Iris Apfel Amazon Print
You may have heard that Iris Apfel, the self-described “geriatric starlet,” died earlier this year at the age of 102. Many of us learned about her only fairly recently through her most recent incarnation as a fashionista because she broke so many barriers about what constitutes fashion and who is “allowed” to represent it.
But despite all the media hoopla about a 90+ year-old being an overnight sensation, her style roots, and the range of her influence over several decades, ran very deep.
Iris Apfel started sewing and designing her own clothes in her childhood. Her first job was as a copywriter for Women’s Wear Daily. But she switched careers when she wed her husband, Carl, to whom she was married for nearly 70 years.
Together they traveled the world, learning about and importing textiles. Their first business, Old World Weavers, created reproductions of medieval and modern fabrics that they discovered in their travels. Because of her distinctive taste and experience with textile reproductions, she became a highly sought-after interior designer. She advised every president from Harry Truman to Bill Clinton on White House interior design.
But in her 90s she was suddenly “discovered” as a fashion sensation, appearing on many magazine covers and becoming the subject of several books about her life. And yet, what she contributed, particularly in her last two decades, was something more lasting: advice about what is important in life, aphorisms from someone who lived it well and for a very long time. I share some of that with you here.
Iris Apfel Poster on Amazon
“Life is gray and dull; you might as well have a little fun when you dress.”
Well, maybe she was talking about her home in New York which can, in fact, be sooty and gray. But I think we know what she meant, metaphorically. Regardless of our station in life, our accolades, net worth, or “stuff,” we can’t escape the vicissitudes of life. They come to all of us, sooner or later.
But we can offer some joy every day to ourselves and to all who have the pleasure to see us by dressing up a little every day, whether we leave the house or not. Intentional dressing can simply change your mind set about your self-worth. It’s a wonderful exercise.
“Color can raise the dead.”
Her posthumous book, coming in August
Amen, sister. And oh, did Iris LOVE color! Staying vibrant and visible requires some effort. In some social circles wearing inconspicuous all black 24/7 is considered extremely sophisticated. Iris considered it a lazy cop out.
When we look around us at the natural world, what do we see? Color!!! Glorious, gorgeous, vibrant, ever-changing, color. That doesn’t mean we have to ditch our neutral colors. I love mine – as a base. But we certainly can bring some color, texture, or items of interest into our wardrobes.
“To me, the worst fashion faux pas is to look in the mirror, and not see yourself.”
That right there is the Cliff notes version of why authenticity matters. If you are dressing for some version of the person you think you should be, or what the latest fashion is, or what other people expect of you, you will never feel comfortable in your clothing or in your own skin. And people will know it. The more you embrace your uniqueness – and that includes your personality as well as your features and coloring – the more believable you will be. And the more you will attract people who are genuine and honest.
As another great philosopher/author advised: “To thine own self be true.”
“People with a lot of money don’t dress as well as people who have to make do, who have to be inventive…I’m the walking advertisement for discounted shopping.”
I’ve been thinking about this one a lot lately. I’ve realized that when I was younger I dressed more creatively. Maybe it was because I had less money… and more energy! But I was certainly more experimental. Iris’ words have re-ignited my desire to be a little playful and more inventive about how I put my outfits together. I’d be interested to learn what you do to put your own “brand” on your outfits.
From Iris’ collaboration with Ruggable
Boy, did this one resonate with me. I have had visceral reactions to color and textiles since my earliest memories. They are like food for me. If a garment doesn’t engage me emotionally, I’m just not going to buy it. Getting dressed only to cover up or stay warm can make you dull to what you’re feeling. That’s because everything we wear impacts our senses. Try dressing to please your senses and see how much better you feel.
“It’s better to be happy than to be well-dressed.”
This is my favorite quote from Iris. Yes, a great outfit can change your mood…for a while. But if you’re fundamentally unhappy you might as well be wearing a hair shirt.
When I was feeling particularly crummy one day, my husband said, “Think of our dog…how she enjoyed every minute, in spite of her ailments and challenges.” That was so true and it really hit home. Unlike we humans, who live with constant hopes, aspirations, longings, or regrets, our pets simply live each day experiencing whatever comes along, innocently. They enjoy every little pleasure: dozing in a ray of sunshine, going for a walk, getting a treat, or just being near us.
Happiness can be a choice and I’ve made it a conscious one now. (My friend and colleague Marci Shimoff wrote a wonderful book about this.) If we all just embodied that one idea the world would be a better place.
Stay colorful, stay happy.
[BTW – In the print version of my series, Self-Care, the subject of happiness looms large in that material. For the first day of publication, I’ll be sending out a link to all my readers to purchase the ebook version for $.99.]
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