Iris Apfel transformed dressing into an improvisational art form

In her New York Park Avenue home, Iris Apfel improvises outfits, pairing high-fashion jackets with vintage accessories and ethnic garments. With her signature oversized glasses and bold jewelry, she is revered by many famous designers at 94 and continues to influence New York's cultural scene. Many will have seen her in documentaries such as "Bill Cunningham New York" and "Advanced Style: The Secrets to Dressing with Style and Confidence."

Iris began her career in the 1950s as an interior designer, working on interiors for the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the White House, and counting Jacqueline Kennedy among her clients. She also collected textiles from around the world, transforming them into clothing, and gathered crafts to create jewelry, her unique style eventually drawing attention. By pairing haute couture tops with skirts resembling church vestments and adorning herself with ethnic jewelry, Iris transformed dressing into an improvisational art form.




Then, in 2005, an exhibition showcasing the culmination of Iris's couture collection was held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, attracting an astonishing number of visitors. She became an instant sensation in the industry, featured in magazines like "Vogue," and served as a model for Kate Spade's advertising campaigns and a muse for MAC Cosmetics, continuing to be beloved worldwide as a fashion icon.

The film is directed by the late Albert Maysles, a "master of American documentary film" known for his work on "The Rolling Stones: Gimme Shelter" and "Paul McCartney: The Love We Make."

To uncover the secrets behind Iris's success, Maysles, also a renowned cinematographer, used his own camera to go behind the scenes at exhibitions, display planning at the venerable Bergdorf Goodman department store on Fifth Avenue, and highly popular television shopping events. The beautiful marital love with her beloved husband, Carl Apfel, who passed away in 2015, is also revealed. Furthermore, celebrities such as Kanye West, Dries Van Noten, and Alexander Wang attest to Iris's charm.




"Iris: Iris Apfel, 94 Years of Style," capturing the charm of a 94-year-old New Yorker living vibrantly and joyfully, will have its nationwide theatrical release starting Saturday, March 5, at Kadokawa Cinema Yurakucho and other theaters.