MODA / FASHION
CENTENARIAN WHO KNOWS ALL THERE IS TO KNOW ABOUT FASHION Yes, yes, getting old ain’t for sissies It was on the first Thursday of September last year that the New York fashion elite flooded to Manhattan’s magnificent new skyscraper, Central Park Tower. The reason? That was the day that Iris Apfel celebrated her birthday in one of its penthouse suites. And not just any old birthday… THE “LADY AMBASSADOR OF INDIVIDUALITY” TURNED 100 - but even the triple-digit can- dles on the cake couldn’t convince her to slow down. The colour coding of her outfits and audacious fashion ac- cessories have been a topic of fasci- nation for decades. She has become synonymous with what we call per- sonal style - ornate and eclectic, and always current. The Iris that you’ll always see with round-rimmed glasses, wearing strik- ing colours and with a bunch of state- ment jewellery items, with her recog- nisable style and charm, ceaselessly seeks new ways to express herself. Lauded for her eccentric clothing and influence on the global fashion com- munity, she continues to be a fash- ion industry pioneer. It was during the 1960s that Ap- fel established herself as an eminent interior decorator in well-to-do cir- cles. She worked for nine presidents and first ladies (during the adminis- trations of Truman, Eisenhower, Ken- nedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter,
the word retirement. Why does she continue working at the age of 100? “Work is what keeps me feeling young and vibrant. I love what I do and I do it with my heart and soul,” she says. Following a homewear collection line for Lowe's Cos and an eyewear collec- tion for Zenni Optical, she joined the extended list of icons of style who col- laborate with Swedish fashion giant H&M. The Iris Apfel x H&M collec- tion pays homage to her inimitable look and will certainly interest you if you’re a fan of this beloved fashion muse’s playful style. However, the charm of her life’s joy isn’t just “everyday make-up”, but rather also an exercise in demonstrat- ing how to stay true to oneself. This la- dy refuses to compromise in her later life, rather continuing to create, choos- ing to be known for her powerful in- dividuality – because it’s only when you’re brave that can you remain orig- inal and true to yourself. “I’m told that the sunsets from 100 storeys up are the most spectac- ular,” she said on the eve of her cente- nary birthday, adding: “I never think about my age. Maybe that’s the tick- et. It’s just a number... Yes, getting’ old ain’t for sisses. You start falling apart, but you just have to buck up and paste yourself together. You may not like getting old, but what’s the al- ternative? You’re here. Embrace it. I say put your experience to work, to give something back to other people.”
Reagan and Clinton), decorating the White House to suit their tastes, with everything she worked on given that magical “Apfel touch”. During her trav- els, she didn’t collect only masses of beautiful elements for interior deco- ration, but also real fashion treasure. She often combined clothing from the Lanvin, Chanel, Dior, Dolce & Gabba- na or Nina Ricci brands with vintage articles and retro pieces. Her promi- nent and elegant wardrobe, combin- ing colourful designer items and cheap kitsch pieces, became the subject of a major 2005 exhibition at New York’s MetropolitanMuseumofArt.Thatex- hibition, entitled “Rare Bird of Fash- ion: The Irreverent Iris Apfel”, was the first in the history of this legendary museum to focus on a style icon who isn’t a fashion designer. And her influ- ence has only grown since that time, such that today she has millions of Instagram followers. Her life motto is: “More is more and less is a bore”. She shows the es- sence of fashion: a means of express- ing who you are or want to be, while simultaneously having fun. At a time when we desperately want to consign pandemic modesty and gloominess to the past, her flamboyant appear- ance serves as the ultimate promise of optimism: that the best is yet to come and we should look forward to it with joy. This “geriatric starlet”, as she dubs herself, doesn’t seem to know about
68 | Moda » Fashion
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