Iris Apfel

Getting dressed as an act of collecting

Iris Apfel worked in textiles and interior design before becoming widely known for her personal wardrobe. In 2005 the Metropolitan Museum of Art presented an exhibition drawn from her clothing and accessories. The documentary Iris, directed by Albert Maysles, later brought further attention to her approach to objects and dressing.

Her large spectacles and layered jewelry are recognizable, but the more useful question is how different objects are combined. Scale, color and texture can create relationships between pieces from different places and price levels. Her example treats dressing as selection and arrangement, closely connected with collecting and interiors. The resulting image belongs to the combination, not simply to one expensive garment or a single brand.