‘Style Not Age’ pays Homage to Iris Apfel

This month, we at ‘Style Not Age’ pay homage to the style icon, Iris Apfel. This legendary lady died last month aged 102. You can check out our post two years ago on this amazing woman HERE.

IRIS APFEL’S STYLE

Iris Apfel was not an advocate of minimalism. I have her book ‘Iris Apfel Accidental Icon’ which gives little gems on her approach to life and fashion.

Her style was maximalism to the extreme. There was nothing wrong with loading on a forearm full of bangles and beads, with clashing multiple prints at the same time. She believed that fashion should be fun. When she discovered that she needed glasses, she believed in the bigger the better and her giant glasses became part of her style.

IRIS APFEL MEMORABLE QUOTES

Style is ATTITUDE ATTITUDE ATTITUDE!

You can suffer from too much good taste!

You have to be interested to be interesting.

Having a sense of wonder, a sense of humour and a sense of curiosity… these are my tonic. They keep you young.

I don’t dress to be stared at; I dress for myself.

IRIS APFEL’S VIEW OF DESIGNERS

‘Well fashion has to be inclusive on the part of the designers. They have to include and think about who they are selling to and not just think about making a pretty dress. Making a beautiful evening dress, for example, on an 18-year-old body to sell in the 65-year-old market is pretty silly!’

‘I mean you need the 65-year-old because she has the money to spend. So you have to realise that you need to make a dress for the person who is buying it, she will shell out the money.’

‘And I think designers should think more about that market which is sadly neglected, and pay them a bit more mind and include more people. Not everyone is tall and willowy!’

Yes Iris ……we are still trying to get this message across.

YES, IRIS APFEL MADE JEANS FASHIONABLE

In her book, Iris tells us that she was one of the first women to wear jeans. ‘I love denim and have never tired of wearing it. ‘When I was in college in Wisconsin in 1940, women couldn’t buy jeans like they can now.’ She had to chase down and hound a shopkeeper in an army-navy store. Initially, he told her ‘Young ladies don’t wear jeans’. But Iris got her way and ordered a pair of boys’jeans for herself.

So, I decided to follow Iris’ lead on jeans. I teamed my COS jeans with a shirt from Never Fully Dressed. (I see Avoca are selling this brand now.)

The mules are old from Clarks Shoes. Of course, I had to add bangles and necklaces (all left by the stylist daughter nearly 20 years ago) to take it to Iris Apfel level and I think it is a really fun look. My eldest grandson (aged nearly 8) took the photos. I probably will have to pay him soon!

ANNA’S ISLAND STYLE

A colourful print and an overload of necklaces and jewellery is classic Iris Apfel.  And Anna pulls this off perfectly in her suit and boots, both from Vinted. Of course, you can learn more if you click on Annas Island Style.

MUMMABSTYLISH

Jacqui is in more muted black, which Iris Apfel loved too, but of course she has added the required accessories. Check her out on Mummabstylish.

IS THIS MUTTON

Gail is looking vibrant in two of her favourite colours. Iris Apfel would approve and Gail has added the required necklaces also. Pop on over to Is This Mutton and find out more.

THE STYLE SPLASH

Emma’s suit and shoes are from the H&M collaboration with Iris – all bought on Vinted/eBay. The Forever Unique jacket bought in TK Maxx is a lookalike for the one from the collection. But you can find out more over on Emma’s page The Style Splash. What a fun look.

I cannot believe that it is nearly Easter already.  We are just back from a break away with friends in Portugal where we had glorious sunshine. Here in Ireland, it is still cold and wet.

Thank you for reading and have a lovely Easter break.

Hilda x