Iris Apfel, the interior designer and fashion icon known for her eccentric style, has died aged 102. Her death was confirmed by her agent, Lori Sale, who described Apfel as “wonderful”.
She began her career as a copywriter for Women’s Wear Daily and interior designer Elinor Johnson. In 1948 she married her husband Carl Apfel and they owned a textile company until they retired after 44 years. Over the years, the couple took on big and great projects, including the White House.
“You have mastered the art of living. Thank you”
She became a model at the age of 97 and worked with Vogue Italia, Kate Spade and MAC. She was also the oldest person for whom Mattel made a Barbie doll.
The news of her death was followed by farewells on social media.
“What a remarkable life Iris Apfel lived. He really did it all. She was an entrepreneur, model, fashion icon, college professor, documentary star, Barbie doll. Iris Apfel is the true proof that age is just a number,” wrote Maria Shriver.
“You have mastered the art of living. Thank you for your energy and inspiration” underlined Lenny Kravitz.
Iris Apfel in her own words
For style
1. “If I missed the fun of dressing up, I might as well be dead.”
2. “Life is gray and boring, so you might as well have a little fun getting dressed.”
3. “When you don’t dress like everyone else, then you don’t have to think like everyone else
4. “No amount of money can buy you style. It’s just instinctive.”
5. “I don’t dress to be looked at, I dress for myself.”
6. “If your hair is well done and you wear good shoes, you can do anything.”
7. “Personal style is an extreme curiosity about ourselves.”
8. “Being well dressed is a wonderful thing, but I don’t think it’s a matter of life and death.”
9. “Clothes are not decorative. If put together properly, they can be an art form.”
10. “Color can raise the dead.”
For self-awareness and development
11. “You can buy fashion, but you own style. The key to style is learning who you are, which takes years. There is no road map on how to find style. It’s about self-expression and, above all, about behavior.”
12. “If you’re not constantly learning, you’re not growing and you’re languishing. Too many people wither… on the vine. Sure, it gets a little harder as you get older, but new experiences and new challenges keep it fresh.”
13. “You learn as you get older, if you’re smart—or even three-quarters smart—that there’s no such thing as a free lunch. You pay for things in different ways.
14. “To live and to love is a matter of the same principle: Knowledge.”
15. “You don’t learn who you are unless you work for it.”
16. “Being an icon takes effort. Most people are pretty lazy. And that’s okay! I mean, there are more important things than fashion.”
17. “If having a sense of style is going to stress you out, don’t. The important thing is to feel comfortable so you can get on with your life.”
For inspiration
18. “I get inspired by everything around me. I’m inspired by being alive and breathing and meeting people and talking to people and doing things and absorbing what’s going on. I think if more people did that, there would be better fashion.”
For age
19. “I see nothing wrong with a wrinkle. It’s a sign of courage.”
For life
20. “For a woman to live the good life in New York, the two most important things are a chauffeur and a fur coat.”
21. “You have to try it. You only have one trip, you have to remember that.”
22. “If you’re not interested, you’re not interesting.”
Source: in.gr