Iris Apfel, Legendary Style Maven, Passes at 102.

Iris Apfel, renowned for her unique flair in textiles, interior design, and fashion, has passed away.

Iris Apfel, celebrated for her distinctive approach to textiles, interior design, and fashion, has passed away at the age of 102. Lori Sale, her commercial representative, confirmed her passing, describing Apfel as “extraordinary.” The cause of death was not disclosed. The news of her demise was shared on her official Instagram account on Friday, following a post the previous day commemorating her 102nd-and-a-half birthday on Leap Day.

Born on August 29, 1921, Apfel became renowned for her bold and unique fashion choices, blending high fashion with large, eye-catching costume jewelry. An iconic look from Apfel might include combining a feather boa with heavy bead necklaces, armfuls of bangles, and a jacket adorned with Native American beadwork.

Her distinctive appearance, characterized by large, round, black glasses, vibrant red lips, and her short, white hair, made her a standout figure at every fashion event she attended.

Her fashion sense was celebrated in museum exhibitions and captured in the documentary film “Iris,” directed by Albert Maysles.

Apfel famously stated, “I’m not pretty, and I’ll never be pretty, but it doesn’t matter. I have something much better. I have style.”

Apfel found fame on social media in her later years, attracting nearly 3 million followers on Instagram, where her bio reads: “More is more & Less is a Bore.” She also garnered a following of 215,000 on TikTok, sharing her insights on fashion and style, along with promoting her recent partnerships.

In one of her TikTok videos, she emphasized the difference between being stylish and being fashionable: “Being stylish and being fashionable are two entirely different things. Fashion can be bought, but style is something you’re born with. It’s about originality and bravery.”

Apfel never considered retirement, expressing to “Today” that, “I believe retiring at any age is like a death sentence. Age is just a number and shouldn’t dictate when you stop.”

Working with her was a privilege I’ll treasure forever. Her daily calls, always starting with ‘What have you got for me today?,’ will be deeply missed,” Sale remarked. “This was a reflection of her relentless drive to stay active. She was a pioneer in every aspect, viewing the world through a lens only she could, framed by her signature large, unique glasses.”

Apfel was a connoisseur of textiles and antique fabrics. Together with her husband Carl, they ran Old World Weavers, a textile company known for its restoration projects, including work for the White House during the terms of six U.S. presidents. Her list of high-profile clients included names like Estee Lauder and Greta Garbo.

Her fame skyrocketed in 2005 following the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute in New York City’s exhibition titled “Rara Avis,” Latin for “rare bird,” dedicated to her. The museum celebrated her style as “both witty and exuberantly idiosyncratic.”

Her knack for blending high-end with accessible fashion, such as pairing Dior haute couture with flea market discoveries, 19th-century religious garments with Dolce & Gabbana lizard pants, showcased her originality. The museum praised her “layered combinations” for challenging traditional beauty standards and embodying a “boldly graphic modernity” even in their most lavish and ornate forms.