Iris Apfel: 102 years of Flamboyant Fashion – Lauren S
One of fashion’s most extravagant stars passed away last week, after a life devoted to furbishing the White House and putting together colourful combinations, and I thought it would be fitting to shed some light on this incredible woman’s life.
Style icon, business woman and interior designer Iris Apfel was certainly not one to shy away from vibrant colours and flamboyant accessories. Known for her particularly bold fashion choices – especially her oversized glasses – Apfel arguably had an eye for fashion in her blood. The grand-daughter of a master tailor in Russia, she grew up surrounded by her mother’s fashion-shop, and had a broad appreciation for fashion from a young age.
Apfel and her husband together set up an interior design company – Old World Weavers – and ended up refurbishing the White House (in secret, of course!) under several US presidents. Safe to say this business was a success! The pair supposedly retired from this Old World Weavers in 1992, selling the company, but less than two decades later, Iris was the subject of a show at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York (The Met) and spent the next two decades in the public eye. The collection on display was simply made out of her wardrobe: her own accessories, her own clothes – they all came together to form 82 ensembles! I wish my wardrobe was that big!
Following her ‘accidental’ success, she wrote a book in 2007 and, as she progressed into her 80s and 90s, re-entered full time employment. For the first time, aged 97, she had a proper modelling agent, and even modelled for vogue.
Well renowned amongst some of fashion’s most famous names, designers like Tommy Hilfiger have nothing but positive things to say about her. She passed away on the 1st March 2024, aged 102.
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