Image courtesy of seattlemag.com
Fashion Reverie looks at the life and career of businesswoman and fashion icon Iris Apfel. Often we like to call these articles fashion flashbacks; however, in Iris Apfel’s case Fashion Reverie is not looking back, but reflecting on her unusual and phenomenal fashion life. At age 93, Iris Apfel is still going strong and a recent Albert Maysles documentary on her, “Iris,” is a testimony that she is still living a rich, stylish life and making grand entrances.
Born in Queens, NY, Iris Apfel (born Barrel) studied art history at New York University and the University of Wisconsin. She worked at Women’s Wear Daily and for interior designer Elinor Johnson before opening a textile/interior design firm, Old World Weavers, with her husband Carl Apfel in 1948. From 1952 to 1992, Iris Apfel was involved in several restoration projects for the White House that included the presidencies of Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Ford, Carter, Reagan, and Bill Clinton.
Image courtesy of glamazonsblog.com
Never considered a great beauty. She was told by Frieda Loehmann, founder of the famed Loehmann’s department store, “You’re not pretty and you’ll never be pretty, but if doesn’t matter. You have something better. You have style.” Iris took this somber advice to heart and become known for wearing large-rimmed glasses, lots of bracelets and necklaces and crazy quilt color combinations that when mixed together seemed to work for her.
Though Iris has been known in fashion circles for several decades, she didn’t become an “It” fashion icon until there was an exhibition of her inimitable style at the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2005, Now, Iris has a jewelry line on HSN and as spring 2015 Kate Spade campaign with Supermodel Karlie Kloss.
Image courtesy of furinsider.com
At 93, this grande dame of fashion is getting her just desserts; still, modesty and wisdom prevail. “Real fashion isn’t about pleasing people around you, but about pleasing yourself… It is better to be happy than to be well-dressed.” Aptly put, Iris.
—Staff
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