October 2011 - Who said fashion bravado is only for the young? Just ask style icon Iris Apfel, who at 90 is still rocking, displaying an innate yet irreverent elegance that nonchalantly melds ethnic flourishes, a Bohemian vibe and haute couture confections - all topped by her signature, round-rimmed glasses and bright red lipstick. But there’s more to Apfel’s look: this petite, birdlike muse, who served as the interior designer at the White House for nine presidents, also has an ingrained passion for exaggerated jewelry, the bolder, the better. Apfel’s style and expertise is now arriving on yoox.com with her exclusive jewellery collections.
Only for yoox.com, three different collections: two created by Apfel herself and one featuring pieces from her personal wardrobe
“As a child I watched every day as my very chic ‘maman’ worshipped at the altar of the Accessory. Like a shaman stylist, she worked her magic, transforming her workaday black dress into a smashing cocktail outfit. Her talismans were shoes and scarves, bags and belts, but most important was her costume jewelry collection… her bits and baubles, bangles and beads. Slowly I began to appreciate their powers of transformation, their ability to evoke a mood and express an individual personality, to make a statement about the wearer.” Iris Apfel
To celebrate her genius and fantasy, a small throng of fans encompassing designers, photographers, filmmakers, editors and bloggers got together for a special tribute – AN IRIS LOVEFEST – with dedicated images, videos and messages. Among the distinguished admirers on the roster: Bruce Weber, Duro Olowu, Bill Cunningham, Isabel and Ruben Toledo, Max Osterweis and Erin Beatty, Ari Cohen, Kim Hastreiter, Linda Fargo, Harold Koda, James Gager, Rory Gevis, Albert Maysles and Bradley Kaplan. As an interior designer, she contributed her connoisseurship and vision to the interiors of the White House under nine presidents, from Harry Truman to Bill Clinton. With her husband Carl, Iris founded Old World Weavers to perpetuate the endangered traditions and techniques of sophisticated textile artisans. Iris shuns trends, yet she’s a fashion system darling. According to press reports, Ralph Lauren tried to tap her after visiting “Rara Avis (Rare Bird): The Irreverent Iris Apfel”, an exhibition of her spectacular wardrobe at the New York’s Metropolitan Museum. Dries van Noten chose her as the must-have guest for a party hosted by Bergdorf Goodman. In June, the Council of Fashion Designers of America asked Iris to present the Accessory Designer of the Year Award to the 27-year-old Alexander Wang, another admirer. And Albert Maysles, the award-winning documentary filmmaker, has selected Iris as his next subject.
