Fashion Icon, Iris Apfel, who found fame in her 80s, has died aged 102.
A spokesperson for her estate, Stu Loeser, confirmed to the New York Times that Apfel passed away in her home in Florida on Friday. The news has since been shared to her personal Instagram page, with a photo of the designer and the caption, “Iris Barrel Apfel August 29, 1921 – March 1, 2024″.
A professor, brand ambassador, interior designer, textile guru and, later in life, a social media star — it’s safe to say Apfel lived a full life.
Self-described as a “geriatric starlet” Apfel began in a career in textiles, specialising in antique fabrics. Her and her husband serviced movie stars and first ladies, through their contract with the White House spanning nine presidencies.
It was a 2005 show at the Costume Institute at The Metropolitan Museum of Art that shot Apfel, in her 80s at the time, to overnight fame. The renowned show: Rara Avis (Rare Bird): Selections From the Iris Barrel Apfel Collection, featured her eclectic collection of costume jewellery and clothes styled on mannequins as she would herself.
Becoming a socialite —her net worth was an estimated $US25 million (approx. $38.2 million) — she was fixture in the fashion scene, and perhaps one of the most photographed women in fashion industry.
Apfel referred to herself as “the world’s oldest living teenager” in her Instagram bio where she amassed more than 2 million followers. She wrote “more is more and less is a bore.” This sentiment certainly rung true when it came to her wardrobe combining haute couture, vintage hippy-inspired looks, bohemian styles and bright colours.
When she signed to IMG in 2019 at age 97, she added model to her resume. Apfel then became the oldest person to have a Barbie doll made in her likeness at age 100.
Described as someone whose “jewellery rattles along whenever she moves”, she’s best known for her vivacious, idiosyncratic personal style always paired with a heavy dose of wit. Trademark round glasses and maximalist style; she was quite simply an icon in her industry.
She may have paved her way as a style icon, influencer and the face of numerous fashion brands — but the eccentric and beloved Apfel will be remembered as a force who brought so much joy to fashion.
“If you’re happy, have found love, are surrounded by good people, doing what you like and giving back to others, that’s success,” Apfel once said.
By her own measure she died successful.
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