Fashion icon Iris Apfel, once a visiting professor at the University of Texas, dies at 102

Iris Apfel, an interior designer and businesswoman who later in life became a fashion icon and taught at the University of Texas, died Friday at the age of 102 in Palm Beach, Fla.

Her death was announced on her verified Instagram page, where she had 3 million followers, and by her agent.

Born Aug. 29, 1921, Apfel was famous for her irreverent, eye-catching outfits, mixing haute couture and oversized costume jewelry. A classic Apfel look would, for instance, pair a feather boa with strands of chunky beads, bangles and a jacket decorated with Native American beadwork. She also was known for the big, dark-framed circular glasses she wore.

“People at first were very shocked and would ask me why was I wearing glasses that were so large,” she told the American-Statesman in 2020. She would answer, “the bigger to see you” or “that’s none of your business,” which she said would keep them quiet.

“I don't know whether the world was ready for me,” Apfel said.

Schooled in art at New York University and the University of Wisconsin, Apfel learned about fashion on the job, working at Women’s Wear Daily. In 1948, she met and married Carl Apfel, and they founded the fabric company Old World Weavers, running it side by side until they retired in 1992. Her husband died in 2015.

She worked on restoring and decorating the interiors of the White House from President Harry Truman to President Bill Clinton. Apfel’s celebrity clients included Estee Lauder and Greta Garbo. She also became known for her work curating art exhibits on fashion and design.

According to The New York Times, Apfel became an international celebrity after the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan displayed a collection of her clothes in 2005, the first time the Met had exhibited an individual's wardrobe.

Her style also was the subject of a documentary film, "Iris," directed by Albert Maysles.

“I'm not pretty, and I'll never be pretty, but it doesn't matter,” she once said. “I have something much better. I have style."

Apfel appeared in ads for brands like M.A.C. cosmetics and Kate Spade. She also designed a line of accessories and jewelry for the Home Shopping Network; collaborated with H&M on a sold-out-in-minutes collection of brightly colored apparel, jewelry and shoes; put out a makeup line with Ciaté London and an eyeglass collection with Zenni; and partnered with Ruggable on floor coverings.

In 2010, Apfel began leading an immersive learning experience for UT students aspiring to work in the fashion industry. For a semester, students studied different aspects of the industry and then took a one-week trip to New York with Apfel as their guide.

"Our students call their experience with Iris ‘life-changing,’" Nancy Prideaux, the program director for UT in NYC, said on the university's website. "It opens their eyes to the breadth of the fashion industry and which path might be theirs. One-on-one interaction with Iris gives them a chance to ask her questions, soak up her wisdom and enjoy her sense of fun.”

In 2020, Apfel helped to create "Iris the Coloring Book" to offset the UT students' expenses for their time in Manhattan.

“I’m always interested in helping young people,” she told the Statesman.

This article contains material from staff writer Nicole Villalpando and The Associated Press.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Fashion icon, visiting UT professor Iris Apfel dies at 102