Iris Apfel’s legendary closet doors have swung open.
A curated estate sale from the late style icon’s personal collection, featuring hundreds of garments and pieces of statement jewelry, has kicked off in Soho — and fashionistas are scrambling to raid her wild, worn wares.
“It’s basically like you’re going to a museum, but they’re letting you touch the Mona Lisa, you know?” an enthralled New Yorker Nancy Cavaliere, 39, told The Post of scavenging from the online and in-person sale. “This is my Super Bowl.”
The bargain bonanza, titled “The RareFinds: Iris Apfel Archive Edit” and open for IRL peeks at The RealReal’s SoHo flagship at 80 Wooster St., will be live through Oct. 1 — or until supplies last.
Apfel, who died in March 2024 at age 102, was a true original. Known for her oversized glasses, layers of chunky necklaces, and fearless mix of flea-market finds with couture, Apfel was a pioneer of maximalist style.
Her mantra, “More is more, and less is a bore,” became a guiding principle for her fashion choices and, by extension, her legacy.
Now, she is inspiring new generations of Apfel acolytes.
Cavaliere, of Jackson Heights, had always admired Apfel’s audacity — the blend of patterns, the over-the-top accessories, the way she turned every outfit into a statement.
Peeping at the sale, the interior decorator was mesmerized by jewelry that sparkled like a kaleidoscope and colorful garments that caught the eye.
But one piece really stood out.
Cavaliere immediately hit “add to cart” when she spotted a custom vest for $345 in her favorite print ever: ferocious Le Tigre by designer Franco Scalamandré. The fabric fanatic already has an ottoman and pillows in the same textile, plus several chairs in a similar pattern.
While she was at it, she added $275 vintage Moschino pants to her order. After all, for Cavaliere and others, these aren’t just pieces of clothing that they plan to wear with pomp and pride.
“It’s a piece of fashion history,” she told The Post.
Apfel’s past as present
The sale is indeed a treasure trove of Apfel’s prominent patterned past.
You’ll find statement pieces from legendary designers like Gianfranco Ferré, Ungaro and Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche, alongside outerwear from Roberto Cavalli, Jean Paul Gaultier, Michael Kors and Ralph Rucci.
There are even rare gems from New York fashion legends Todd Oldham and Willi Smith, all collected while Apfel was a part of the New York social scene for decades, leading up to when she truly hit the mainstream at age 84 after curating an exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2005, titled “Rara Avis: Selections from the Iris Apfel Collection.” That show was just the beginning of Apfel’s journey into a brighter spotlight, one that would include collaborations with MAC Cosmetics, a clothing line for HSN, and even a Barbie doll made in her likeness.
In classic Apfel fashion, her collection includes an explosion of color, scale and sparkle, and for anyone who admires Apfel’s eclectic, over-the-top aesthetic, this sale offers the perfect opportunity to channel that same spirit.
“She kind of represents, to me, the embodiment of being joyful and enjoying maximalism,” Manhattan resident Belle Bakst, 33, told The Post of the centenarian. “Especially because now I think minimalism is more trendy. It was really refreshing to see someone who embraced maximalism to its full extent, so embraced by the public.”
Some of Apfel’s pieces were auctioned off at Christie’s and Doyle Auctions earlier this year for tens of thousands of dollars — not exactly the most approachable price tags for frugal fashionistas looking for an affordable, fun find.
However, this sale has something for every fashion lover, especially those with a tiny budget but a big style spirit.
Belle Bakst, 33, bought a hot-pink, vintage, beaded Monies bracelet for $125.
“I basically ran in there,” freelance fashion editor Bakst told The Post, revealing that she bought a hot-pink, vintage, beaded Monies bracelet — a dyed-wood, multistrand piece available for just $125.
“It was such a special moment,” she said, noting that store mannequins at RealReal are presented in a way that Apfel would have styled herself.
Preserving her looks — and legacy
What makes the sale even more special is the care taken in preserving Apfel’s collection.
UOVO Fashion, in partnership with The RealReal and Apfel’s estate, meticulously cataloged and authenticated each piece, ensuring that every item’s provenance and condition were verified.
That is especially important as Apfel’s admirers, such as New York native Kristen Bateman, appreciate being able to research when and how the stylista layered the pieces together.
It also helps boost a potential resale market.
Bateman is a major fan of Apfel’s — she looks like a young version of the star — and has been collecting pieces from the estate since her passing, which she resells on her retail site DollChunk.
Well, the bits and bobs she doesn’t keep for herself, of course.
For many like Bateman, Cavaliere and Bakst, Apfel was more than just a fashionista; she was — and remains — a cultural force.
“I was looking for a little piece of her collection that felt like her to take home with me, because it’s something that I’ll treasure and I’ll honor,” Bakst gushed.
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