Lunch with a Fashion Icon

Last spring a few of the vibrant ladies from the Palm Beach & Martin Counties board took their own individual tours of the fabulous exhibit “Rare Bird of Fashion, the Irreverent Iris Apfel,” at the Norton Museum in West Palm Beach. After viewing this work of art, many were taken with the eclectic style and wit of Apfel, as showcased through her accessories and apparel exhibit.

This colorful and exuberant exhibit takes you on a tour of the life and times of Iris Barrel Apfel (pictured right) who was once an interior designer and co-founder of Old World Weavers with her husband Carl, which they have sold to a larger company. Their company was a leading resource for woven reproductions of antique-period traditional textiles of unparalleled originality, craftsmanship, and design. They have been entrusted with many important restoration projects, including work at the White House, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and the Flagler Museum in West Palm Beach.

Apfel is most known for her artistically original personal style, showcased in the exhibit, making her an influential pioneer in the fashion world. By boldly linking high and low end merchandise, through the melding of flea market finds with haute couture, and layering various combinations of contrasting colors, textures and patterns Apfel created her remarkable flair.

It was during one of the Palm Beach board meetings in April 2007, that co-volunteer Joan Javits Zeeman ’49 revealed she was a friend of Apfel. As luck would have it, Apfel and her husband were planning to be in Palm Beach for the winter, and she was delighted to be invited as the guest speaker at the Palm Beach & Martin Counties Annual Luncheon in February 2008.

Joan Javits Zeeman ’49 with her friend Iris Barrel Apfel

The luncheon was held at the Café Sapori in West Palm Beach, where more than 20 women (and one man) attended lunch, and a slide show, with a question-and-answer session. Apfel told many stories and anecdotes, but the one that stood out was the story of how she was approached by the Costume Institute to exhibit her accessories collections and how it evolved into five galleries of apparel, footwear, and accessories. She regaled the group with tales of how her personal collection has blossomed and flourished over decades to include hauté couture, vintage, and ready-to-wear pieces. She also gave them a piece-by-piece breakdown of the items she wore that day. As the event came to a close, Apfel shared an amusing phone call she once had from the Costume Institute about a V.I.P. who had just been given a private tour of the exhibit and wanted to purchase some of the ensembles on display. The V.I.P. wanted to hire Apfel as a personal stylist. The V.I.P. was none other than actress and fashion victim Lindsay Lohan. Apfel replied, “Who the hell is Lindsay Lohan?” and benignly rejected the offer.

This exceptional club event ended with everyone walking away with more fashion sense than when they initially arrived.

Photo Credit: Lisa Jensen ’84 of Vassar Club of Palm Beach & Martin Counties