Remembering Iris Apfel: A Singular Style Icon Who Inspired Generations

Iris Apfel, the New York society matron and interior designer known for her extraordinary style, blending hippie vintage with haute couture, passed away at the age of 102 in her Palm Beach home. Apfel, born on Aug. 29, 1921, left an indelible mark on the fashion world with her bohemian outfits, unique accessories, and signature black-rimmed glasses. Her influence extended beyond fashion, as she and her husband founded Old World Weavers, restoring fabrics for six U.S. presidents. Despite her age, Apfel continued to work and create, emphasizing that style is in one's DNA, transcending mere fashion trends. Her legacy lives on in museum exhibits and the documentary "Iris," directed by Albert Maysles. Iris Apfel, a visionary and style icon, will be dearly missed.

Describing herself as a "geriatric starlet," Ms. Apfel, in her 80s and 90s, defied conventional fashion norms with bold and eclectic ensembles. From a vibrant Bill Blass jacket paired with a Hopi dancing skirt to a dramatic evening coat adorned with red and green rooster feathers, her outfits exuded a fearless and irreverent spirit. She effortlessly mixed textures and patterns, donning rose angora sweaters with 19th-century Chinese brocade skirts, creating captivatingly disjunctive looks.

Her accessories were equally unconventional, ranging from jeweled masks to jade bead necklaces that cascaded to her knees. She carried tin handbags shaped like terriers and wrapped furry scarves around her neck with abandon. Always present were her signature armfuls of bangles and oversized, owlish spectacles.

Tallish and slender with silver hair and scarlet lips, Ms. Apfel stood out among models at Fashion Week and negotiated like a true New Yorker in Harlem shops or Tunisian souks. While some found her style gaudy or bizarre, she remained unapologetically herself, whether donning a cape of gold-tipped duck feathers or thigh-high fuchsia satin Yves Saint Laurent boots.

Beyond her flamboyant fashion choices, Ms. Apfel was a renowned interior designer, catering to clients such as Greta Garbo and Estée Lauder. Alongside her husband, Carl, she founded Old World Weavers, a textile company celebrated for its restoration work, including pieces for the White House. Despite retiring in 1992, Ms. Apfel continued to influence the fashion world as a consultant and remained a beloved figure in society circles, celebrated for her unwavering commitment to her unique and artfully clashing style.