On the eve of her 100th birthday, style icon Iris Apfel is finding new ways to express herself—and, she hopes, to encourage others to do the same.
This year alone, the self-proclaimed “geriatric starlet,” known for her owl glasses, bold colors and oversize jewelry, curated a line of home products for Lowe’s Cos., teamed with Etsy Inc. on a selection of her favorite items sold by the online marketplace and is designing eyewear collections for Zenni Optical, part of a four-year-deal with the company.
Why does she continue to work so feverishly? “I want to stay alive,” said Ms. Apfel, who will become a centenarian on Aug. 29, in a recent interview. “If I stopped working, I’d be gone.”
Ms. Apfel started her career as an interior designer when the Cold War was in its infancy. A lifelong acquirer of couture clothes and costume jewelry, gathered from her travels around the world, she launched into stardom at the age of 84, when the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art held an exhibition featuring items from her vast collection.
Since then, her influence has only grown. She has 1.6 million Instagram followers. Pinterest boards showcase toddlers dressed as Ms. Apfel for Halloween. In 2018, Mattel Inc. created an Iris Apfel Barbie, making her the oldest person to have one of the dolls made in her image. For her coming birthday, Bergdorf Goodman will dedicate a window that celebrates her maximalist style.
