Washington, Mar 1 (EFE).- The American interior designer, businesswoman and fashion icon Iris Apfel, who found fame as an octogenarian, has died at the age of 102, according to her social media accounts on Friday.
On Instagram a message simply said: “Iris Barrel Apfel. August 29, 1921 – March 1, 2024,” alongside a photo of her wearing a gold and black dress and her trademark oversized black-framed glasses and red lipstick.
Family spokesman Stu Loeser confirmed the news to American media outlets, but did not give a cause of death.
It is understood that she died at her home in Palm Beach, Florida.
Apfel was born Iris Barrel in Queens, New York City, in 1921.
She studied art history at New York University and attended art school at the University of Wisconsin, later becoming a copywriter at Women’s Wear Daily.
In 1948, she married Carl Apfel (1948-2015) and two years later they launched textile company Old World Weavers and ran it until they retired in 1992, working with Greta Garbo and Estée Lauder, among others.
Apfel’s work also took her to the White House where she was involved in restoration design work for nine presidents from Harry Truman through to Bill Clinton.
She was also visiting professor at the University of Texas at Austin, starred in television commercials, become the face of and collaborated with many brands, published a biography: “Iris Apfel: Accidental Icon,” and was the star of 2014 documentary “Iris.”
In 2018, Mattel made a Barbie doll based on her, making her the oldest person to have one made in her image, and the following year, at the age of 97, she signed to modeling agency IMG.
One of her last works in fashion was also a clothing collection with H&M, which she presented in 2022 full of color, her ultimate hallmark.
“The world can be a gray place, so colors, patterns and textures are a way to bring some fun to life. Same with makeup – I want my lipsticks to be as bright and bold as possible,” she told People magazine in an interview in 2022.
She also talked about her trademark oversized glasses.
“People would say to me, ‘why are they so large?’ and I would say because they are good to see you,” she said, adding, “And that would shut them up.”
With more than 3 million Instagram followers, the model continued to inspire as she collaborated with Ciaté London, her first beauty campaign that she signed at 101, until the final moments of her life. EFE
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