Iris Apfel

Iris Apfel
Apfel in 2015
Born	Iris Barrel (1921-08-29)August 29, 1921 Queens, New York, U.S.
Died	March 1, 2024(2024-03-01) (aged 102) Palm Beach, Florida, U.S.
Nationality	American
Alma mater	University of Wisconsin
Occupation(s)	Businesswoman, interior designer
Years active	1950–2024
Spouse	Carl Apfel ​ ​ (m. 1948; died 2015)​

Iris Apfel (née Barrel; August 29, 1921 – March 1, 2024) was an American businesswoman, interior designer, and fashion icon. She was born in Queens, New York City.^[1]

Apfel studied at the University of Wisconsin.^[2] Apfel took part in several design restoration projects, including work at the White House for nine presidents: Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, and Clinton.

In 2013, she was listed as one of the fifty "Best-Dressed over 50" by The Guardian.^[3] In November 2016, Apfel was awarded the Women's Entrepreneurship Day Pioneer Award for her work in fashion at the United Nations in New York City.^[4]

In 2018, Mattel created a Barbie doll in Apfel's image, making her the oldest person to ever have a Barbie made in her image.^[5] In 2019, at the age of 97, she signed a modelling contract with global agency IMG.^[6]

Apfel celebrated her 100th birthday on August 29, 2021.^[7] She was Jewish.^[8][9]

Apfel died at her home in Palm Beach, Florida from natural causes on March 1, 2024, at the age of 102.^[1][10][11]

References

1. McFadden, Robert D. (March 2, 2024). "Iris Apfel, Eye-Catcher With a Kaleidoscopic Wardrobe, Dies at 102". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on March 2, 2024. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
2. "Biography". businessoffashion.com. The Business of Fashion. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
3. Cartner-Morley, Jess; Mirren, Helen; Huffington, Arianna; Amos, Valerie (28 March 2013). "The 50 Best-dressed over 50s". The Guardian. London.
4. Wendy Diamond. "Women's Entrepreneurship Day Organization Pioneer Awards 2016 Winners". WED. Archived from the original on July 5, 2018. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
5. Gonzales, Erica (2018-03-28). "Iris Apfel Just Became the Oldest Person to Have a Barbie Made After Her". Harper's BAZAAR. Retrieved 2019-02-07.
6. Lockwood, Lisa (January 31, 2019). "IMG Signs on Iris Apfel: The 97-year-old tastemaker will be represented by the agency for modelling, endorsements and appearances". WWD: Women's Wear Daily – via EBSCOHost.
7. "Iris Apfel Celebrates Turning 100 by Sharing Her Best Lessons on Love, Life and Plastic Surgery".
8. Hodson, Heather (3 March 2007). "Anything goes". The Daily Telegraph. London.
9. "Iris Apfel: a Jewish Collector of Great Style". The Jewish Daily Forward. 20 November 2009. Archived from the original on 10 May 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
10. Ulaby, Neda (March 1, 2024). "Celebrated stylemaker and self-named 'geriatric starlet' Iris Apfel dies at age 102". NPR. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
11. Lockwood, Rosemary Feitelberg,Lisa (2024-03-02). "Iris Apfel Dies at 102". WWD. Retrieved 2024-09-30.