To celebrate her UT in NYC program with the University of Texas at Austin (where she is an honorary professor in the Textiles and Apparel Program at the School of Human Ecology), Iris Apfel joined FN for a cover shoot, where her signature statement jewelry was paired with the boldest colors — and over-the-top shoes — from the fall ’22 season.
Story: Nikara Johns. Photographer: Kimber Capriotti. Style and creative direction: Shannon Adducci. Hair: Herve Merlino. Makeup: Sage. Shot at PMC Studios in New York City.
Known for her bold, colorful style, Apfel embodied the verve of Valentino’s Pink PP collection for her FN cover shoot, styling fall’s biggest color trend with her own jewelry and signature eyewear. Valentino Pink PP diagonal double wool coat with bow detail and lace shirt. Roger Vivier Slidy Viv’ strass buckle mules. Apfel’s own jewelry and leggings.
While the 101-year-old did not try on Valentino’s buzzy hot pink platforms, she had plenty to say about the footwear while on set: “It looks like you have clubbed feet,” Apfel joked while inspecting the heels on set. Valentino Garavani Tan-Go platform pump in patent leather.
Apfel joined FN on set to celebrate her UT in NYC program, an immersive experience where students from the University of Texas at Austin’s School of Human Ecology meet with some of the fashion industry’s biggest names. Apfel began the program in 2010 with the Textiles and Apparel division of the school and serves as an honorary professor.
Known as the “rare bird of fashion” (she even has a book with the title), Apfel gravitated to Tom Ford’s fall ’22 feather coat, which she paired with one of her signature ebony statement necklaces and a pair of Christian Louboutin’s slippers, which depict a feathered woman and her dog. Tom Ford Feathers puffy coat. Christian Louboutin embellished mules. Apfel’s own jewelry and leggings.
“I stress curiosity,” Apfel told FN of the advice she likes to give out. “If you’re not curious, you can’t be original and if you can’t be original, you don’t have anything new to say. So who in the devil would want to listen to you?” While on set, Apfel tried a variety of shoes for her cover shoot, including Gucci’s GG sling back pump with mesh and crystal.
“Everybody does the same old, same old and it doesn’t make any sense. Nobody wants it,” Apfel said of her optimism and Everybody’s tired of it. Everybody’s afraid to take a chance. And unless you take some chances and make changes, nothing much is going to happen and it’s going to drone on this way,” she stressed. “[But] I feel very much that [the program] is working.” Sabah Condesa pink babah slide. Valention Pink PP wool coat and lace shirt. Apfel’s own jewelry and leggings.
Llani Confetti slides. Valentino Pink PP wool coat and lace shirt. Apfel’s own jewelry and leggings.
“It’s very nice to be a fashion icon and I don’t dislike it — don’t misunderstand,” Apfel said. “It’s very nice to be flattered and be told all kinds of stuff. It’s very good for, how shall I say it, the soul. But there are more important things in the world. [What sends me] is doing interesting things, new things, meeting new people, learning how to do things.”
Apfel with the students of her 2022 UT in NYC program, which convened in New York City in August.
“I do my own thing, and I like to get my point across,” Apfel told her students when asked about her biggest inspiration in life.
When asked about her favorite piece of jewlery, the known collector and designer responded, “That’s very hard to say. I have so many. It’s almost like saying, if you have a lot of children, ‘Who is your favorite child?'”
The 101-year-old continues to work, her most recent partnerships including a capsule with Ruggable, a beauty collection with Ciaté, handbags with Judith Leiber, Zenni eyewear and an H&M collaboration the debuted earlier this year. “You’ve got to work,” she says. “Everybody’s got to work and produce something. It makes you feel alive.”
“To me, the idea of stopping working is just horrifying to me — horrifying. I wish I can continue for a while. I still have a lot to do.”
