New Yorker.  In 2016 she announced a collaboration with WiseWear, launching a collection of smart jewellery. She became the face of many brands like MAC cosmetics, and it wasn’t uncommon to see her face plastered on the covers of magazines.

At the age of 94 she released her aptly named biography Iris Apfel: An accidental icon, full of anecdotes and thoughts on fashion and style. She even had a Barbie released alongside the book release created in her image, making her the oldest person to have a Barbie made after her. Up until a year before her passing, Iris was working on collaborations, landing her first beauty campaign with Ciate London.

Iris has been a prominent figure in fashion, but her impact on pushing age positivity is something she will always be remembered for also. In 2013 she was listed as one of the best dressed people over 50 by The Guardian.

“I don’t see anything wrong with a wrinkle,” she famously stated. “It’s kind of a badge of courage. I’m old enough to have earned every one of them.”

Throughout her incredible life to her passing at aged 102 in March this year, Iris has undoubtedly put her mark on the world and in our hearts, showing that age truly has no bounds. Her legacy will go on forever, inspiring people of all ages to embrace their individuality and express themselves through their fashion choices. Her success at an old age serves as a reminder that it is never too late to do the thing you love, whether that’s in fashion or otherwise.

“You’ve got to try it. You’ve only got one trip; you have to remember that.” - Iris Apfel