IRIS APFEL

IRIS_

Iris Apfel, a wonderful style icon. In this seminar we watched a documentary about her- she is a 90 year old woman living in New York, and has collected fashion, jewellery and artefacts over her lifetime. She explained it all started when she was just a little girl, around 12 years old, and she went into a little vintage shop and wanted so badly to buy a brooch. She saved and saved until she could afford it, and that started her obsession. It suggested to me she has always been completely immersed and passionate about her individuality. 

Iris’ experiences throughout her life has shaped who she is. She is an icon, but not for fashion - but for her individuality. Her uniqueness suggests she does not follow any trend of fad, she is who she is and she likes it that way. She feels fashion today has no imagination or creativity, and is all the same. Iris is against ‘man made junk’, suggesting mass produced and fast fashions not the same and skill based fashion, and the trades are dying out.

Throughout the documentary, Iris explains the evolvement of shopping and the process of it is the most enjoyable, and always looks her best for it- dressing up as much as she can. And it is also not about the price for her, if Iris likes a $2 necklace, she has no contemplation buying it just because it is cheap. It about big, bold statements, combining pretty, expensive, kitsch, tacky, cheap together to create her individual look.

Having such a massive collection, Iris has a lot of storage space, including massive warehouses and apartments, which are full to the brim with exciting furniture, art, ornaments, clothing, jewellery and everything you can think of. Her wonderful and abstract jewellery collection has been lent to exhibitions and designers, and she donates pieces of her collection to museums, soothes can be cherished.

Iris is an influential character. She is the way she is because she liked it, not to please anyone else or care what anyone thinks. Its a wonderful example of true style, she has never aimed to be fashionable or follow a trend. In a way, Iris is an art form, who collects and has a genuine passion. She is a wonderful muse to explore, and someone who I could definitely aspire to have the same attitude about my style. 

BEST DAYS 70s INSPIRED GARMENTS_

70s INSPIRED GARMENTS_ BESTDAYS VINTAGE 

Working within the fashion industry, however small the company, is valuable experience. I would go up to the Bestdays warehouse on a Wednesday to have full pick of the vintage clothes to customise. But for this particular collection, it was a box of old 70s print curtains that caught my eye. Using my knowledge and skills gained from uni, I was able to create a simple lose fitting top pattern, that could then be translated and lengthened to become a dress pattern. The fabric was quite thick so it suited the smock shape I had given it. It was nice to see something that was unwanted and discarded from ever having another use being turned into something people could wear and cherish. I added trim to the bottom and sleeves of some of the garments, to add more appeal. Overall these were a really successful make, and didn't take long to produce, adding to the value of the company. Using social media, the garments were able to be shown off to the followers of Bestdays, which gained a good response.