60 Iconic Iris Apfel Quotes about Fashion & Personal Style

In a world where fashion often seems to dictate the rules, Iris Apfel Quotes stands as a vibrant exception, a beacon of individuality and unapologetic self-expression. 

At 103 years, this style icon has not only redefined what it means to age gracefully but has also become an emblem of creativity and authenticity. With her oversized glasses and eclectic wardrobe that exudes personality, Iris has captivated audiences far beyond the realm of haute couture.

Who is Iris Apfel?

Iris Apfel, the vibrant fashion icon known for her oversized glasses and eclectic style, was not only a trendsetter but also a source of wisdom that transcended generations. 

As a self-proclaimed geriatric starlet, she had an uncanny ability to blend humor with profound insights about life and fashion. At the age of 103, news of Iris Barrel Apfel’s passing on March 1, 2024, brought a flood of tributes highlighting her unique take on aging and beauty.

 
Many found solace in her assertion that aging should be celebrated rather than feared; she famously said, “Life is way too short to wear boring clothes.”

Iris Apfel Profile Summary

Amazing Iris Apfel Quotes

Iris Apfel’s quotes overflow with a blend of wisdom, humor, and unapologetic authenticity.

• Oh my God, I’m a walking advertisement for discounted shopping.
• I didn’t have children, but I never wanted children.
• I used to love to create outfits, and I still do – I just don’t have the time. How can you wear one thing and never wear it again?
• I still have the dress I wore on the first date with my husband, which was more than 66 years ago. I still have it, and it still fits.
• Nothing I ever did I expected to do. It just kind of happened.
• I hate being asked how I met my husband and very personal questions like that. I don’t like that. People are too nosey.
• I’m not a collector of clothes. I’ve got clothes to wear.
• I think I still keep my sense of wonder, which I call childlike, not childish, childlike. I still have a vivid imagination, and I like to try a lot of new things.

Famous Iris Apfel Quotes

Iris Apfel’s the iconic fashion maven and businesswoman, has a knack for blending humor with wisdom in her famous quotes. One of her most celebrated iris sayings ,  is more and less a bore, captures her unapologetic love for vibrant styles and bold choices. 

• More is more and less is a bore.
• You can’t try to be somebody you’re not; that’s not style.
• Being attractive lasts longer than being pretty.
• You have to be interested. If you’re not interested, you can’t be interesting.
• I don’t have any rules, because I would only be breaking them, so it’s a waste of time.
• If I’ve got someplace to be, I’ll spend more time getting dressed than I spent at the actual event.
• You can be born with the talent to be an opera star, but you’ve got to work and practice it.
• My mother worshiped at the altar of the accessory.
• I don’t dress to be stared at. I dress for myself.

Iris Apfel Quotes on Life

Iris Apfel’s perspective on life is a refreshing reminder that authenticity trumps conformity. One of her most resonant quotes, “I think you have to be true to yourself and not worry about what other people think,” speaks volumes about the value of self-acceptance.

• I’m not going to be a rebel and offend anybody, but I’m not going to live in somebody else’s image.
• My father told me once not to expect anything from anybody so I wouldn’t be disappointed. If somebody was nice and did nice things for me, I would be overjoyed, but I shouldn’t go through life expecting it, which is very good advice.
• I think some people like me because I’m different. I don’t think like everybody else. People are so tied up in the worst parts of technology these days. They live a life pressing buttons. They don’t use their imaginations.
• I’m not out to preach. I just live my own life. I’m very happy if I can help somebody – that’s wonderful. But it’s up to them what they want to think about it or what they want to take away; it’s their business, not mine.
• I think people try so hard to learn everything that they miss all the wonderful essentials. There is so much mystery in life that you should leave a mystery.
• I had to be my own person and live my own life if I wanted to be happy, and I just did it.
• Shock can kill you. Shock is terrible. But what you’ve got to do is live in the present, which is what I have always done.

Iris Apfel Quotes on Style

Iris Apfel’s perspective on style is a radiant celebration of individuality and creativity. One of her most memorable quotes, You don’t have to be rich to look good, underscores the essence of personal expression over material wealth.  Style, in Irises eyes, is not merely about fashion; it is an art form that allows for self-exploration and authenticity.

• Great personal style is an extreme curiosity about yourself.
• I can’t tell people how to have style. No amount of money can buy you style. It’s just instinctive.
• I never buy what someone says is ‘in’ or a ‘must-have.’ I buy what makes me happy.
• Throughout history, clothes represented who you were; they are a great vehicle for explaining who you are.
• I think people should express themselves more and not just buy what’s in.
• You can’t try to be somebody you’re not; that’s not style. If someone says, ‘Buy this – you’ll be stylish,’ you won’t be stylish because you won’t be you. You have to learn who you are first, and that’s painful.
• Nobody is original anymore. Nobody has any original style.

Iris Apfel Quotes on Age

Iris Apfel, the iconic fashionista, often challenges conventional notions of aging with her memorable insights. One of her most striking quotes emphasizes that “you’re never too old to reinvent yourself.” This perspective encourages individuals to embrace their evolving identities rather than conforming to societal expectations tied to age. 

• Coco Chanel once said that what makes a woman look old is trying desperately to look young. Why should one be ashamed to be 84?
• I’m happy. I give thanks every morning that I can get up, that I still have my husband with me. I’m extremely grateful. After all, how many 93-year-old cover girls do you know?
• If you don’t learn constantly, you don’t grow, and you will wither. Too many people wither on the vine. Sure, it gets a little harder as you get older, but new experiences and new challenges keep it fresh.
• I’m a great believer in common sense, and the older I get I see that common sense is not that common.
• Aging gracefully is about no heavy makeup, and not too much powder because it gets into the wrinkles, and, you know, to not get turtle eyelids and to not try to look young.

Iris Apfel Quotes on Fashion

Iris Apfel’s perspective on fashion transcends mere aesthetics; it’s a celebration of individuality and self-expression. One of her most memorable quotes, “Style is not about age, it’s about attitude,” serves as a powerful reminder that true style knows no generational boundaries.

• The worst fashion faux pas is looking in the mirror and seeing somebody else.
• I don’t get dressed up every day. I’m very busy. I get really annoyed when people talk about me as a ‘fashionista.’ I get dressed up when I have to go out. Most of the time, I’m running around in jeans.
• Fashion really is women’s liberation in a lot of ways. Look at how many women in this country are depressed about how they look and how they think they have to look! It’s really sad. And it’s not about money.
• There’s different shopping in Paris than there is at a bazaar in Istanbul, but they’re all wonderful.
• You can change the look of an outfit so easily by changing the kind of jewelry you wear. If you have a basic outfit on – a black sweater and skirt or a simple black dress – you can go from the office to a cocktail party at night just by changing your jewelry. It helps if you change your shoes as well.
• Color can raise the dead.
• 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.

Iris Apfel Quotes on Confidence & Personal Style

Iris Apfel’s quotes resonate deeply within the world of i swear to god if you become a fashion icon and beyond, exuding an infectious zest for life that encourages individuality. One standout sentiment she shares is, “Fashion you can buy, but style you possess.” The essence of personal style as a reflection of one’s inner confidence.

• I never had to look for confidence because I just wore what I wanted to wear.
• I’m not a pretty person. I don’t like pretty, so I don’t feel bad. Most of the world is not with me, but I don’t care.
• Never be afraid to stop traffic.
• I’m a hopeless romantic. I buy things because I fall in love with them. I never buy anything just because it’s valuable.
• You have to know yourself and know what you can carry. If you’re not comfortable, no matter how well dressed you are, you’re not going to look right. I’d rather be happy and feel comfy.
• It’s better to be happy than to be well-dressed.

Iris Apfel Quotes on Self

Iris Apfel’s perspective on self-expression is a powerful reminder to embrace individuality unapologetically. Her quotes resonate with the belief that true style stems from authenticity rather than conformity. By stating, If you’re not going to be yourself, who are you going to be? She challenges us to dig deeper and celebrate our distinctiveness. 

• You don’t find out who you are unless you work at it.
• Self-exploration is very painful, but unless you do that, you will never know who you are and who you want to be.
• When you don’t dress like everybody else, you don’t have to think like everybody else.
• You learn as you grow up, if you’re intelligent – or even three-quarter witted – that there’s no free lunch. You pay for things in various ways. Living, loving, everything else is a matter of the same principles: you learn to work with what you have.

Iris Apfel Quotes on Instincts

Iris Apfel, the inimitable fashion icon and designer, often emphasizes the power of instincts in her life and career. One of her most striking quotes is a simple yet profound reminder: When I see something I like, I instinctively grab it.

• Everything I do, I do with gut instinct. If I think too much, it won’t come out right.
• I never expect anything. I just feel things in my gut and I do them. If something sounds exciting and interesting, I do it – and then I worry about it later. 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.

Funny Iris Apfel Quotes

Iris Apfel, the indefatigable style icon, has a knack for blending humor with wisdom in her memorable quotes. One of her most beloved quips, “If your hair is done properly and you have on good shoes, you can get away with anything,” encapsulates her playful philosophy on fashion.

• People would always say to me, “Why are you wearing such large frames?” And I would say, “The bigger the better to see you.
• I think if women put some more of the time and money they put in their heads, they’d be better off.
• I don’t expect to find inspiration. It just sort of comes. Sometimes you step on a bug and you get inspired.”
• I was never a fan of Chanel. I liked it on other people. Some other people. All the ladies who were too plump and busty looked like little sausages.
• I think people have to sharpen their eyes and look. I always feel like a big sponge: I feel like I learn lots of things by osmosis, and I feel that I’m always absorbing. I mean, when people say, ‘What is your inspiration?’ I could throw up. I mean, I’m inspired by the fact I get up in the morning. And I’m still here.
• I swear on everything holy I do not know what’s on the Internet about me.
• I don’t happen to approve of plastic surgery. I think God put plastic surgeons on this earth for good reasons – people get burned or people might have a nose like Pinocchio and that has to be fixed. But to just chop yourself up to look a few years younger? You could come out looking like a Picasso picture.

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Conclusion

Where fashion often feels dictated by fleeting trends, Iris Apfel stands as a beacon of individuality and self-expression. Her memorable quotes remind us that personal style is not just about clothing but an extension of our identity and creativity. 

Each phrase reflects her belief in the power of authenticity, encouraging us to embrace our quirks and celebrate our unique perspectives. As we draw inspiration from her wisdom, let’s challenge ourselves to redefine our own relationship with fashion—one that prioritizes personal flair over conformity. 

So, take a moment to reflect on your style choices, and remember: true beauty lies in being unapologetically yourself!

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