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Iris Apfel was one of fashion and design’s most recognizable tastemakers, known for her bold personal style, discerning eye, and decades-long influence across interiors, textiles, and fashion. A lifelong champion of individuality, Apfel often referred to herself as “the world’s oldest living teenager,” a line that became synonymous with her approach to creativity and aging.

Apfel’s later career included a wide range of successful collaborations, most recently her third collection with Ruggable, which tracked toward mid–seven figures in annual net revenue. Additional partnerships included a whimsical brooches line with Erstwilder, a collaboration with H&M, and a makeup collection with Ciaté London—each reflecting her signature approach to color, texture, and personal expression.

Her professional foundation began in interior design and textiles. In 1948, she married Carl Apfel, and together they founded the textile company Old World Weavers, which they operated until retiring in 1992. Their work led to significant restoration and design projects, including at the White House, where Apfel contributed to interiors across nine presidencies: Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, and Clinton.

In 2005, The Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art premiered RARA AVIS (Rare Bird): The Irreverent Iris Apfel, a groundbreaking exhibition that introduced her style to a global audience. She later unveiled an installation at Le Bon Marché in Paris in 2016, and the Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History in Boynton Beach, Florida is designing a dedicated gallery to house selections from her wardrobe, accessories, and furnishings.

Apfel’s life and career were also profiled in the documentary IRIS, which premiered at the New York Film Festival in 2014. Her publishing work includes COLORFUL (2024), an exploration of her approach to color and design created in collaboration to expand her legacy in print, along with IRIS THE COLORING BOOK (2020) and her memoir IRIS APFEL: ACCIDENTAL ICON, Musings of a Geriatric Starlet (2018).

Apfel studied art history at New York University and design at the University of Wisconsin, later serving as a visiting professor at the University of Texas, Austin. She received several honors throughout her life, including the Women Together Special Award at the 12th Annual Women Together Gala in 2016.

Iris Apfel’s impact continues to be felt across fashion, design, and culture, with a legacy defined by clarity of vision, originality, and an unwavering commitment to personal style.