The fashion world is mourning the loss of its most colorful icon, Iris Apfel, who passed away at the remarkable age of 102.

Known for her distinctive look marked by short white hair, bold red lips, and those iconic large round horn-rimmed glasses, Apfel was a trailblazer in the truest sense, blending the worlds of fashion and interior design with unparalleled flair and originality.

A New Yorker through and through, Iris Apfel became synonymous with pop culture, not just for her unique personal style, but for her sharp wit and intelligent approach to fashion, as celebrated in the book ‘The ABCs of Fashion’ by Phaidon. Her fearless mix of colors, textures, and an extraordinary ability to pair luxury accessories with vintage finds from flea markets made her a global style sensation.

The foundation of her distinctive style was recognized early on by Frieda Loehmann, founder of the famed Loehmann’s department store, who once told Apfel, “You are not beautiful and you never will be, but it doesn’t matter. You have something much more important. You have style.”

This sentiment echoed throughout Apfel’s career, culminating in her own Barbie doll and emojis, a testament to her influence on pop culture and fashion.

Although her career initially focused on interior decoration, Apfel’s foray into fashion became more pronounced when, at 84, she starred in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s exhibition ‘Iris Apfel: Rare Bird of Fashion’ in 2005. This showcased 80 pieces from her eclectic collection of jewelry and haute couture, bringing her hypnotic style to a broader audience. Apfel described fashion as akin to playing jazz – an act of improvisation fueled by humor and curiosity.

Grew up in New York

Born in Queens, New York, in the summer of 1921, Iris grew up during the Great Depression. Her early experiences shaped her understanding of fashion; with limited means, she learned to create a variety of looks from a minimal wardrobe. Her passion for fashion was nurtured early, saving her pennies to buy her first accessory at 11-a brooch from a Greenwich Village shop.

Her creative spirit wasn’t confined to fashion alone. As a teenager, she designed her own bedroom with a boldness that would define her future work, choosing men’s fabrics and painting the walls black. Apfel’s educational pursuits in art history at New York University and the University of Wisconsin School of Art further honed her aesthetic sensibilities.

Marriage to Carl Apfel led to the creation of ‘Old World Weavers,’ a textile company that left its mark on the White House and homes of Hollywood’s elite, from Harry S. Truman to Bill Clinton and stars like Greta Garbo and Estée Lauder.

Apfel lived by the creed that rules were meant to be broken, blending luxury and vintage pieces to create looks and spaces that resonated with designers and stylists alike. She believed style was about originality and creativity, an attitude to be nurtured over time.

Her wardrobe, a treasure trove that included pieces from Dior, Chanel, and Versace alongside finds from European antique markets and exotic locales, underscored her belief in the timelessness of good-quality clothing. Even at 97, Apfel’s influence continued to grow, culminating in a contract with IMG Models, home to supermodels like Gigi Hadid and Gisele Bündchen.

Iris Apfel’s legacy is one of fearless self-expression and originality. “The biggest mistake in fashion is to look in the mirror and see someone else,” she often remarked, embodying the spirit of a woman who lived fashion on her own terms, leaving behind a legacy that will continue to inspire generations to come.