IN THREE WORDS

In this feature, I'll share a weekly guest with you all, 

and you tell me in only three words what come to mind.

In Three Words...

Rossy de Palma

A COLORFUL KALEIDOSCOPIC

And so, it has come to pass...a very rare bird, and of our Patron Saints at the Casa du Borghese, that of one fabulousness, in the form of Iris Apfel has blown the doors off Fabulon to enter it. Iris Apfel, an interior designer, art collector, fashion icon and designer, New York socialite, smart businesswoman and camp role model has passed on at the ripe age of 102 yesterday. Iris Apfel has been dishing a century's worth of advice to anyone who'd listen on how to define your own style and would take every opportunity she'd get to express her own joyous and creative point of view. And talk about Maximal style? She was the queen of laying anything and everything...a maximist to the extent and embodied her iconic fashion sense and employed her rich history of expertise in textiles that began when she was a young child creating schemes with her grandmother's fabric remnants. As a connoisseur of artistry, and textile maven herself, Iris's imaginable and dynamic taste is fervently infused in every pattern and color imaginable. Three worlds for Iris..Bold...witty and exuberant, not to mention eccentric. I had the pleasure to talk with her once, while working at Bloomingdales while doing a display as she walked past. She was tickled a young person even knew who she was I believe. But it would be unlawful as a gay man to not know who Iris Apfel was, at least in these parts. She was complimenting a display I was working on. I recall telling her of the finished display and how I might get a scold for doing what I wanted. I recall her advice being, "Color outside the lines sweetie, those that make their mark don't get there by coloring in the lines." And she was right. And if anyone lived by my favorite quote- " LIVE LIVE! Life's a banquet and some sorry suckers are starving." it was Iris Apfel. Even till her death she stayed colorful and took to Instagram in often colorful post, celebrating life. And if anything, she marched to her own drummer and didn't care of what people thought of her over the top style. Just because your in your elder years, doesn't mean living and having fun has to end. I couldn't agree more. One this rainy day, I'm sure New York feels ever gloomier.

Iris Apfel

August 29 1921- March 1 2024

MAKE AN ENTRANCE

 Meanwhile at the Casa, totally me making my holiday season entrance tonight......

I've always been all about keeping it understated and causal.