NEW YORK — Iris Apfel, a textile expert, interior designer, and fashion celebrity known for her eccentric style, has passed away at the age of 102.
Her death was confirmed by her commercial agent, Lori Sale, who described Apfel as “extraordinary.” The cause of death was not disclosed. The news was also shared on her verified Instagram page, which had recently celebrated her 102nd-and-a-half birthday.
Born on August 29, 1921, Apfel was renowned for her bold and unconventional fashion choices, combining high-end couture with oversized costume jewelry. Her signature style often featured a mix of feathers, beads, bangles, and intricate embellishments.
With her distinctive round glasses, red lipstick, and short white hair, she stood out at every fashion event she attended.
Apfel’s unique style was the focus of museum exhibitions and a documentary film titled “Iris,” directed by Albert Maysles.
“I’m not pretty, and I’ll never be pretty, but it doesn’t matter,” she once said. “I have something much better. I have style.”
Apfel gained a large following on social media later in life, with nearly 3 million followers on Instagram and 215,000 on TikTok. Her profile motto read: “More is more & Less is a Bore.”
“Being stylish and being fashionable are two entirely different things,” she remarked in a TikTok video. “You can easily buy your way into being fashionable. Style, I think, is in your DNA. It implies originality and courage.”
She never retired, stating, “I think retiring at any age is a fate worse than death. Just because a number comes up doesn’t mean you have to stop.”
Apfel, an expert in textiles and antique fabrics, co-owned a textile manufacturing company with her husband Carl. They worked on restoration projects, including ones at the White House for six U.S. presidents.
Her fame soared in 2005 when the Metropolitan Museum of Art hosted an exhibition about her titled “Rara Avis,” meaning “rare bird” in Latin. The museum praised her style as “witty and exuberantly idiosyncratic.”
Apfel’s legacy lives on through her donations to museums and collaborations with various brands, showcasing her love for individuality and originality in fashion.
She was known as the “accidental icon” and left behind a rich fashion legacy that continues to inspire many.
Apfel’s husband passed away in 2015, and the couple did not have any children.
Lifestyles Writer Leanne Italie contributed to this report.
