Episode 93: Iris Apfel
In Astoria Queens, Iris Barrel was born on August 29, 1921. She was the only daughter of two Jewish farmers - her mother, Sadye came from Russia and owned a small fashion boutique, and her father Samuel was an entrepreneur who was a supplier of mirrors and glass. At an early age Iris loved to play with old fabrics at her grandparents’ house. She was obsessed with things with a lot of colors and textures. She recalls that every week she would take the subway for a nickel and visit different sections of New York, like Harlem, Yorkville, and Greenwich Village. Iris studied art history at NYU and also attended art school at the University of Wisconsin. After graduating, Iris worked as a copywriter for Women’s Wear Daily - a highly respected fashion magazine. She would later work for the renowned interior designer Elinor Johnson, as her assistant. With Iris’s experience working in interior spaces and fabrics, in 1950, she and her husband Carl started the company called Old World Weavers. This was a textile company that specialized in restoring furnishings for homes. Iris became the interior designer for the White House, working under 9 presidents. Iris would run this leading luxury fabric company until 1992 when Carl and Iris “retired”. As far as we know Iris is retired, living her best life, then at the age of 83 - a man by the name of Harold Koda approached Iris in 2005. Harold is the curator of the Met’s Costume Institute. The Museum had scheduled an exhibition but it fell through. At the last minute, they were looking to create a show with a wonderful story … enter Iris. Vintage and one-of-a-kind pieces, and all the accumulations of her world travels were put on display at the Met on September 13th, 2005 in an exhibition called “Rara Avis: Selections from the Iris Apfel Collection.” This exhibition would highlight everything that made Iris iconic from oversized tortoiseshell glasses to her whimsical patterned coats and colorful chunky costume jewelry.
Caryatid: Iris Van Herpen
Iris is a Dutch Couture Fashion Designer. Like Iris Apfel, THIS Iris blends fashion with architecture and design. Iris has collaborated with several Dutch architects to create her high fashion designs. One architect in particular is THE Rem Koolhass, together they created 3d printed heels to mimic tree roots- an image shown below. Find out more about her work here and here.
References
Admin. “Iris Apfel - the Fashiongton Post.” The Fashiongton Post, 4 Feb. 2023, fashiongtonpost.com/iris-apfel.
Emma. “The Case of Iris Apfel - the 102-year-old Unbeatable Icon.” Tribute to Magazine, 9 Dec. 2023, www.tributetomagazine.com/style-icon-iris-apfel-the-96-year-old-unbeatable-queen-of-fashion-and-design.
“Iris Apfel | BoF 500 | the People Shaping the Global Fashion Industry.” The Business of Fashion, www.businessoffashion.com/community/people/iris-apfel.
Iris Apfel’s One Tip on Decorating the Home. www.homejournal.com/en/people/Iris-Apfel%E2%80%99s-One-Tip-on-Decorating-the-Home/45.
Khan, Arshiya. “Iris Apfel Biography: Age, Height, Birthday, Family, Net Worth.” Eduvast, 28 Aug. 2023, www.eduvast.com/biography/iris-apfel
Kratofil, Colleen. “Iris Apfel Celebrates Turning 100 by Sharing Her Best Lessons on Love, Life and Plastic Surgery.” Peoplemag, 1 Sept. 2021, people.com/style/iris-apfel-turns-100-shares-life-lessons.
Langford, Zara. “The Inspirational Iris Apfel.” Shoot My House, 18 Apr. 2021, shootmyhouse.tv/the-inspirational-iris-apfel.
Lee, Sophie. “Who Is Iris Apfel? Get to Know the Vibrant Fashion Icon Who Turns 100 Today -Jewelry Style.” L’Officiel USA, 26 Aug. 2022, www.lofficielusa.com/pop-culture/who-is-iris-apfel-fashion-icon-jewelry.
Vail, Amanda, and Roger Davies. “Iris Apfel’s Home in New York City Is a Fashionista’s Dream.” Architectural Digest, 11 Oct. 2016, www.architecturaldigest.com/story/iris-apfel-manhattan-apartment-article.
Vargas, Chanel. “Iris Apfel and Her Husband Carl’s Adorable Love Story.” Town & Country, 18 Apr. 2022, www.townandcountrymag.com/style/fashion-trends/a13122155/iris-apfel-carl-apfel-love-story.
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