Iris Apfel’s best looks: fashion's grande dame of maximalism dies aged 102

“Life is grey and dull,” said Iris Apfel, one of fashion’s great eccentrics, in her New York drawl during the 2014 documentary by Albert Maysles on her life. “You might as well have a little fun dressing up.” She died on Friday, in her home in Palm Beach, Florida, aged 102 — and the self-proclaimed “geriatric starlet” lived by her advice until the end. 

Best known after she hit octogenarian status, Apfel became an unlikely fashion muse and champion of later life style thanks to her unique concoction of hunky, coral necklaces, cherry red mongolian lamb coats, clanging turquoise bracelets and, most famously, her signature round-frame glasses. 

The late Apfel, who died on Friday aged 102, sat for a portrait for her 100th Birthday Party in 2021 (Getty Images for Central Park To)

In 2005, she made history as the first living person who was not a fashion designer to be the subject of a solo exhibition — which collated 82 fashion ensembles and 300 accessories — at the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. 

It followed a life in textile manufacturing, co-founding the company Old World Weavers with her late husband, Carl Apfel, which specialised in the reproduction of antique fabrics. In this time, she also acted as a restoration consultant for over nine presidential administrations in the White House. 

“Tanked with a five-star dinner, washed with vintage champagne,” Apfel captioned this image on Instagram (@iris.apfel)

In 2018, she published the autobiographical Iris Apfel: Accidental Icon, a personal take on her life and style. For it, the designer Dries Van Noten summarised her with affection: "I have rarely met someone as vivid, as alive, as vital, vivacious, irreverent, joyous, relevant, and needed as Iris. She breathes young air, thinks young thoughts, and gathers no dust,” he said. 

Iris Apfel’s greatest looks:

Archive photographs Iris Appel shared to Instagram (@iris.apfel)

Archive photographs Iris Appel shared to Instagram (@iris.apfel)

Archive photographs Iris Appel shared to Instagram (@iris.apfel)

at the Lighthouse International Light Years Gala at Cipriani 42nd Street on October 20, 2008 (Getty Images)

at the 2010 CFDA Fashion Awards on June 7, 2010 (Getty Images)

Rod Kennan and Iris Apfel at the the CFDA Fashion Awards on June 6, 2011 (Getty Images)

at the Joanna Mastroianni Fall 2012 fashion show on February 15, 2012 (Getty Images for Joanna Mastroia)

With Carl Apfel at Bergdorf Goodman's 111th anniversary celebration at the Plaza Hotel on October 18, 2012 (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Bergdorf Goodman)

at the Ralph Rucci Fall 2013 fashion show on February 10, 2013 (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week)

at the Ralph Rucci fashion show on September 8, 2013 (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Spring 2014)

at The New York Times International Luxury Conference at Mandarin Oriental on December 3, 2014 (Photo by Gustavo Caballero/Getty Images for The New York Times International Luxury Conference)

at VIOLET GREY's She's So Violet Garden Tea honoring Iris Apfel on April 27, 2015 (Photo by Jonathan Leibson/Getty Images for VIOLET GREY)

at the Desigual fashion show during Spring 2016 New York Fashion Week on September 10, 2015 (Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images for NYFW: The Shows)

at Thom Browne’s Spring 2016 fashion show during New York Fashion Week on September 14, 2015 (Getty Images)

at Anna Sui’s Spring 2016 show during New York Fashion Week on September 16, 2015 (Photo by Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for NYFW: The Shows)

at the UNICEF Snowflake Ball Honoring Orlando Bloom, Mindy Grossman And Edward G. Lloyd at Cipriani, Wall Street on December 1, 2015 (Getty Images for UNICEF)

at Cartier’s Fifth Avenue Grand Reopening Event at the Cartier Mansion on September 7, 2016 (Getty Images for Cartier)

at the 2016 Fashion Group International Night Of Stars Gala at Cipriani Wall Street on October 27, 2016 (Getty Images)

sitting for a portrait for her 100th Birthday Party at Central Park Tower on September 09, 2021 (Getty Images for Central Park To)

at the ACE Awards at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 02, 2021 (Getty Images)