Iris, young forever by Beatrice Brandini
A cast-resin figurine of Apfel made by Window France, 2021. Up for auction at Christie’s
Iris Apfel’s memorabilia fetched $1 million at Christie’s, demonstrating how creativity and talent can become iconic and irresistible objects.
A dress once owned by Iris Apfel up for auction at Christie’s
Unapologetically Iris: The Collection of Iris Apfel was an auction that confirms the trend, supported by houses such as Sotheby’s and Christie’s, of niche goods and luxury goods, and how vintage clothes, especially those belonging to celebrities, become collectible and desirable, reaching prices that go far beyond the ordinary.
A Dior Haute Couture dress that belonged to Iris Apfel at auction at Christie’s
The auction featured clothes that belonged to Iris from the 1960s to the present, including designer pieces by Miu Miu, Saint Laurent, Dries Van Noten, etc. But in addition to the clothes, it was possible to buy objects, such as chairs or screens, mirrors and objects made in honor of Apfel, whose value today becomes much more than celebratory.
A dress once owned by Iris Apfel up for auction at Christie’s
In fact, these are the ones that have reached the highest prices, such as a pair of wall lamps, $40,320, twenty times the starting price, and a Japanese ceramic vase that reached over $25,000.
Iris Apfel glasses for Zenni at auction at Christie’s
Also important were the “enormous” glasses, an iconic accessory that distinguished her for half her life, in fact about twenty pairs, designed by Iris herself for Zenni, started at a price of $400 and reached over $15,000.
The famous bracelets by Iris Apfel at auction at Christie’s
Iris Apfel, who passed away at the age of 102, was an influencer before the term was coined. Her vision knew how to blend fashion, art and interior design, with an unmistakable and unique style.
Clothes that once belonged to Iris Apfel up for auction at Christie’s
“I am not beautiful and I never will be. But it doesn’t matter. I have something much better: style.” Iris Apfel. This message is more than a declaration of intent, it is so powerful that it could become a flag of inclusion, in which it does not only matter how much nature has helped you, or how big your wallet is, it is your style that will speak of you and that will distinguish you from everyone else. In fact, most people do not really know who they are, and their comfort zone is the easiest one, that is, the one that makes them resemble others.
A carved beech chair, customized Iris Apfel, at auction at Christie’s
Young people torment themselves about their appearance, or their lack of means. Instead, today, it is easier to find your own style because there are so many offers on the market and information to implement them, but finding your own style also means knowing yourself, a much more demanding and complicated exercise, but not impossible.
A wonderful portrait of Iris Apfel
I had already talked about Iris Apfel in an old post from 2015 https://www.beatricebrandini.it/iris-apfel-a-beautiful-girl-of-94-years-more-is-more-and-less-is-a-bore/?lang=en . I have always loved her, before she became a face on a cup, because like Mendini, Sottsass, Fiorucci, Piaggi…, their creativity and curiosity has generated masterpieces, their personality has become their distinctive stamp influencing fashion and customs, in short, society. What we see today, for example on social media, had already been said and done fifty years ago.
Good life to everyone!
Beatrice