Iris Apfel Cause Of Death, Obituary ➤ What Happened to US Fashion Designer?
Iris Apfel, a textile expert, interior designer, and fashion celebrity known for her eccentric and eye-catching style, passed away peacefully at her home in Palm Beach, Florida, on March 1, 2024. She was 102 years old.
Her death was confirmed by a spokesman for her estate, who stated that she died surrounded by loved ones. While the exact cause of her death was not disclosed, it was noted that she had been in good health and spirits until recently.
From Astoria to the White House
Apfel was born on Aug. 29, 1921, in Astoria, Queens, New York, to a Jewish family of immigrants from Poland and Russia. She developed an interest in fashion and design at an early age, inspired by her mother, who owned a fashion boutique, and her grandmother, who taught her how to sew. She studied art history at New York University and attended art school at the University of Wisconsin.
In 1948, she married Carl Apfel, a businessman and fellow art lover, who became her lifelong partner and collaborator. Together, they founded Old World Weavers, a textile manufacturing company that specialized in restoration work, including projects at the White House under six different U.S. presidents, from Truman to Clinton. Apfel’s celebrity clients included Estee Lauder and Greta Garbo.
Iris Apfel Death Cause
| Name | Iris Apfel |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | August 29, 1921 |
| Date of death | March 1, 2024 |
| Age | 102 |
| Place of birth | Astoria, Queens, New York |
| Place of death | Palm Beach, Florida |
| Occupation | Businesswoman, interior designer, fashion designer, actress |
| Spouse | Carl Apfel (1948-2015) |
| Company | Old World Weavers (1950-1992) |
| Instagram followers | 2.9 million |
| TikTok followers | 215,000 |
| Books | Iris Apfel: Accidental Icon (2018) |
| Films | Iris (2015) |
| Exhibitions | Rara Avis: Selections from the Iris Apfel Collection (2005-2007) |
| Awards | Women Together Special Award of the Year (2012), Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Pioneer Award (2016), Albert Einstein College of Medicine Spirit of Achievement Award (2018) |
A Muse and a Mentor
Apfel’s fame as a fashion icon emerged in 2005, when the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute in New York City hosted a show about her called “Rara Avis,” Latin for “rare bird.” The museum described her style as “both witty and exuberantly idiosyncratic. Her originality is typically revealed in her mixing of high and low fashions — Dior haute couture with flea market finds, 19th-century ecclesiastical vestments with Dolce & Gabbana lizard trousers.” The museum said her “layered combinations” defied “aesthetic conventions” and “even at their most extreme and baroque” represented a “boldly graphic modernity.”
The show was a hit, attracting more than 200,000 visitors and launching Apfel into the spotlight. She became a muse and a mentor for many young designers, models, and celebrities, who admired her fearless and flamboyant approach to style. She also became a social media sensation, amassing nearly 3 million followers on Instagram and 215,000 followers on TikTok, where she shared her wisdom and humor on fashion and life.
Apfel’s style was the subject of several books, documentaries, and museum exhibits, including a traveling version of the “Rara Avis” show that visited several cities across the U.S. and a 2015 film titled “Iris,” directed by Albert Maysles. She also collaborated with various brands and retailers, such as MAC Cosmetics, HSN, and Zara, to create her own collections and products.
A Woman of Style and Substance
Apfel never retired, telling “Today”: “I think retiring at any age is a fate worse than death. Just because a number comes up doesn’t mean you have to stop.” She continued to attend fashion shows, events, and interviews, always wearing her signature big, round, black-rimmed glasses, bright red lipstick, and short white hair. She also continued to experiment with new and eclectic outfits, mixing feathers, fur, beads, bangles, and prints. She once said: “I’m not pretty, and I’ll never be pretty, but it doesn’t matter. I have something much better. I have style.”
Apfel’s style was not only a reflection of her personality but also a statement of her philosophy. She believed that fashion was a form of self-expression, creativity, and joy. She encouraged people to be themselves, to have fun, and to not take fashion too seriously. She also advocated for diversity, inclusivity, and individuality in the fashion industry and society. She said: “Being stylish and being fashionable are two entirely different things. You can easily buy your way into being fashionable. Style, I think, is in your DNA. It implies originality and courage.”
A Legend Remembered
Apfel’s death has been met with an outpouring of grief, admiration, and gratitude from fans, friends, and fellow fashion icons, who have paid tribute to her legacy and influence. She is survived by her nieces and nephews, as well as her beloved dog, Sammy. She was preceded in death by her husband, Carl, who died in 2015, just days before their 67th wedding anniversary.
Apfel will be remembered as a rare bird, a trailblazer, and a legend in the world of fashion, textiles, and interior design. She will also be remembered as a woman who lived her life with passion, humor, and grace. She once said: “I don’t have any rules, because I’d only be breaking them.” She broke the rules, and she made history. She was Iris Apfel, and she was extraordinary.
