Iris Apfel

Iris Apfel (née Barrel; August 29, 1921 – March 1, 2024) was an American businesswoman, interior designer, and fashion icon. She was born in Queens, New York City.[1]

Iris Apfel
Iris Apfel at MIFF (cropped).jpg
Apfel in 2015
Born
Iris Barrel

(1921-08-29)August 29, 1921
DiedMarch 1, 2024(2024-03-01) (aged 102)
NationalityAmerican
Alma materUniversity of Wisconsin
OccupationBusinesswoman, interior designer
Years active1950–2024
Spouse(s)
Carl Apfel
​
​
(m. 1948; died 2015)​

Apfel studied at the University of Wisconsin.[2] Apfel took part in several design restoration projects, including work at the White House for nine presidents: Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, and Clinton.

In 2013, she was listed as one of the fifty "Best-Dressed over 50" by The Guardian.[3] In November 2016, Apfel was awarded the Women's Entrepreneurship Day Pioneer Award for her work in fashion at the United Nations in New York City.[4]

In 2018, Mattel created a Barbie doll in Apfel's image, making her the oldest person to ever have a Barbie made in her image.[5] In 2019, at the age of 97, she signed a modelling contract with global agency IMG.[6]

Apfel celebrated her 100th birthday on August 29, 2021.[7] She was Jewish.[8][9]

Apfel died at her home in Palm Beach, Florida from natural causes on March 1, 2024, at the age of 102.[1][10][11]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 McFadden, Robert D. (March 2, 2024). "Iris Apfel, Eye-Catcher With a Kaleidoscopic Wardrobe, Dies at 102" (in en-US). The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331 . https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/01/fashion/iris-apfel-dead.html. Retrieved March 2, 2024. 
  2. ↑ Biography. businessoffashion.comThe Business of Fashion.. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
  3. ↑ Cartner-Morley, Jess; Mirren, Helen; Huffington, Arianna; Amos, Valerie (28 March 2013). The 50 Best-dressed over 50s. London. https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/gallery/2013/mar/29/50-best-dressed-over-50s. 
  4. ↑ Wendy Diamond. Women's Entrepreneurship Day Organization Pioneer Awards 2016 Winners. WED. http://www.womenseday.org/community/wed-annual-pioneer-awards/. Retrieved July 5, 2018. 
  5. ↑ Gonzales, Erica. Iris Apfel Just Became the Oldest Person to Have a Barbie Made After Her (in en-US). Harper's BAZAAR (2018-03-28). Retrieved 2019-02-07.
  6. ↑ Lockwood, Lisa (January 31, 2019). "IMG Signs on Iris Apfel: The 97-year-old tastemaker will be represented by the agency for modelling, endorsements and appearances". WWD: Women's Wear Daily. 
  7. ↑ Iris Apfel Celebrates Turning 100 by Sharing Her Best Lessons on Love, Life and Plastic Surgery.
  8. ↑ Hodson, Heather (3 March 2007). "Anything goes". The Daily Telegraph (London). https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/3663531/Anything-goes.html. 
  9. ↑ Iris Apfel: a Jewish Collector of Great Style. The Jewish Daily Forward (20 November 2009). Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  10. ↑ Ulaby, Neda (March 1, 2024). "Celebrated stylemaker and self-named 'geriatric starlet' Iris Apfel dies at age 102". NPR. https://www.npr.org/2024/03/01/1090257339/iris-apfel-dies. Retrieved March 2, 2024. 
  11. ↑ Lockwood, Rosemary Feitelberg,Lisa. Iris Apfel Dies at 102 (in en-US). WWD (2024-03-02). Retrieved 2024-09-30.