As I approached Luna cinema on Saturday I couldn’t remember what the film I was going to was about, such is the life of a film reviewer. When the girls at the local café reminded me that the movie was about 93 year old, New York style icon Iris Apfel, my first reaction was ‘bugga’ I should probably have looked in the mirror before left the house. After seeing the movie I am inspired to always make an effort.
Iris thanks to Madman
While I’ve seen many images of Iris and footage of her in various fashion movies/magazines I knew little about her, now I do.
At 93 years young Iris is an immense inspiration. Sure she can craft an intriguing outfit from the most unlikely of sources, but she’s more than that. Her pearls of wisdom, adherence to individuality, quick wit, and lust for life are rousing.
Iris thanks to Madman
‘Everything is so homogenised these days I hate it… so much sameness no individuality.’ Iris Apfel.
As I watched her layer scarves, necklaces and bangles the resulting image echoed her own admission, that her mother ‘worshipped at the altar of accessory’.
Having bought her first piece, a broach for less than a dollar, Iris set about giving the film crew and us, a master class in haggling when she explained that if you don’t haggle ‘it’s a disservice.’
‘If you pay the $50 offer he will think he should have asked for $100.’
I was interested to hear that Iris’s younger years included work designing interiors and making fabrics. So she came to fashion icon status with substance not just a fashion sense. It was even more interesting to hear her say that she doesn’t judge what others wear, saying it was ‘not her place’. If only more people were like that.
Nor is she interested in botox asking why would anyone risk ‘coming out looking like Picasso’, or having hands that ‘don’t match your face.’ She adds that she has never felt pretty and that was fine because ‘I don’t like pretty, pretty goes and you have nothing left.’
Iris thanks to Madman
Throughout the movie Iris generously gives of her time even when she is exhausted, explaining that her bulging schedule is exactly what keeps her going. She helps a member of the film crew pick out clothes at a flee market and is prepared to haggle on his behalf. At other times she is making sure everyone has tea and enough to eat.
There were several poignant moments in the movie, for example we were introduced to her delightful husband but no family. Children evidently were out of the question. As a child Iris felt abandoned and didn’t want her children to feel like that.
‘You can’t have everything something had to give and sometimes it’s you.’
Another moment came after we had moved on from the overstuffed house to a series of equally bulging warehouses. Iris was asked what keeps her up at night. With her husband approaching 100 years concern spreads across her face. ‘None of this’ she explains. It is health that plays on her mind at night, and she clicks her fingers with the realisation that her possessions can be gone in an instant.
The love between Iris and her husband is both touching and highly enviable, a life long love that few of us ever find. It’s clear that their connection is far more important than all the clothes, fashion events and accolades. Eternal love, the small unconscious caress of the back of her husband’s head or the purchase of an outlandish hat for him, it was wonderful to watch.
Iris thanks to Madman
When asked about her success Iris said she put it down to two key traits – curiosity and a sense of humour. She certainly has that, there were many brilliant phrases including the much spoken …
‘I’m vertical so I’m happy’ or that ‘Colour can raise the dead.’
After the movie I pondered …
- Iris definitely doesn’t adhere to the fashion theory of ‘taking one thing off before leaving the house’. She stands at the opposing end of the spectrum layering fabrics and accessories in interesting sculptural ways. I must admit that at one stage she seemed to have so many necklaces on her small 93 year old frame that I was sure she would fall over or break her neck.
- While the psychologist in me could easily be drawn to theories of hoarding, conspicuous consumptions. replacement and abandonment, I’d much rather rejoice in the individuality that is Iris, to exalt her independent defiance of the norm and bask in her love of getting the most out of life.
- Wish more people broke the mould and kept pushing to get the most out of life as the years increase. Or as Iris would say ‘be in the world, not sit brooding.’
- Thankfully it was a preview not a premier and so I think I got away with my casual clothes. I’ll try better next time.
Iris will be showing at Luna cinemas . Stay to the end as there are some extra bits.
