The Iris Apfel Collection: Part II

• • More is More and Less is a Bore: The Iris Apfel Collection More than Doubled the High Estimate!

  • Auction on March 8 & 9, 2025 Saw Competitive Bidding from Collectors, Influencers and Fans of the Fashion Icon

  • Over 600 lots of Fashion, Costume Jewelry, Accessories, Furnishings & More from Her Palm Beach Home

  NEW YORK, NY -- Competitive bidding sent prices soaring at Doyle's auction of The Iris Apfel Collection on March 8-9, 2025! Collectors, influencers and fans of the fashion icon drove the two-day sale to more than double the high estimate, with an astonishing 99% of the lots sold.

Iris Apfel was a true original—a New York icon whose fearless approach to fashion and design earned her a global reputation as the epitome of bold. Her oversized glasses, vibrant wardrobe and layers of jewelry made her instantly recognizable, re-writing the rules of maximalism with her trademark mantra: “More is more and less is a bore.” She blended haute couture with flea market treasures, creating a signature style that celebrated bold colors, eclectic textures, and fearless experimentation, redefining what it meant to be a trendsetter and inspiring generations to reject conformity and embrace their individuality.  

Iris Apfel emphasized that everything she owned, she went to find. Her influence started at a very young age. Her mother was a small boutique owner and encouraged Iris to look through thrift stores and flea markets. So, naturally, Iris went on to study art and fashion at the University of Wisconsin. A chance employment with a World War II era interior designer infected Iris with the 'thrill of the hunt' for furniture and decorations that were hard to come by, scouring flea markets and junkyards.  After marrying her pussycat husband Carl in 1948, the duo founded Old World Weavers which helped them source and reproduce antique fabrics for large scale projects including interiors for several state houses and the White House. Old World Weavers was sold to Stark in 1992. 

Her interiors reflect years of worldly travel, having been quoted by Amanda Vail in Architectural Digest, Oct. 11, 2016 issue as '“a piece here, a piece there." While Iris will forever be linked to the energy and glamour of New York City, her life in Palm Beach added an equally dazzling dimension to her legacy. The tropical colors, coastal elegance, and playful sophistication of Palm Beach provided the perfect canvas for her signature maximalism. Her Palm Beach apartment featured vignettes of carefully curated antiques, paintings and decorative art, including a turquoise room that housed her extensive Kachina collection Iris and Carl collected from their many trips to the Southwest. 

Whether hosting lively gatherings or hunting for unique finds in local shops, Iris brought her vibrant sensibilities to the Palm Beach scene, weaving its charm into her kaleidoscopic style. In both New York and Palm Beach, Iris was a beacon of originality, reminding the world that true style is about self-expression, creativity, and a touch of fearless fun. 

The Iris Apfel Collection: Part I

The Iris Apfel Collection: Part I was presented as a Live auction on March 4, 2025. Read More