Iris Apfel

Iris Apfel (née Barrel; August 29, 1921 – March 1, 2024) was an American businesswoman, interior designer, and fashion icon. She was born in Queens, New York City.^[1]

Iris Apfel
Apfel in 2015
Born	Iris Barrel (1921-08-29)August 29, 1921 Queens, New York, U.S.
Died	March 1, 2024(2024-03-01) (aged 102) Palm Beach, Florida, U.S.
Nationality	American
Alma mater	University of Wisconsin
Occupation(s)	Businesswoman, interior designer
Years active	1950–2024
Spouse	Carl Apfel ​ ​ (m. 1948; died 2015)​

Apfel studied at the University of Wisconsin.^[2] Apfel took part in several design restoration projects, including work at the White House for nine presidents: Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, and Clinton.

In 2013, she was listed as one of the fifty "Best-Dressed over 50" by The Guardian.^[3] In November 2016, Apfel was awarded the Women's Entrepreneurship Day Pioneer Award for her work in fashion at the United Nations in New York City.^[4]

In 2018, Mattel created a Barbie doll in Apfel's image, making her the oldest person to ever have a Barbie made in her image.^[5] In 2019, at the age of 97, she signed a modelling contract with global agency IMG.^[6]

Apfel celebrated her 100th birthday on August 29, 2021.^[7] She was Jewish.^[8][9]

Apfel died at her home in Palm Beach, Florida from natural causes on March 1, 2024, at the age of 102.^[1][10][11]