Quote Of The Day By Iris Apfel: 'Fashion You Can Buy, But Style...'

Iris Apfel is one of fashion's most recognizable figures. Impressively, it wasn't until eight decades into her lauded interior design career that she became a household name ubiquitous with bold, unique style. Apfel was born in 1921 in Astoria, Queens, New York to parents who owned a glass and mirror business as well as a fashion boutique, which perfectly foreshadowed the icon's storied career. Alongside her husband Carl, Apfel founded her textile manufacturing and restoration company Old World Weavers — the pair were involved in several different projects at the White House under six presidents, and even worked on interiors for celebrities like Greta Garbo. 

In 2005, an 84-year-old Apfel shot to international prominence after the MET Costume Institute staged an exhibition of her massive collection of eclectic clothing and accessories. In the years to come, Apfel would pen an autobiography, collaborate with major brands like MAC, be the center of Albert Maysles' 2014 documentary "Iris," and even sign to modeling agency IMG at age 97. Apfel lived an impossibly full life, and though she passed in 2024 at age 102, her legacy lives on in both her striking signature look and coveted words of wisdom. Apfel's fashion philosophy required one staying true to their vision, and not compromising personal style and values for anyone or anything. In today's world of micro-trends and fast fashion — the combination of which finds everyone looking the same all too often — Apfel's outlook on style is more relevant than ever.

Iris Apfel shared plenty of fashion wisdom with the world over her century of life, but is best known for having said, "Fashion you can buy, but style you possess. The key to style is learning who you are, which takes years. There's no how-to road map to style. It's about self expression and, above all, attitude." The iconic quote is most often attributed to a 2013 article from Elle, which is near impossible to track down online these days. Nevertheless, this sentiment has become one of Apfel's most quoted style philosophies. It's evergreen — having style isn't something you can buy or learn from a book, it is something gleaned from years of experience and self-reflection.

For those who may feel a bit lost in terms of what personal aesthetic to choose, Iris Apfel's outlook on style may be the dose of truth you need. There are many articles and advice columns out there telling you what colors pair best with your skin tone, or silhouettes that flatter your body type or age demographic, but only you can determine what you want to look like — and simultaneously — who you want to be. The difference between fashion and style, according to Apfel, is this: Fashion can be bought in a boutique or copied from trends. Style, conversely, is entirely personal. There's no one person that can tell you what style is, because, as Apfel astutely pointed out, it takes years to discover who you are and carry yourself with the confidence necessary to hone your personal sense of style. Staying true to yourself and your values is more important to style than being able to purchase the trendiest fashion items.

Apfel was beloved for her devil-may-care attitude and unapologetic style, both of which she carried into her 100s. However, Apfel was always quick to emphasize that the most important style philosophy was simply to not have one. "I don't have any mantras, I don't have any rules, I dress the way I please and I do what I please and I do everything for my good. I don't intellectualize it or make up rules and regulations," Apfel told TIME. Apfel's most famous quotes push freedom of expression and creativity, something everyone could use a bit more of. Following trends and performing according to societal norms are out — joy and unabashed authenticity are in, and they're infinitely more fulfilling.

• "I don't have any rules, because I'd only be breaking them."
• "I am inspired by everything around me. It's not like I stand out on the moors or any of that romantic crap they throw around. I'm just inspired by being alive and breathing and meeting people and talking to people and doing things and absorbing what's happening. I think if more people did that, there would be better fashion."
• "When the fun goes out of dressing, you might as well be dead. You need to pursue your own fancy."
• "Style is attitude, attitude, attitude!"
• "When you don't dress like everybody else, you don't have to think like everybody else."
• "I say, dress to please yourself. Listen to your inner muse and take a chance. Wear something that says 'Here I am!' today."