Talkback: saying goodbye to Iris Apfel

Iris Apfel blazed a trail to ensure older people could be seen as design and fashion icons, but she has sadly passed away at the age of 102.

Iris Apfel was one of the world's most visible role models for positive ageing.

When asked about ageing in a 2018 interview she replied: "I wouldn’t want to stop the clock. No, that would be so boring. It would be like being caught in a time machine, a time warp. I don’t like that. I think variety is the spice of life.

Iris said her husband Carl Apfel - who died in 2015 aged 100 - always encouraged her to keep reaching for new things. Iris honoured her husband with an Instagram tribute a few weeks after his death.

Iris's unique sense of style was celebrated at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, in a 2005 exhibition called Rara Avis: Selections from the Iris Apfel Collection which sparked offers to work with big brands like H&M, MAC Cosmetics and more. As Iris' celebrity status rose, Carl couldn't have been more supportive. "As friends have pointed out, some husbands would have been jealous, or envious, or annoyed," Iris told the New York Times. "But he just loved it."

She called herself an “accidental icon” and encouraging everyone to discover their own personal style. She was a champion of self-expression, reminding people of all ages that fashion should be fun. Her ability to break down conventional notions of style was revolutionary, paving the way for a more inclusive and playful approach to dressing and ageing.

Did Iris inspire you to want to get older and bolder?