A tribute to Iris Apfel

Iris Apfel was an American businesswoman, interior designer, and fashion icon known for her flamboyant style, outspoken personality, and oversized eyeglasses .

A summary of her remarkable life:

Career:

Early career in advertising and interior design.

She co-founded a textile firm, Old World Weavers, with her husband Carl (they specialized in restoring historical textiles and worked with the White House under nine presidents)
She achieved widespread recognition later in life for her unique fashion sense through a 2005 exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute.

Fashion Icon:

Known for her bold and eclectic style, often mixes high-end and vintage pieces with costume jewelry.

She became a fashion muse and inspiration for people of all ages.

She was featured in advertising campaigns, signed a modeling contract at the age of 97, and even had a Barbie doll created in her likeness.

Legacy:

Remembered for her creativity, individuality, and encouragement to embrace personal style regardless of conventional trends

An inspiration for people to express themselves through fashion and live life to the fullest.

Apfel passed away in 2024 at the age of 102, leaving behind a lasting legacy in the world of fashion and design.

A dedicated collection in her honor in our Redbubble store. Click here to visit the collection.

Top 10 quotes from Iris Apfel Vault of words.

“More is more and less is a bore.”
“Fashion you can buy, but style you possess. The key to style is learning who you are, which takes years. There’s no how-to road map to style.”
“When you don’t dress like everybody else, you don’t have to think like everybody else.”
“If you’re lucky enough to get old, I think you should celebrate it.”
“Never be afraid to stop traffic.”
“Color can breathe life into anything.” (positive rephrase of “Color raises the dead”)
“There is no shame in the lines on your face. They are a map of your life.” (poetic rephrase of “There is nothing wrong with wrinkles”)
“Great personal style is an extreme curiosity about yourself.”
“If something sounds exciting and interesting I do it — and then I worry about it later.”
“I’m a hopeless romantic. I buy things because I fall in love with them. I never buy anything just because it’s valuable.”