21 Aug Iris Review

“More is More and Less is a Bore” -Iris Apfel

Legendary documentarian Albert Maysles (director of Grey Gardens and Gimme Shelter) pairs with the creative and witty style icon, Iris Apfel to create this week’s FridayFlix, Iris. More than just a fashion film, the documentary digs deeper into Iris’s creative mind and how she has inspired people for decades. After revisiting Iris and her business partner/husband’s (Carl Apfel) illustrious interior design past, viewers find that the two retired in 1992 after a large amount of success among the elite. Iris continued to gain recognition as a symbol in the fashion world. Having experienced the Great Depression firsthand, Iris learned to haggle those for what she wanted. To this day, she prances around NYC in layers of necklaces, bracelets, fur, and, of course, her iconic glasses in search of even more chunky, bright, and bold jewelry to add to her beloved collection.

Not to confuse the importance of daily life with her passion for style, Iris states, “it’s better to be happy than well-dressed” during the film. There’s more to what she’s doing than putting on clothes; her artistry takes skill, craftsmanship, and an understanding for design on an unexplainable level. She realizes that everyone is different and if these things don’t interest you- do what makes you happy because in the end that’s the ultimate goal. Her free spirit and quirkiness inspire those to take risks because if you do what you love people will see that. Iris explains it perfectly when she says, “If you’re lucky enough to do something you love, everything else follows.”

Watch Iris on FlixFling.

This guest blog was written by Breelyn Starrett.