“Although I’m in my 90s I still feel like I’m 5 and a half because I always look at the world like I’m discovering it for the first time.”

Iris Apfel

 

Repeat after me…

“We CAN get BETTER with age”

We all know the expression “40 is the new 30”. When it comes to one of my heroes, style icon Iris Apfel, it’s more like “90 is the new 30”.

Many of you might know about her and her iconic oversized round spectacles.  But, if you haven’t heard of Iris Apfel she’s someone you ought to know about because she is one of the most dynamic personalities in the worlds of fashion, textiles and interior design.  

 

Her age? …She’s 97 years young! Ok, people, this geriatric isn’t JUST surviving …she’s THRIVING and living proof that it isn’t ALL downhill after your first grey hairs and wrinkles.  Like Iris says:

“There’s NOTHING wrong with wrinkles.”

 

 

 

Get this, in her 80’s, after her clothing collection was exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, she was catapulted to fame and a career as a supermodel and collaborator with renowned brands such as MAC to create a limited-edition makeup line inspired by her signature bold red lipstick look. She’s unstoppable despite her age and last year in her mid 90’s she came out with her first book which I ADORE and highly recommend! (more on that in a minute)

 

 Here’s what she says about getting older;

“Having a sense of wonder, a sense of humor, and a sense of curiosity – these are my tonic.  They keep you young, childlike, open to new people and things, ready for another adventure.

I never want to be an old fuddy-duddy; I hold the self proclaimed record for being the World’s Oldest Living Teenager and I intend to keep it that way.”

If you haven’t seen the Albert Maysles Netflix documentary about Iris, watch it.  Trust me, you are in for a treat.  It’s FABULOUS.  I never knew about her star-studded clientele, which included Greta Garbo, Estee Lauder, Montgomery Clift and Joan Rivers.   At the bottom of this post I’ll put a link to the trailer to this documentary.

 

 

Iris is crushing her 90’s. As she approaches centenarian status, I salute her as a vibrant role model to anyone who’s fearful of being marginalized, getting old, sick and never working again. She’s a living example of what old age can be if you do what you’re passionate about, have the right attitude and have good health (of course).   She is a consistent reinforcement to my own belief:  

We can get better with age, especially if we know how to look after ourselves.

If you feel like you want that constant inspiring reminder of what aging fiercely and gracefully is all about, then run out and buy ‘Iris Apfel Accidental Icon; Musings of a Geriatric Starlet’ and park it on your coffee or night table.

 

In my humble opinion, this geriatric starlet defines beauty, strength, resilience and grace.  That’s why, as I grow older, I want to be like her.  So, are you with me?   Let’s channel a fine red wine –  let’s live well and age better…kind of like Iris and a Chateauneuf-du-Pape.

The book is lavishly illustrated, packed with colour and gorgeous photos of her in her signature fashion glory.  It’s a collection of musings, anecdotes and observations on all matters of life and style. Here’s some more inspiring pearls of wisdom she has to share with all of us about living life to the fullest:

 

“Doing new things takes a lot of energy and strength.

It’s very tiring to make things happen,

To learn how to master a skill, to push fears aside.”

 

“Most people would rather just go with the flow;

It’s much easier. But it’s not very interesting.

And as I always say,

You have to be interested to be interesting”

 

 “You don’t find out who you are unless you work at it.

One size doesn’t fit all.”

Here’s the trailer of the documentary I was mentioning earlier.  If you watch it, let me know if you love it as much as I do!