The self-described “aging star” died on Friday at the age of 102, it was announced on her official Instagram page. Apfel, known for his flamboyant clothes and large round glasses, had posted on the platform earlier in the day, where he has a following of 2.9 million people. Until recently, she was also a regular guest at fashion shows, in which she appeared in a wheelchair.
Born to a Jewish family in Queens, New York in 1921, Apfel first studied art history and later worked as an interior decorator. Among other things, he worked on the interior design of the White House for nine US presidents.
Image Gallery: The Colorful World of Iris Apfel († 102)
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Style icon
Over the decades she collected numerous designer clothes and became a style icon. The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York devoted an exhibition to his wardrobe in 2005. Apfel has worked with major companies such as H&M and appeared in advertising campaigns for the car brand Citroën. Filmmaker Albert Maysles created a memorial to her in 2014 with the documentary “Iris”.
Apfel always encouraged women to dress unconventionally and not follow all the same looks. “Dare to be different. Be yourself, be unique,” she once said. “If you wear something and it doesn't fit you, don't worry. The style police won't arrest you.”
