Designer Iris Apfel: biography, family, career

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:40

Are you interested in fashion shows and biographies of famous designers? Then you should have heard at least a few words about Iris Apfel. The biography of this famous woman, who devoted her whole life to design and collecting, often gets on the main pages of magazines and newspapers. Big glasses and bright outfits make her recognizable even at a respectful age. She is already 95 years old, but this lady does not think about peace, doing her favorite things all day long. The story about Iris Apfel should start from the 20s of the last century.

Early years

The future fashion diva was born in the Burrell family. Mother is Jewish, has Russian roots, which Iris Apfel herself often mentions. In many ways, it was her mother who influenced her career. She ran a small fashion boutique and her father sold mirrors. By the way, he also contributed a certain percentage to his daughter's success, thanks to his connections with famous American fashion designers.

Iris Apfel's childhood did not pass in the richest areas of New York. From the age of 12, the girl had an interest in various accessories and clothes. In some ways, you can see the influence of the mother, who could not live without new clothes. Father, on the contrary, did not like to waste time on long fittings, buying the first suit that caught his eye. Iris Apfel was a complete childbecause of which she often faced ridicule from teenagers. Cigarettes helped to lose weight, as Iris herself admitted. I smoked a lot, but I quit when I realized that I was starting to become addicted to nicotine.

First steps

Iris Apfel attended art school and studied art history. Already at the age of 19, she began writing advertisements for the Women's Wear Daily newspaper, which at that time was the most authoritative in New York. However, this occupation did not captivate the girl for a long time. She then worked with Bob Goodman, a renowned US illustrator. Iris Apfel soon became interested in interior design. My father, who had well-known acquaintances, helped me get comfortable in this area.

Husband

Designer Iris Apfel met her future husband in 1948, when she was 27 years old. They met at one of the resorts in New York. Karl Apfel fell in love with a bright girl, which he told her in a telephone conversation a few weeks later. After 4 months, the young man proposed to the girl.

Fashion designer Iris Apfel always speaks very warmly about her wife, with whom she lived in perfect harmony (he died in 2015). The heroine of our article has no children. The fashion diva explains their absence by the lack of time for personal life due to the fact that all the forces were spent on building a career.

Career

Iris Apfel worked as an interior designer for a while. One day she was picking up wall paneling. Looking through a huge variety of options, she realized that she had found her calling - a textile designer. She was able to bring her ideas to life thanks to the Old World Weavers company, which she founded together with her husband in the 50s. The company grew very quickly, gained weight in the world market, eventually becoming one of the most popular in this area. The company's looms were restored and reproduced antique fabrics. Products were in demand among large organizations, famous designers, collectors, aristocrats.

Iris Apfel jewelry became recognizable all over the world, and she finally felt happy. Old World Weavers, by the way, still exists today. True, other people are already in charge of the company. In the early 90s, the couple sold their offspring, but Apfel remained with him as a consultant. She has no regrets about selling.

The fashion diva has also been involved in major interior restoration projects at the White House.

Exhibitions

Iris Apfel boasts an impressive collection of accessories. Until 2005, the designer could not even think that someone would be interested in them. She was doing her favorite job when, unexpectedly, she was asked for some accessories for the exhibition. The curators were amazed when they saw the huge collection of Iris. It became clear that a couple of things can not do. Soon a separate exhibition was organized, in which Apfel's wardrobe was the focus. The exhibition was a huge success.

It is surprising that the designer treats his exclusive outfits as the most ordinary things. On a weekday, it can surprise you with a bright dress or suit. Iris is often referred to as the "Rare Bird in Fashion Style".

In 2009 there was another exhibition held by the Costume Institute. The exposition was awarded to the best outfits of Apfel. By the way, only Yves Saint Laurent was awarded such an honor in the 80s of the last century. Viewers were able to see more than 80 costumes and 300 of the designer's best accessories that she has collected from around the world.

Home

The apartment of our heroine, located in New York, looks more like some kind of palace. The walls are hung with paintings and many gold-framed mirrors. Everywhere - figurines, Venetian chairs. Minimalism Iris does not like. She likes abundance and texture. That is why the apartment resembles a palace from the time of Louis XV, when there was not a single free meter in the premises. There are many things from different countries and even eras. Iris brought everything from her travels around the world.

Style

Apfel, buying clothes, never adhered to any framework. She can be called the oldest teenager in the world. She did not acquire accessories and outfits in order to collect the best collection in the world. For her, it was a passion. She wasn't so much attracted to just shopping for clothes as she was to finding the perfect match in the details.

The designer does not consider himself a collector. Every accessory, every outfit does not lie idle with her. Huge glasses, beads, bracelets - these are the irreplaceable features of Mrs. Apfel's style. She does not pursue fashion trends, does not buy expensive, unnecessary jewelry. She herself combines the elements of outfits, getting exquisite, originalsuits. Iris has repeatedly surprised others with her extravagant style. She is an example of exquisite taste, which borders on bad taste, but does not cross this line. It is difficult to find someone who could repeat something like this.

About Russia

As mentioned above, Iris Apfel has Russian roots through her mother. The fashion designer has always admired our girls. In the 50s she visited Sochi and Odessa. She later recalled poverty, strict border controls and the beauty of Russian women. Wants to visit Russia again, now Moscow.

Today

Despite her venerable age, Iris Apfel continues to do what she loves, travels, acts in commercials and participates in various projects. In 2011, she made a collection of cosmetics for MAC. Glory at a respectful age did not blind her, she still watches everything around with intelligence and interest. Iris does not like street fashion and deliberate outrageousness, but she has a positive attitude towards the style of punks. In 2012, the designer taught classes at a Texas university. In 2013, she was included in the list of the most fashionable women who are already over fifty.