Ode to Iris

 #StyleNotAge Challenge 

Dear friends.  The last Monday of the month means it's the Style Not Age challenge, and this time Anna from Anna's Island Style has challenged the collective to deliver an Ode to Iris.

Who else but Iris Apfel, the colourful businesswoman and celebrity who died recently aged 102. 

Iris had many memorable sayings, including this:

I will remember her for being very bold with colour, as well as piling on jewellery.  If there is anything I could say to women of my vintage or older, it's "Don't go beige. Don't wear black all the time. Stay visible with colour."

I haven't copied her style, having had a go at that a couple of years ago here. But I'm staying true to her mantra of being colourful. 

As you can seen, I'm embracing light colours with my lime green t-shirt, bright apricot wrap, neon orange belt (all Kettlewell) and new items apricot chinos (Miss Selfridge @ Asos), gold/cream trainers (Victoria Spain) and kelly green bag (Pom Pom London).  Prescription sunglasses, old, Gucci. 

I'm wearing three of my trademark Georgian crystal necklaces. Iris would probably think I should have added more.  I find dressy rings a bit irritating, although if I had bracelets to match the necklaces I would be happy to pile them on. 

With all my apricot, I thought it was apt to pose by my Apricot Delight tulips.  I'm wearing the new Lisa Eldridge Seamless Skin Enhancing Tint, which is much lighter than a foundation, and my lipstick is so old it's probably discontinued, Touch of Ginger by L'Oreal. 

Now let's see how my style friends got on.

Anna from Anna's Island Style, who set this challenge,  is wearing a chestful of necklaces as the main feature. The rest of her look is a suit and boots both from Vinted, and top from Primark.

Hilda from Over the Hilda discovered that Iris was one of the first women to wear jeans, although she had a difficult time trying to purchase some. So that's the route she took. Jeans are Cos and top Never Fully Dressed, both last year. Jewellery all from what Hilda's daughter Courtney left behind. Lucky Hilda! 

Jacqui from Mummabstylish  is channelling a monochrome Iris, one of her many looks, with a Matalan dress with some borrowed beads and bangles. 

Emma from Stylesplash has trousers from the collaboration Iris Apfel did with H&M.  Everything Emma is wearing came from Vinted/eBay. The Forever Unique jacket is a lookalike for the one from the collection, which she bought in TK Maxx. Emma has layered a collection of pearl necklaces and is wearing a pair of Iris earrings by Erstwilder, also bought on Vinted. 

I hope you enjoyed our ode to Iris. Is there anything you're going to remember and use from Iris's legacy? More colour, more jewellery?  Or is it all too much effort in a busy life?  Remember, Iris understood that and said it is hard work to be individual.  If you don't have time, be comfortable. 

Do let us know in the comments. 

YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY THESE CHALLENGES:

Borrowing from Boys 

A Touch of Sparkle 

My Signature Colour

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fashion over 50, Iris Apfel style, ode to Iris