The American interior designer and absolute style icon passed away at the age of 102, yesterday, Friday, March 1, at her home in Palm Beach, Florida. A woman who defined fashion with her eccentric style and became a style symbol, with everyone knowing her name and face. The news of her death is making the rounds on the internet, leaving behind everything we loved her for.
On August 29, 1921, a style symbol was born, which many decades later was to inspire thousands of people…
She has been described as the “oldest teenager in the world” and her Instagram account has more than 3 million followers. Her philosophy has also been deified: “I have no rules, because I would only break them, so I only consider them a waste of time…”
The style icon, fashion designer and master of interior design has reached the age of 102 and was a true source of inspiration, not only for the world of fashion, but also for all women who live and express themselves through it. She herself loved colorful clothes, statement accessories and intense make up. She was an eye-catcher, while for years she kept her hair a natural gray color, which matches uniquely with her red lipstick that often adorns her lips.
Born in New York in 1921, Apfel grew up during the Great Depression. Her mother advised her to buy a classic black dress—that way she would always have something to wear, and be equally well-groomed to attend any setting. It all depends on the accessories you add. Young Iris never forgot her mother’s advice. At the age of 11, he discovered a unique brooch in an underground shop in Greenwich Village, a neighborhood in New York. It cost her $0.65 and she used every penny she had to buy it. This was also her first experience in the world of shopping, and thus began one of the largest private jewelry collections in the United States.
For decades, she was a successful interior designer trusted by US A-listers, and in her old age she dabbled in fashion design. Her textile creations were unique. Along with her late husband, Karl, to whom she was married for 68 years, she traveled the world in search of inspiration. She collaborated with various professionals of the genre in order to realize her very specific ideas and specialized in highlighting “forgotten” fabrics from past centuries. Her fame even brought her to the White House, where she worked for nine US presidents. Although he never revealed details about working with them, he hinted at the fact that former First Lady Jackie Kennedy was quite a complex personality.
After the death of her husband in 2015, shortly before his 101st birthday, Apfel did not retire but started new projects. Among other things, he designed jewelry for the elderly with built-in technology that monitors the wearer’s health and alerts an ambulance in the event of an emergency. She is even irritated by the fact that older people have been largely forgotten by designers and has repeatedly pointed out that a woman cannot identify with 15-year-old models. And so she ended up signing her first contract as a model at the age of 97.
“One necklace is never enough. You should choose at least five – and they should be bold enough to grab attention! Also, a single bracelet is boring. Wear 10 at a time and on each hand. And remember that your glasses are always impressive, like an ornament of your face.”
Her mottos made history and influenced the field of fashion, which she changed in her own way, going against the taboos around age and style. He will forever be one of the most iconic models to pass this world.