Advice from a 102-year-old "style icons"

Iris Apfel, an interior designer and fashion icon known for her eccentric style, has died at the age of 102. Her death was confirmed by the lady’s agent Laurie Sale.

Iris Apfel began her career as a copywriter for Women’s Wear Daily and an interior designer. In 1948, she married Karl Apfel, with whom she subsequently co-owned a textile company until retiring 44 years later. The couple have been involved in interior design for many years, completing large and remarkable projects, including the White House Suites.

Iris Became a model at 97 and has collaborated with Vogue Italia, Kate Spade and MAC. She was also the oldest person to have a famous children’s toy company named after her. Mattel made the Barbie doll. The news of Iris Apfel’s death caused a flurry of touching “farewell” messages on social networks.

“What a wonderful life Iris lived. She’s truly done it all: entrepreneur, model, fashion icon, college professor, documentary star, Barbie doll. Iris Apfel is real proof that age is just a number,” Maria Shriver wrote on social networks. “You have mastered the art of living. Thank you for your energy and inspiration,” said Lenny Kravitz.

Postulates from Iris Apfel:

• “Life is gray and boring, so you can brighten it up a little by changing your clothes and style.”
• “When you don’t dress like everyone else, then you don’t have to think like everyone else.”
• “No amount of money can buy you style. It’s done instinctively.”
• “I don’t dress to be looked at, I dress for myself.”
• “If you have good hair and good shoes, you can do anything.”
• “Personal style is an extreme curiosity about ourselves.”
• “Being well dressed is a wonderful thing, but I don’t think it’s a matter of life and death.”
• “Color can bring back the dead.”
• “You can ‘buy’ fashion, but you have style. The key to style is finding out who you are, and that takes years. There is no road map to finding style. It has to do with self-expression and, above all, behavior.”
• “If you don’t learn all the time, you don’t grow and you simply waste away. Too many people are withering away… on the vine. Of course, as you get older it gets a little more difficult, but new experiences and new challenges keep you fresh.”
• “When you get older, if you’re smart – or even three-quarters smart – you realize there’s no such thing as a free lunch. You pay for things differently.”
• “Living and loving are a matter of the same principle: knowledge.”
• “You won’t know who you are unless you work at it.”
• “Being a style icon takes effort. Most people are pretty lazy. And that’s okay! I mean, there are more important things than fashion.”
• “If your sense of style may irritate you, don’t worry. The main thing is to feel comfortable so that you can live a normal life.”
• “Everything around me inspires me. What inspires me is living, breathing, meeting people, interacting/talking, doing things and absorbing what’s going on around me. I think if more people did this, fashion would be better.”
• “I don’t see anything wrong with wrinkles. It’s a sign of daring/courage.”
• “For a woman to live a good life in New York, the two most important things are a chauffeur and a fur coat.”
• “You have to try everything. You only have one life, you must remember that.”
• “If you’re not interested, you’re not interesting.”

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