Celebrating the Vibrant Life and Legacy of Iris Apfel
We join the world in mourning the death of New York society matron and interior designer turned fashion icon Iris Apfel. Iris Apfel, passed away Friday at her home in Palm Beach, Fla, at the age of 102. In the ever-evolving realm of fashion, there are icons whose influence transcends trends and seasons.
With her trademark oversized glasses, bold accessories, and fearless attitude, Iris Barrel (later Apfel), Born in Queens, New York in 1921, captivated the hearts and minds of fashion enthusiasts around the globe. But beyond her impeccable sense of style lies a profound wisdom and philosophy on aging and life that resonates with audiences of all ages. Join us as we share some of Iris’ most profound thoughts on life and aging.
“Self-exploration is very painful, but unless you do that, you will never know who you are and who you want to be.”
“Just because you get to a certain number doesn’t mean you have to roll up into a ball and wait for the Grim Reaper. We were put on this earth to do something! If you stop using your brain, at any age, it is going to stop working. It’s like if you stop using your hand, it will atrophy. I think doing nothing is a curse.”
If you don’t learn constantly, you don’t grow, and you will wither. Too many people wither on the vine. Sure, it gets a little harder as you get older, but new experiences and new challenges keep it fresh.
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You have to push yourself when you’re older because it’s very easy to fall into the trap. You start to fall apart – you just have to do your best to paste yourself together. I think doing things and being active is very important. When your mind is busy, you don’t hurt so much.
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You can’t try to be somebody you’re not; that’s not style. If someone says, ‘Buy this – you’ll be stylish,’ you won’t be stylish because you won’t be you. You have to learn who you are first, and that’s painful.
“When you don’t dress like everybody else, you don’t have to think like everybody else.”
I’m a hopeless romantic. I buy things because I fall in love with them. I never buy anything just because it’s valuable.
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My father told me once not to expect anything from anybody so I wouldn’t be disappointed. If somebody was nice and did nice things for me, I should be overjoyed, but I shouldn’t go through life expecting it, which is very good advice.
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Fashion has this youth mania. But 70-year-old ladies don’t have 18-year-old bodies, and 18-year-olds don’t have a 70-year-old’s dollars.
“I think the worst faux pas in fashion is to look in a mirror and see somebody else—which so many people do. They think a dress is going to transform them. They don’t realize it’s themselves and their attitude. Because that’s what style is: attitude, attitude, attitude.”
“I always tell people to follow their dreams, to be true to themselves, and not just be carbon copies of what they think they should be, because then they’ll go through life miserable.”
In a world obsessed with youth and perfection, Iris Apfel stood as a beacon of authenticity and self-expression. With her fearless style, unapologetic attitude, and boundless zest for life, she reminded us that true beauty comes from within – from embracing who we are, flaws and all, and living each day with passion and purpose. After all, as she famously quipped, “Life is gray and dull; you might as well have a little fun when you dress.”
Celebrating the Vibrant Life and Legacy of Iris Apfel
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