Iris Apfel

Iris Apfel (née Barrel; August 29, 1921 – March 1, 2024) was an American businesswoman, interior designer, and fashion icon. She was born in Queens, New York City.

Apfel studied at the University of Wisconsin. Apfel took part in several design restoration projects, including work at the White House for nine presidents: Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, and Clinton.

In 2013, she was listed as one of the fifty "Best-Dressed over 50" by The Guardian. In November 2016, Apfel was awarded the Women's Entrepreneurship Day Pioneer Award for her work in fashion at the United Nations in New York City.

In 2018, Mattel created a Barbie doll in Apfel's image, making her the oldest person to ever have a Barbie made in her image. In 2019, at the age of 97, she signed a modelling contract with global agency IMG.

Apfel celebrated her 100th birthday on August 29, 2021. She was Jewish.

Apfel died at her home in Palm Beach, Florida from natural causes on March 1, 2024, at the age of 102.

References

Category:1921 births
Category:2024 deaths
Category:American centenarians
Category:American designers
Category:American Jews
Category:Businesspeople from New York City
Category:Jewish centenarians
Category:Models from New York City