Iris Apfel is the kind of woman you’d sell your soul to meet. At 88, the style icon is still kickin’ it with young designers (we’ve seen her pictured with Sir Zac Posen more than a couple times) and inspiring the world (the Chanel half-tint glasses anyone?—i mean, EVERYONE!)
If you, like me, found yourself hungering for more Iris after the segment aired on Wednesday, have no fear. Since then, I’ve been collecting various interview transcripts so we can learn more about Boston’s Femme du Jour.
What I love best about Apfel is that she’s equal parts fashion icon and iconoclast. In a world where so many collect and collect, Iris Apfel lives through her pieces—and when she talks about each YSL trouser, each accessory, she’s got a story and it’s as if we’re there with her, discovering the pieces for the first time.
Stop collecting, start wearing; your body is your soul—dress it up once in a while.
And now, the many stories of Iris Apfel:
Marilyn Kirschner: Fashion Week is only days away. How do you feel about being an 84-year-old fashion icon that is being touted by many of the world’s most influential designers as one of the most important influences for their upcoming fall 2006 collections?
Iris Apfel: “It’s hard for me to comprehend and to believe…it’s like some sort of a fantasy…it’s great, I mean…. I have been doing the same thing since practically childhood, I started to do my own shopping when I was 12, so after 70 years, it’s kind of a kick in the head. It could have never happened, so…better late than never.
M.K: What were the influences early on that made you love fashion so? Was it a fashionable mother ?
I.A: Yes, I had a very chic mother, she loved clothes and she subsequently went into the fashion business and opened a small chain of boutiques and left me to my own devices more or less. Of course, Grandma was there and we always had people to take care of me but… Since I am 12 years old, if I wanted any clothes I had to go and find them myself because she didn’t have any time. So it was wonderful training, it was difficult, I’ll never forget my first experience, and it’s made me a very, very good shopper. I think all young women should be exposed and not just given unlimited charge accounts and told, “This is how much you can spend, go out and buy an outfit”. Today, with places like H&M and all the discount stores, there’s really no reason not to be well dressed.
M.K.: That’s true. Were you always mixing high end with low end?
I.A.: Always
M.K.: Was it one of your signatures?
I.A.: Always
M.K.: And did people think that you were perhaps a little off your rocker because of your imaginative put- togethers?
I.A.: They must have but it never really bothered me one way or another, but…obviously, they must have.
M.K.: And did you always like having people look at you because you stood out in the crowd?
I.A.: No, I never really think about it, I ‘m not like that, I have so many other things to do, I’m not a fashionista, and that is not my life. I love beautiful clothes, and I appreciate them, but…I’ve been in business all my life, I built a business, I’m involved in a lot of charities and all kinds of stuff…and….you know, just being a clotheshorse is not my idea of heaven.
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On the start of her business with husband, Carl:
“so we said “ok we’re going into business” and that’s how it happened.
We took a 3 story walk up on 57th street, which I thought would be more chic than any place since we were in the middle of all the antiques dealers, and you had to walk up three double flights of stairs… but all of the so-called ‘W’ ladies came, they all found out about it, Mrs. Marjorie Meriwether Post among them and she became a very good client. I have a very funny story about her. She bought a silk called “Hillwood” for her house in Washington, it’s just beautiful, in the estate section where all the embassies are, and we finished the order. Early one morning, the telephone rang and I answered, and she said “This is Mrs. Post and I must speak with Mr. Apfel immediately!” And I thought Oh my God what happened? So Carl got on the phone and she said, “Mr. Apfel, last night my drapes were delivered, they are absolutely stunning. They are hung in my sitting room and I am on top of an 18 ft ladder, examining them. You have also made me exquisite silk fringe, but I must know, how many little balls are there supposed to be in a running yard?” and my husband thought for a minute and he said, “Mrs Post, every day I eat your Raisin Bran , can you tell me please how many raisins I am supposed to find in a tablespoon?” And she said, “Touché! Mr. Apfel. My God, I am a foolish woman and I better get down from that ladder before I break my neck. Excuse me I love it and that’s the way it should be”.
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M.K.: What are the most surprising bi products of this exhibit? Offers, invitations, requests that have come your way because of the publicity and accolades the exhibit has received?
I.A.: The most surprising thing is that I have become this geriatric starlet. That knocks me out….
M.K.: As I’ve said, “move over Kate Moss, there is a new fashion icon in town and she’s about 50 years your senior.”
I.A.: At least I am not on drugs, and I don’t need to go through rehab.
M.K.: You mentioned that you have had a few job offers?
I.A.: Oh yes, all kinds of things have come my way, somebody asked me to star in a video for her, an Indian singer who is very good…she asked me to do that…yesterday…Lindsay Lohan was at the show (she is quite a fashionista) and she went crazy and she wants to meet me and she asked Stephane if I would be her stylist….
M.K.: Well talk about cookie-cutter, and since we are now entrenched in the red carpet season…what do you think of the typical and predictable “red carpet style”? The whole idea that it “takes a village” to make a star what with the stylist, the long gown showing a lot of boobs, and borrowed diamonds…By the way, did you see the Golden Globes?
I.A.: Yes, but there was very little jewelry in that show. I thought the girls looked dreadful…
M.K.: Was there anyone that you thought looked good?
I.A.: Yes there was, what’s her name?…. S. Epatha Merkerson, the lovely black actress on ‘Lackawanna Blues’..who said she was 53…She had a simple long sleeved black dress and she had diamond earrings and she looked stunning. She looked appropriate and she looked great, and she wasn’t trying to make a statement… These people don’t even look appropriate. They look silly. The stylists, I think, should be tarred and fathered or sent to rehab…. It’s quite awful…these girls, evidently have no education and no frame of reference, but …it was really sad, I thought that was one of the worst….
xo heather
quotes & stories : lookonline.com (2006)
