Iris Apfel, who passed away peacefully on Friday, March 1, celebrated life through fashion and a love of defying expectations, especially when it came to age. Colorful in her appearance and in her approach to life, Apfel’s fanbase stretched across generations. With her signature oversized round glasses and abundance of ornate accessories, Apfel’s standout style was uniquely her own — and remains a source of inspiration for both fashion insiders and enthusiasts alike.

A follow up to her 2018 bestseller ‘Iris Apfel: Accidental Icon,’ a new book ‘Iris Apfel: Colorful: Inspiration, Influences, and Ideas for a Vibrant Life,’ to be published posthumously, explores Apfel’s colorful life story, as well as her thoughts on fashion, design, travel and role models. With over 300 never-before-seen photographs, the new release offers deeper insight into this one-of-a-kind fashion maven’s life and style, which was frequently inspired by her travels while visiting flea markets around the world. Apfel weaves in personal, heartfelt stories about her early life as the daughter of Russian-Jewish immigrants alongside theories on color. A longtime fan of jazz, her stories touch on her life, love, and finding joy in small moments.

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Following her passing, an announcement on the WWD’s Instagram brought forth a slew of influential insiders sharing their condolences and memories of the fashion arbiter. Among the commenters, names such as Jenna Lyons and Sandy Linter appear, sharing their condolences while expressing Apfel’s impact on the lives of many style enthusiasts, empowering them to make bold choices in their style, embrace their individuality, and to remember that good style has no age limits.

Iris Apfel: Colorful: Inspiration, Influences, and Ideas for a Vibrant Life

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Iris Apfel: Accidental Icon

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Meet the Author

Fernando Snellings is a contributing beauty and fashion writer for WWD. An alumni of the School of Visual Arts, Snellings has worked in various roles in the fashion industry for several years. As a freelance writer, he actively keeps his finger on the pulse of the latest fashion and beauty trends.

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Iris Apfel’s Forthcoming Fashion Book Features Over 300 Rare Photographs From the Style Icon’s Personal Collection — And It’s Already a Bestseller on Amazon.

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