The stylish Iris Apfel who arguably made the large dark circle glasses in style (sorry, John Lennon and Woody Allen) recently celebrated her 95th birthday. Yes you read it right, she's 95! And she’s busiest as ever, recently launching a fashion collaboration with Macy’s-owned INC International Concepts. In addition to being an international businesswoman at the whooping age of 95, she is known to have recently stared in fashion campaigns for big brands such as Kate Spade and Alex Bittar and she even has her own jewelry line shown on HSN.
A native of New York, Iris has been involved in the creative arts industry for most of her lifetime. Working for Women’s Wear Daily and for interior designer Elinor Johnson, she is no stranger to the fashion world. In 1948, she married her late husband Carl Apfel and a couple of years later they created a textile firm called Old World Weavers. During her work with her textile firm, she traveled the world collecting unique fabrics and clothing.
Apfel back in her youth.
While Iris' stylish, sassy, and adorable charm are evident throughout her clothing and style choices, these characteristics are also seen throughout many of her interviews. To give you a tiny glimpse of this total bad-ass, here are 6 quotes gathered from past interviews that prove Iris Apfel is a TOTAL BAD-ASS.
1. On wearing her signature glasses:
"People would say to me, ‘Why are they so large?’ and I would say because they are better to see you. And that would shut them up.”
She shields the haters with her spunky round glasses.
2."Life is gray and dull; you might as well have a little fun when you dress."
I feel that here it is appropriate to say #YOLO.
3. "I think the worst faux pas in fashion is to look in a mirror and see somebody else—which so many people do. They think a dress is going to transform them. They don’t realize it’s themselves and their attitude. Because that’s what style is: attitude, attitude, attitude."
YASSSS... Attitude is EVERYTHING.
4. "I always tell people to follow their dreams, to be true to themselves, and not just be carbon copies of what they think they should be, because then they’ll go through life miserable."
Everyone is unique in their own way...but actually...
5. "Coco Chanel once said that what makes a woman look old is trying desperately to look young. Why should one be ashamed to be 84? Why do you have to say that you're 52? Nobody's going to believe you anyway, so why be such a fool? It's nice that you got to be so old. It's a blessing."
Never be afraid of your age. Your age doesn't define you.
6. "Self-exploration is very painful, but unless you do that, you will never know who you are and who you want to be."
This quote is definitely geared towards everyone, but more specifically I think of people our age...since we are at that stage in life where we are trying to figure ourselves out.
Iris Apfel seems to live her life fearlessly and to her fullest. She will continue to remain an inspiration for the old and young and everyone in between.
Keep kicking-ass Iris!
