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Arguably in the fashion world, we move in cycles. From minimalist trends led by Celine to heavily embroidered and bedazzled garments by Gucci, and now more than ever the relapse of maximalism is evident everywhere from the art on the streets to the runway. And in this spirit of colour and pattern we celebrate one of fashions most Iconic figures, Iris Apfel. A prime example of the result which happens at the crossroads of different fields in the creative realm such as interior design, art and fashion, Iris marries the opposites and breathes art into a daily ritual we all partake in; simply getting dressed.
Although she is held in high respect by creatives of all sorts and has worked closely with several enormous brands including Vogue, as well having countless articles written about her, appeared on numerous interviews and called upon for quotes, she remains true t0 her traditions which shape the Iris we have all come to know today. The same Iris which attracted crowds in the MET to an exhibition dedicated to her featuring outfits she put together and accessorised by hand. In the backstreets and neighbourhoods of NYC she will rake the streets looking for thrift shops which sell an eclectic variety which just as suggested by the backdrop of Manhattan, come from various cultural and ethnic backgrounds. She will bargain for three bracelets a jacket and a couple earrings knowing their value, and when it comes to putting them together she will more often than not be wearing the 3 dollar bracelets from Harlem over a vintage Gianni Versace jacket. Through the impulsive rhythm she always associated with her sense of personal style as well as the non-methodical approach to general styling she catered for a series of windows for the iconic store Bergdof Goodman in New York where she worked alongside Linda farrow and gave the mannequins an Iris makeover.
All in all, people say legends are made after they perish; and to a degree that has some truth, the world couldn't see Van Goes vision while he was alive and standing and he never lived to see the legacy he left behind as well as the influence he held on the world. Yet in rare cases like these it comes to show that perhaps the world sees more clearly when looking at a living legend such as Iris. I believe there is something everyone can learn from her, and it is that youth is more of a mentality and never to be reduced down to just a number and that fashion will always be a platform for anyone looking to celebrate their identity through the means of art.