Iris Apfel: biography and photo

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:42

This amazing woman is called a style icon. “The oldest teenager in the world”, as the extravagant lady calls herself, surprises the audience with extraordinary costumes and unusual taste. Combining edgy outfits with items found at the world's flea markets in her wardrobe, she boldly defies stereotypes that only young people can be fashionable.

Birthday Emoji

Creating her own collection of clothes, Iris Apfel (correctly her name - Iris - sounds like Iris in Russian) makes plans for the future and admits that in our world it is much more important to be happy than to be stylishly dressed. On August 29, the fashion influencer will celebrate her 95th birthday, and the release of emoji, emoticon-like icons that are incredibly popular on social networks, will be a kind of gift for her for the holiday. “I don’t even know what it is, but I agreed to develop images with my face. If they make someone happy, I will be very happy,” the designer explains.

Innate taste

Apfel was born in one of the districts of New York in the family of an entrepreneur and an emigrant from Russia. Rich parents from early childhood surrounded their daughter with love, who had practically no problems. The only thing that bothered her was her own appearance.

The not-too-pretty girl didn't like looking in the mirror. However, Iris did not develop complexes thanks to her intelligence, sense of humor and innate taste. The girl recalled how in her youth the owner of the store called her and said that the offended beauty of the lady has a special gift that will help in life - her unique style.

Designer is a calling

This is exactly what the girl proved by getting a job in the fashion industry. She first worked for Women's Wear Daily magazine. Later, interested in creating beautiful interiors, Iris Apfel began to collaborate with a well-known specialist in her field. She tidied up apartments that were for sale, and pulled out original things from underground, making the premises look attractive in the eyes of buyers. So the rebel realized that design is her true calling.

Fateful meeting

A stylishly dressed girl at the age of 27 meets her future husband, who at the very first meeting was amazed by her appearance. Enamored Karl daily admired the wardrobe of his beloved and four months later made an offer to Iris Apfel. The young lady did not think for a long time and never regretted her decision. About Usspeaks of his wife with great love, saying that only with him does he find a common language and complete understanding.

Happy married couple

Once a man mentioned that his wife would be much more effective by fixing her big nose. "Dream more!" - answered Iris Apfel, who did not experience complexes and was quick on the tongue.

Children are the personal pain of a family, which, unfortunately, has not acquired heirs. In a playful manner, the fashionista answers the indiscreet questions of journalists that it is simply impossible to do everything in this life. However, this is an extremely successful marriage that has lasted for over 60 years.

A married couple is always and everywhere together and in any undertaking support each other. The happy wife Iris Apfel talks about this in numerous interviews, her biography is a confirmation of this. In the late 50s, Karl and his wife created a textile company that produced fabrics with original prints. True, after 40 years they sold their offspring to new owners, but Iris remained to work as a consultant.

The ability to combine things

What is the secret of this amazing woman? Iris Apfel, whose photo often appears in fashion magazines, has a special ability to combine branded outfits with cheap things. A travel lover, she buys clothes and brings original accessories from every trip.

The fashion star admits that in her apartment three rooms are occupied by a wardrobe full of the most extravagant finds. And Apfel is in no hurry to part with any of them. Remarkably,that even the dress she wore at the time of the first date is still stored in her bins.

New York's first woman to wear jeans

Designer rejects fashion standards by choosing things for himself. She even let it slip that she had not paid attention to designer collections before and did not want to get acquainted with famous couturiers.

An extravagant old age rebel who often dresses like a teenager. She not only loves unusual clothes with bright accessories, but also loves to dress in pants and a regular T-shirt. By the way, they say that Iris was the first woman in New York who bought jeans. She dared to appear in society in trousers that were previously worn only by men.

Focus on accessories

The creative personality works with the HSN brand to create amazing jewelry collections. Author's works reflect their own preferences, and Iris Apfel has never made an accessory, paying tribute to fashion trends.

Designer says that jewelry is the most interesting direction. You can have one dress, but diversify it with beads and bracelets so that you get not one, but several images that emphasize the individuality of a person. Curiously, a woman who does not part with things often sells her collections of expensive jewelry.

Career milestone

2005 was a landmark year for Iris: she opened an exhibition of her outfits, joking that it was not just an exhibition, but a foray into her rich dressing room. Numerous collections appeared before the eyes of the publicclothing and over 300 accessories. Apfel was pleased that the fashion event was attended not only by ordinary spectators, but also by celebrities.

After the exhibition, ordinary Americans flooded the diva with letters of gratitude, who were delighted with the spectacle they saw, and many admitted that they began to relate to the choice of things differently. Viewers were blown away by how Iris Apfel combined flea market items with expensive outfits. The unbridled eclecticism of the experimenter by nature pleased the visitors, who fell in love with a fashionable cocktail of diverse textures of fabrics and colors. Incongruous style items, decorated with accessories, looked elegant and catchy.

Some women, after a colorful event, even decided to change not only their appearance, but their whole lives. For many, the exhibition was a real discovery, proving that you can be yourself and not look like a city freak. And the famous designer Ralph Lauren wanted Apfel, whose hallmark was round large glasses and a huge amount of jewelry, to work for him.

Apfel's statements

The multi-faceted Iris Apfel, whose quotes diverge like hot cakes, after this event became a very recognizable person. Various publications love to print her statements, as they contain a lot of sincerity and humor.

For example, the star once admitted that her wardrobe is growing every day, which cannot be said about a thin waist.

Once Iris got so cold that she rushed to look for something fur in her things, butcouldn't find it at all. “I rummaged through everything, and then my eyes fell on a mohair cape from the sofa. Wrapped up in it, I felt great,” laughs the designer.

Having never had plastic surgery, a bright personality teases those who dream of eternal youth: “No matter what you inject into your face, at 80 no one can boast of the appearance of a 30-year-old charmer. Humble yourself and get smart, not Botox.”