Fashion: Iris Apfel

fashion

"The Rare Bird of Fashion"

I want to start out by saying that this post is going to be a tad different than usual. I wanted to bring your attention to a marvelous woman I recently discovered. Her name is Iris. Iris Apfel. The rare bird of fashion. I watched her documentary on Netflix and fell in love straight away. 

I don't even know where to start, but let's jump in. 

 The film IRIS

Iris is a documentary that follows the life of the fashion icon Iris Apfel. The film doesn’t do much of looking at her past, but more of what her life is now and the legacy she is leaving behind. Through the movie you are able to get a look into what her collection of fashion items and her style means to her. The whole movie was powerful, uplifting, and inspiring. I really enjoyed how raw and real the material they put in the movie was, and I would definitely recommend watching it. It was quite easy to find an appreciation for Iris and her life.

What I have learned from the Rare Bird

1. EXPRESS YOURSELF: Don't be afraid to wear what makes you feel marvelous. Wearing clothes that suit your taste might not always be everybody else's cup of tea. Style is something that nobody can take away from you so create your own and make a statement. 

2. BE BRUTALLY HONEST: Iris displays this wonderful quality of being completely honest in whatever she is saying. Throughout the whole movie you could really tell how Mrs. Apfel felt and it made you feel more welcomed into her life. So be brutally honest. Speak whatever is on your mind and mean what you are speaking. 

3. FIND LOVE: It wasn't hard to see that Iris and her husband had a relationship that everybody wishes for. They were so in love and supportive of each other. When Iris was asked why they never had kids she simply stated that she had to choose between being semi committed to being a mother, wife, and career woman, or be a fully devoted working wife. Iris chose to be a working wife, and she loved every minute of it. It was so important to her that they had time together. You didn't get that vibe through what iris said, but rather how they acted when they were together. They were so in-sync with one another. The Apfel's are now a true inspiration of mine when looking at my own relationship. 

The Challenge

So I wanted to leave you all with a little fashion challenge. 
GO CRAZY WITH COLOR!!!
I know it's fall and our instinct says to go for neutrals and earth tones, but throw everything you know about "style rules" out the window. Iris always manages to have her look full of color and while still looking presentable for every occasion. So go ahead and keep your earth tones for the base of your outfit if you're a little unsure of the idea of color, but incorporate color in your outfit through accessories. 
I'll link a few fall items below that can help you start to find comfort in color just like Iris. 

Comfort in Color

STATEMENT NECKLACE
This necklace is Iris inspired based on the turquoise elements, but is still simple enough to incorporate into any personal style. 
 PATTERNED FLATS
I chose these flats because of the bright color, pattern, and style; all of which seemed to be similar to a piece Iris might wear. It would be easy to pair these with a neutral outfit for that simple pop of color.
TEXTURED PURSE
I found this purse on ModCloth and knew it was perfect for this situation. The Brown color makes it fall appropriate, while the pattern and texture give the bag a little bit of life. 

And that's that. 
Hopefully you're inspired to throw some color and texture into your own personal style. 
Later today there will be a photo on my instagram of my Iris inspired outfit. 
Remember to mix it up a little every now and then.
So long, 
Paige 

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Paige: Instagram- locatinglifestyle