Match Made in Seven: Ode to Iris Apfel

Welcome to the monthly edition of Match Made in Seven! We are an international group of fashion bloggers who meet once a month. One of us chooses a theme in turn, and that can be anything. A book, music, a color, a movie –  and then we style an outfit based on that theme. This month Sonja picked an absolute corker of a theme with “Ode to Iris Apfel”!

When I read the email I was overjoyed at the prospect of adorning myself with copious amounts of costume jewellery! I certainly have plenty to choose from. While at first glance, Iris might look as though she’s piled on whatever she can find, pay closer attention and you’ll notice that everything is carefully colour co-ordinated. In fact she often sticks to just one or two colours, but combines lots of different textures.

Usually I avoid round sunglasses, preferring a cat eye shape instead, but I think I may be converted!

One of my favourite looks of hers is an all red outfit with turquoise jewellery. That’s what I’d originally intended on emulating. However, I couldn’t find quite the right red top, so I reverted to plan B, which is this outfit. I’m staying at my mum’s for a few days so couldn’t bring loads of clothes with me. I really wasn’t sure if this combination would work, but I’m pretty pleased with it. I didn’t plan on buying anything new for this outfit, but I couldn’t resist these shades from Marks & Spencer. Usually I avoid round sunglasses, preferring a cat eye shape instead, but I think I may be converted!

When I told my mum about this style challenge she said she’d never heard of Iris Apfel before, but when I showed her a photo of our muse she recognised her instantly. Iris has to be one of the most famous style icons in the world after all!

Iris became a household name in 2004, after her wardrobe became the focus of an exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute in New York. Before that she ran a textiles company with her husband Carl. Through their business, the couple travelled all over the world where she Iris bought pieces of non-Western, artisanal clothing, which she wore to clients’ high-society parties. Iris was also involved in several design restoration projects, including work at the White House where she worked on redesigns for nine different presidents.

More recently she has starred in ad campaigns for Macy’s, Citroën, and fashion designer Kate Spade. Earlier this year, at the age of 97, Iris joined modeling agency IMG. It just goes to prove – it’s never too late! I watched Albert Maysles’s documentary about her a few years ago on a flight and it was fascinating. What fun it would be to have a tour of her wardrobes! Below are some of my favourite Iris quotes.

“I don’t have any rules because I’d only be breaking them.”

“When the fun goes out of dressing you might as well be dead.”

“If you don’t know yourself, you’ll never have great style. You’ll never really live. To me, the worst fashion faux pas is to look in the mirror, and not see yourself.”

SHOP THE LOOK

“Fashion you can buy, but style you possess. The key to style is learning who you are, which takes years. There’s no how-to road map to style. It’s about self expression and, above all, attitude.”

“When you don’t dress like everyone else you don’t have to think like everyone else.”

“I don’t dress to be stared at. I dress for myself.”

“If you’re not interested, you’re not interesting.”

“Coco Chanel said take one thing off. I always said put  another one on.”

“More is more and less is a bore.”

That last quote has to be my ultimate favourite. I think we should all be more Iris sometimes, don’t you? Please visit the other Match Made in Seven ladies to see how they’re paying homage to Iris!

Debbie of https://www.debbiestyleslife.com/

Darlene of https://aquamarinastyle.com/

Sonja of https://www.yustsome.nl/

Bettye of https://fashionschlub.com/

Anna of https://www.muttonstyle.com/

Nancy of https://www.nancysfashionstyle.com

This post was featured on Links à la Mode fashion roundup by Independent Fashion Bloggers.

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• The Ultimate Athleisure Trend Guide by Fashion Jetsetter
• An Ode to Iris Apfel by Style Splash
• Trend Alert: White Hot Pleats! By Five Foot Nothing Shopping
• Business Casual: 5 Essential looks by OW
• A Guide to Shopping for Jumpsuits and Rompers in 2019 by Black Book Fashion

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