LIFE
Iris Apfel. Photo by Thomas Shelby.
FA S H I O N
Iris Apfel: My style is the way it strikes you. By Josh Miller
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t 97, Iris Apfel shows no signs of forgotten about a long time ago, saying “It’s slowing down. “I don’t live back, I something more interesting than what I can learned to live in the now,” she said find today.” I imagined her peering excitedly during our recent conversation leadthrough her saucer-shaped spectacles at the ing up to her sold-out appearance as veritable treasure trove representing a life colpart of Norton Healthcare’s Go Confidently lecting accessories from around the world. speaker series. “Everything affects me,” she said when I We talked at length – bouncing from her asked about her Rare Avis collection of accesstyle and attitude to advice from her mother sories being sold through HSN. “Everything and building a wardrobe that can travel with I come in contact with influences me, and so you for decades. my travels and what I saw are a big influence.” For years, I have We meanbeen inspired by dered our way GO CONFIDENTLY WITH IRIS APFEL Iris’ style. To use back to the The Olmsted a phrase from her theme of con6 p.m Oct. 22 book “Iris Apfel: fidence. It’s Accidental Icon,” she “something 502.629.1234, opt. 4 represents a “glorious Live stream the event at you have to amalgamation” of develop” she facebook.com/NortonHealthcare. experiences. From said. “Everyher world travels body operates to flea market and at (a) different vintage finds to building a thriving textile level. I’ve always spoken my mind. Somebusiness with her late husband, it all becomes times, people would say it’s not the polite visualized in the way she combines clothing thing to do, but I always did.” and accessories in vibrant layers, shapes and That self-assured spirit is the reason textures. “That’s something I refuse to do,” Norton Healthcare decided to bring her to she said after I asked her to define her style. “I Louisville. “This event was designed to inspire don’t describe my style; that’s for other people confidence, and Iris is the epitome of ‘going to do. My style is the way it strikes you.” confidently.’ When you think of Iris, you She went on to describe going to her think of a woman who boldly expresses her closet or drawers and finding something she’d unique self,” said Lynnie Meyer, senior vice 1 0 . 1 8 . 2 0 1 8 V O I C E -T R I B U N E . C O M