Stil ist keine Frage des Alters: Betrachtungen eines geriatrischen Starlets

by Iris Apfel

1

Genres: Fashion, Nonfiction, Memoir, Biography, Art, Autobiography, Biography Memoir

Hardcover

First published March 6, 2018

Reviews

[Gretchen Rubin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick, thoughtful, entertaining read -- Iris Apfel is terrific, now I want to watch the documentary.

[Cindy Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my new favorite books, it is chock full of advice from an inspiring woman who is ageless and fearless. This book is filled with a colorful menagerie of images, words, and experiences that only someone as amazing as her could have had. Her life is as charming and irreverent as she is. I picked this book up at the gift shop at the Peabody Essex Museum- they have a large collection of Iris’s clothing and accessories. I hate that I just missed the huge exhibition they staged of her collection - I moved to the area about a month after it was gone. I can’t wait for future exhibits of her collection! My favorite quote from the book , “Having a sense of wonder, a sense of humor, and a sense of curiosity- these are my tonic. They keep you young, childlike, open to new people and things, ready for another adventure.”

[Jolanta (knygupė) · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5*
Iris Apfel - siu dienu legenda, New York gyvenanti stiliaus ikona, nepaliaujanti stebinti visu savo dziazuojanciu garderobu. Sulaukusi savo garbiu 90+, spalvingoji bobulyte, zavi savo jaunatvisku zvilgsniu I gyvenima, jumoro jausmu, gyvybiskumu…tokiu gyvenimu su upu. Jos sugebejimas vis dar stebetis, atradineti, noreti zaisti - ikvepiantis…

Pati knyga parasyta, suredaguota ir isleista labai jau ne puikiai. Taip, lyg butu tik koks pirmas bandymas - maketas. Po nuotraukomis nera jokio uzraso - paaiskinimo, lieka tik spelioti su kuo autore ten, kur, kada...Man buvo per mazai jos garsiuju outfit nuotrauku, bet pilna kokiu tai piesinuku, kurie menkino si leidima. Nors, ka cia gali zinoti, gal toks ir buvo sumanymas. Kaip ten bebutu, taciau pacios autores asmenybe negali nezaveti.

Tarp kitko, ji nera atsitiktine madoje. Ponia Apfel yra turejusi savo audiniu ir interjero dizaino verslus, restauravusi (audinius) ir dekoravusi baltuosius rumus devynioms presidentu administracijoms (nuo H. Truman iki B. Clinton), ilgus (l. ilgus) metus kolekcionavo aksesuarus…
Taip stulbinamai isgarsejo 2005-iais Metropolitan Museum of Art pristacius jos rubu ir aksesuaru kolekcija. Veliau seke dokumentinis filmas…ir uzsisuko visa media masina…Dabar ponia ramybes nebeturi... Taciau, kaip supratau, tuo ji megajausi…Greiciausiai ji sugeba dziaugtis ir megautis viskuo ir visada…

Kaip cia jos nepacituosi:
“If you want to stay young, you have to think young.
Having sense of wonder, a sense of humor, and a sense of curiosity – these are my tonic. They keep you young, childlike, open to new people and things, ready for another adventure”.
“Anyway, you have to have fun. If you can’t have fun, you might as well be dead”.
“You only fail if you do not try"

[Lada Moskalets · Rating 5 out of 5]

Книжка найстаршого підлітка на світі дев‘яносто-з-хвостиком-літньої Айріс Апфель. Написано дуже просто і щиро, справді наче підлітком - «А тоді я пішла купувати свою першу сукенку і вибрала чудову сукенку!». Це не посібник зі старіння - Айріс пише не так про вік, як про те, що важливо не втрачати інтересу до життя і робити те що любиш максимально довго. Фото чудові також.

[Mai M Ibrahim · Rating 5 out of 5]

من احلى الكتب اللي قرأتها الشهر ده بعد م شوفت الفيلم لنفس الشخصية، اسمه iris واللي تعتبر أيقونة ف مجال الفاشون 😍 واللي ما شاء الله عندها ١٠١ سنة ولسه مؤثرة ومبدعة
عجبتني اوي وصف نفسها the world's oldest living teenager ✨😌
الكتاب جميل مليان صور، ألوان، مقولات وحكايات 😌✨
هصور الكتاب من جوا علشان تشوفوا جماله.. تابعوا انستجرام 👇
@mai.designer92

[Elena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quote from the book (final paragraph).
You only have one trip, and the present is all you’ve got. The past isn’t coming back, and the future isn’t here yet! So live each day as though it were your last. And one day you’ll be right.

[Lili · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to live a life like hers

[Kirsti · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Although I'm in my 90s, I still feel like I'm 5 1/2 because I always look at the world like I'm discovering it for the first time. If I could remain one age forever, I wouldn't. I don't believe in that."

I adore Iris Apfel and her keen mind and her resplendent accessories and her life-sized ostrich statue that you pull the wing up and it's a drinks cabinet. This book has gorgeous illustrations and photos.

[Lauren LoGiudice · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will hold you in awe, not least because of the obvious enormous cost of production and printing. The design was extra all around, which is so very Iris. The printing was full color on thick paper for every inch of it. This indulgence helped me get inside the mind of Iris Apfel, for which I am grateful.

[Lisa Klenke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a delightful collection of musings, anecdotes, and pearls of wisdom. It is not really a biography or a how-to book on replicating her irrepressible, bold , and colorful style. It really is more of a delightful conversation with someone whose grit , curiosity, and courage to be herself inspires you to create your own path, stay true to yourself, and embrace aging with vigor. This is a quick read with wonderful visuals. One can’t help bet feel joy when picking up this book!

[Blaise Kyrios · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I do still want to look like Iris Apfel when I grow up, I don't want to be like her. Jeez judgmental much. She hates people less fashionable, more tech savvy, really anyone different from her. She's even kinda mean about people who are not pretty. Not cool, lady.

My rating is not really about her opinions though, but about the very weird formatting and odd art and strange pulled out quotes. It feels weird and sloppy.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun read! Iris Apfel: Accidental Icon is as bold and curious as the woman herself: a celebration of growing old without ever truly growing up. Iris’s confidence, humor, and willingness to share her wisdom shine through on every page, reminding us that life is about embracing who you are. As she liked to say, “Getting old ain’t for sissies” and she proved it, living past 100 with style and spirit.

[Netty · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Hero!

This gal has it going on! She gives the courage to be your own person at any age! I also lead ore her , her sense of style, take on life, humor, and great "ism's" . I feel I have found a kindred spirit! Thank you for sharing yourself with us Iris!

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

For anyone who wants creative inspiration or a fashion muse, get this book! It is, in itself, a true bargain! Read about the 96 going on 18 Fashionista who is still totally involved in creativity and life. I first heard of her last year when watching a documentary about her. Actually, I had heard o her before, but had not known much of her life. "She's you!" my husband said as we watched and became fascinated.



The book is full of her ideas on creativity and design. Her signature style, "more is more; less is a bore" is reflected in her wonderful jewelry and unusual outfits. She is no snob, however, nor a slave to fashion. Ms. Apfel talks about the excitement of finding a great $3 bracelet and mixing it with expensive jewelry, or not! She is a flea market fan big time, and has explored them allover the world.



The photographs of her wonderful home, complete with collections of nutcrackers and all kinds of objet d'art, made me drool! Her love of textile and knowledge of patterns from all eras and countries makes you want to go fabric hunting. She has worked with presidents from the 1940s to 90s when decorating and refurbishing rooms in The White House, but she retains her commons sense, humility, and artistic vision.



Her amazing life is reflected in the great love she has for her parents, both talented, encouraging free thinkers, She dedicates this book to her late husband, the wonderful, supportive Carl, and to them. Carl, too, is given lots of fashion and business credit, and she describes how she made him wonderful trousers in upholstery and other novelty materials that got him many compliments. My mother used to make me skirts out of all sorts of novelty prints like this, and I still wear them.



Apfel mixes pieces from Loehmann's, antique stores, estate sales, flea markets, and couture houses to create looks that have made her outfits and jewelry, layered one wonderful layer on the other, museum exhibits.



She talks about compiling these outfits and her projects freely, and is still a visiting professor at a major university.


Read the book; it will make you want to get up and do wonderful things! Her advice for longevity is age is just a number, get out and learn, stay curious and interested, and above all, follow your passions and dreams.

[Ioana · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delight, this little book!
Thanks for sharing your story, Iris. Though I'm pretty sure it could have been much more detailed, but then again, you're in your 90s, so maybe sitting down with a publisher to tell your life's story isn't something you are very anxious to do.
Long story short, you are an inspiration.

[Nino Meladze · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring woman who is basing her success on common sense. I loved discovering Iris’ passion for travel and deep reflections that no doubt inspired her immaculate style. Humour and Hard Work are teo themes that come through strongly, which gave significantly risen respect levels of Iris for me.

[Hanje Richards · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully produced book. Iris Apfel tells her own story complete with brilliant and beautiful photography and graphic design, befitting this “geriatric starlet” and her passion for design, fashion and the all important accessories that she wears with such style.

[cluedupreader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'd rather rather pore over this book than Instagram any day!

It will delight the style crowd that shuns Kate Spade.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

I might have been less disappointed if it had been sold to me as a glamorous coffee table book sprinkled with amusing quotes and anecdotes but I was expecting more ... words.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I would have enjoyed this more if I had watched the documentary. The book is not a biography but snippets of thoughts, a lot of photos and many pages with illustrations and saying. It’s a quick read since so much of it is photos and illustrations and gives you a glimpse of Iris Apfels life but it’s like a little teaser and there is so much detail left out.
I do think she is a singular person and it made me really want to watch the documentary! I am just a little bummed about the lack of biography in the book.

[LadyT · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this book. Iris has a great sense of style and amazing humor.

[Bojan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ❤️ this lady !

[AR’s Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an icon and inspiration. When I grow up, I want to be just like Iris but that would be impossible as she truly never grew up, chooses to live in the ageless and timeless present.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The world lost a most spectacular women this year. She will always be my style icon as I move into elder hood.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

so inspirational

[LeeTravelGoddess · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this little lady; such beauty in her eyes!!! It’s a tops for meeee 💚✨💚✨💚✨

[Claire Moreira · Rating 5 out of 5]

a sincere recollection told by the star of the show with such genuine insights intertwined with a delightful sense of humor

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun book about Iris's life with tons of pictures! I'd seen her face before but didn't know who she was and decided to grab from the library. Loved it. Its a magazine scrapbook style easy read.

[Kristina Doucet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This woman is everything, and this book is perfection.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an inspiration....as beautiful to look at, as it is to read...just plan fun and inspirational.