Iris Apfel: Musings of a Geriatric Starlet

For anyone who wants creative inspiration or a fashion muse, get this book!  It is, in itself, a true bargain! Read about the 96 going on 18 Fashionista who is still totally involved in creativity and life.  I first heard of her last year when watching a documentary about her. Actually, I had heard o her before, but had not known much of her life.  "She's you!" my husband said as we watched and became fascinated.

The book is full of her ideas on creativity and design.  Her signature style, "more is more; less is a bore" is reflected in her wonderful jewelry and unusual outfits.    She is no snob, however, nor a slave to fashion.  Ms. Apfel talks about the excitement of finding a great $3 bracelet  and mixing it with expensive jewelry, or not!  She is a flea market fan big time, and has explored them allover the world.

The photographs of her wonderful home, complete with collections of nutcrackers and all kinds of objet d'art, made me drool!  Her love of textile and knowledge of patterns from all eras and countries makes you want to go fabric hunting.  She has worked with presidents from the 1940s to 90s when decorating and refurbishing rooms in The White House, but she retains her commons sense, humility, and artistic vision.

Her amazing life is reflected in the great love she has for her parents, both talented, encouraging free thinkers,  She dedicates this book to her late husband, the wonderful, supportive Carl, and to them.  Carl, too, is given lots of fashion and business credit, and she describes how she made him wonderful trousers in upholstery and other novelty materials that got him many compliments. My mother used to make me skirts out of all sorts of novelty prints like this, and I still wear them.

Apfel mixes pieces from Loehmann's, antique stores, estate sales, flea markets, and couture houses to create looks that have made her outfits and jewelry, layered one wonderful layer on the other, museum exhibits.

She talks about compiling these outfits and her projects freely, and is still a visiting professor at a major university. 

Read the book; it will make you want to get up and do wonderful things!  Her advice for longevity is age is just a number, get out and learn, stay curious and interested, and above all, follow your passions and dreams.