Iris Apfel, the influential fashion icon and businesswoman, died Friday at the age of 102. According to the Associated Press, her death was confirmed by her commercial agent, as well as her official Instagram account. No cause was given.
As Fashionista reports, Apfel was born in 1921 in Queens, New York. A lover of style from an early age, Apfel famously took the subway into Manhattan to visit antique stores and would later become known for her outstanding collection of vintage jewelry. She studied art history at New York University, before transferring to the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She began her career as writer at Women’s Wear Daily, and also worked under Elinor Johnson, an interior designer.
In 1948, Apfel married her husband Carl Apfel. The pair went on to found Old World Weavers, a successful textile company that specialized in recreating vintage patterns. Old World Weavers landed a contract with the White House, with Apfel working for nine different U.S. presidents, from John F. Kennedy to Ronald Reagan.
Dubbed the “First Lady of Fabric,” Apfel went on to live the life of a globetrotter, traveling the world in search of the most unique textiles and best garments to add to her already-extensive collection of exquisite pieces.
In 2005, the Metropolitan Museum of Art made Apfel the subject of a Costume Institute exhibition, “Rara Avis: Selections from the Iris Apfel Collection.“ Featuring her costume jewelry, signature glasses and elaborate collection of clothes, the exhibit cemented Apfel’s status as a vibrant fashion icon. In a statement, the Met called her “one of the most vivacious personalities in the worlds of fashion, textiles, and interior design.”
Following the exhibition, Apfel’s profile as fashion icon continued to grow. She had her own Barbie doll released, starred in a slew of fashion campaigns, had a jewelry line sold on HSN, was the subject of a documentary by Albert Maysles and even signed a modeling contract with IMG in 2019. In honor of her 100th birthday in 2022, Apfel partnered with Zenni Optical to release a capsule collection of her signature eyewear, as well as launching her own collaboration with H&M that very same year. Most recently, Apfel designed a line for Ruggables which again reflected her signature colorful style.
Apfel will forever be remembered not only for her contributions to the world of fashion, also but her philosophy on life. Throughout decades in the public eye, she was vibrant, eccentric, wise and undeniably youthful — a consistent reminder that age is only a number. It’s how you live your life that truly counts.
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