IRIS APFEL X H & M
A fashion icon for decades (and decades), Iris Apfel is a personal muse for me. Her style is bold and eccentric, and her personality precedes all sense of fearlessness. Known as the “First Lady of Fabric,” Iris Apfel is a lifestyle which is why her collab with H & M was an instant sold-out bestseller!
The Iris Apfel x H & M capsule collection is an inspiration to the fashion world. Between the clashing patterns and uncompromised quality, Apfel brought her universe to life and made it accessible to mainstream shoppers.
It was refreshing to browse the racks, both on and offline, to get a first glimpse into what Apfel dreamed up. Her personal mantra, “style is within, when you’ve found yourself, you’ll find your style,” resonates so deeply with me. I remember being young and new to fashion and experimenting with everything under the sun. Only when I truly found my own sense of self and my identified my values was I able to align with brands and designers that reflected me and allowed me to express all of what I wanted to put out there into the world.
It's a curious thing, fashion… so many applications, so many possibilities. It was hard to narrow down the eclectic rainbows from the extravagant accessories, but I was thrilled to try everything on and push my own boundaries – I went flamboyant and got into the over-the-top Apfel mindset.
H & M has been bringing some insanely awesome collabs over the past years and this one was a fave for a few stand-out pieces. The Oversized Fringed Shacket is a straight-cut shirt jacket with twill and a wild printed pattern. Fringe and pockets, the button-down shacket is fun and tells the world I am here to party! Especially when you pair with the matching Fringe trimmed pants. A drawstring elastic waistband that allows you to move, this outfit screams dance party.
My other favourite look is the Flounce-Hemmed Tunic. Feels like a far departure from the pants suit, but I feel the connection – a ruffled collar and embroidered pattern, the tassels move, the relaxed fit breathes, and the woven fabric sings! I absolutely love wearing this dress and it paired quite well with my Mademoiselle Jules Jewelry which is just icing on the cake – maybe I should send a pair to Iris.
The collection is selling out quickly and some pieces were gone before I even had a chance, so hurry fast – the Iris Apfel x H & M collab is one you’ll want to get your hands on. My feeling is this will be valuable vintage in the years to come!
Photography by Patricia Brochu