For those of you that didn’t know, 90 is the new black. With chic, edgy fashion blogs like Advanced Style showing us older New Yorkers rocking killer style, the kind of personal style that most of us are not even capable of embodying at this stage in our lives, some of us wannabe fashion mavens in the younger set (under 90) are feeling a bit left in the dust.

Iris Apfel, one of today’s most current and unexpected style icons is quite the talk of the town. After the success of her 2005 Metropolitan Museum of Art exhibition displaying her vast, eclectic collection of clothing and accessories, Rara Avis (Rare Bird): The Irreverent Iris Apfel, the self proclaimed geriatric starlet’s image and presence has been in high demand.

Since the Met exhibit, Iris has modeled for the 2008 Coach ad campaign, designed a line of jewelry for HSN and for the über-hip Yoox.com, launched a makeup collection for MAC cosmetics, and has been filmed for a documentary by filmmaker Albert Maysles of the critically-acclaimed Grey Gardens.

In addition to those feats, the very busy trendsetter’s presence has been requested as guest of honor for numerous highbrow fashion events in the last year. And although she is retired from her former 9:00–5:00 of co-owning the renowned Old World Weavers textile firm with her husband, she is still constantly on the move, consulting and lecturing across the country on fashion and related topics. We would need a ginseng smoothie and some caffeine pills to keep up with this woman.

Apfel has the kind of personal style that will stop people in the street. She says that her mother “worshipped at the altar of the accessory” and thus she “got the bug.” Iris finds the accessory to be the most important part of her wardrobe—and it would be easy to make this assumption at a quick glance. She is known to often layer chunky, beaded necklaces and stack bangles of all shapes and colors on both arms from wrist to elbow. Her iconic extra-large, round, thick-frame glasses are her signature stamp, making everything she wears that much cooler. Apfel loves ethnic apparel and adornments, and has picked up most of her beloved pieces while traveling across the globe.

A New York native, Iris grew up in Queens, the daughter of two local business owners. Her mother ran a fashion boutique and her father owned a glass and mirror business. Raised in a household with an appreciation for the finer things, Apfel naturally chose a career focused on the arts and design. Studying art and art history in college, her first job out of school was an apprenticeship as a copygirl at Womens Wear Daily for mere $15 a week. She didn’t see much of a chance of moving up the ladder at WWD and found that interior design would be a bit more lucrative. Iris followed in the footsteps of her parents and began her own firm.

After working on several projects, she noticed that she was having a difficult time finding the fabrics she kept imagining for her designs. It was at this point that she and her husband Carl decided to launch the legendary textile firm Old World Weavers. During this time period, she served as the interior decorator for 9 presidents in the White House. (And Carl by the way, is also quite stylish—a couple peas in a pod, these two).

Iris and Carl’s three-bedroom Park Avenue home in Manhattan is a clear reflection of the adventurous, cultured, and elegant life they have built together. Intricate brocade fabrics as well as antique furniture, art and accessories from around the globe fill every square inch of their posh pad. Like all of her garments, every item in her home exudes her personality. As she puts it, “throughout history clothes represented who you were; they are a great vehicle for explaining who you are.” 

It makes us happy to see such an accomplished individual receive so much praise and attention for her looks and style, even so late in her years. As we are currently living in a world that is so youth-obsessed, it’s refreshing to find an inspiration in someone like Iris. We can’t wait to see what this true original does next.

And if you aren’t familiar with Ari Seth Cohen’s Advanced Style blog, we highly recommend you take a look. An Advanced Style documentary is in the works, set to debute this summer, and if features our girl Iris! Please take a momet to watch the trailor below. We are totally digging how whole heartedly Cohen is embracing the fashionable endeavors of New York City’s older set. Enjoy!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWKTfqivbRQ

Katherine Tyznik.HighStreet.New York

We had the pleasure of speaking with the fabulous Marian Kihogo, who in her own words embodies ‘a car crash of 70s luxe bohemian meets unapologetic tailoring meets rock n roll.’ In our humble opinion, may we say, this chick kicks ass. The Ghana born, London based stylist is making an impact on fashion blogs and online magazines with her edgy, yet incredibly sophisticated style. We got her take on fashion inspiration, music, contemporary art, and a little bit of everything in between.

HS: So you are a celebrity stylist, creative consultant, editor, writer, blogger, and art director. What’s your favorite part of what you do?

MK: “I love working with people. Whether it’s styling clients for the Red Carpet, creative consulting for different brands, or tv engagements, the relationship with people is what I find interesting. Interacting and receiving feedback from my audience is what I find most exciting.”

HS: We understand you came from a family of artists and creatives. How did this inspire you to get into this industry?

MK: “I don’t think I had an ‘aha moment.’ I was born into it. I’ve never known anything other than that. Ever since I can remember, my earliest childhood memories at four or five, there was always art around me. My mother traveled a lot and I had a multi-global view on fashion and art from an early age. Maybe that’s inspired me to always push boundaries — some of my contemporaries at fifteen and sixteen would imitate what they saw in magazines — as most teenagers do, often wanting to blend. But for me, my mother inspired me to push boundaries and create my own identity. I had my own philosophies and style. I think some of my friends  find this approach more fascinating — always pushing and interpreting things in my own way.”

HS: We love how you balance the masculine and feminine aesthetic. Are there any male style icons that have influenced your look?

MK: “Yes. Androgyny — I admire the look. Prince and David Bowie have influenced me. Before Lady Gaga, Bowie was known for reinventing himself and I loved how he transformed. Jimi Hendrix’s look also influenced me a lot. His whole 70s luxe thing was quite incredible. Those three: Prince, David Bowie and Jimi Hendrix have been very instrumental for me.”

HS: What are the five pieces in your wardrobe you couldn’t live without?

MK: “Wow this is a hard one as there are so many pieces I adore but if I had to pick I’d say…

* Leather pants — These are like superman’s suit to me. I can do anything in them, be anyone style wise.

* White shaggy faux fur — I am drawn to texture and the possibilities it creates. I have this shaggy faux fur jacket that is a little crazy and mad-hatter but sometimes the messier the better.

* Ana Sekularac Ana Fall Winter 2009–2010 Scarlet Red Cocktail Dress — Forget the little black dress, in my closet it is all about the impact having, Scarlet Red Dress. Ana combines conception, structure and grace with ease. The satin dress is in her signature scarlet red with focal pleat folds that lead into a structural left shoulder. The back and right sleeve (including the insert of the top of the bust) is in black sheer fabric. It is my favorite dress.

* Vintage YSL Rive Gauche dogtooth coat — I like that this embodies two things that I adore; masculine tailoring and print. They just don’t make outerwear like they used to. The tailoring is immaculate.

* Vintage Wim Hemmink couture dress — It is an off the shoulder metallic brocade dress which is no doubt from the 80’s. I took a pair of scissors to it to make it more current.

HS: We’ve noticed you have a penchant for highly conceptual designs. What do you feel is the relationship between conceptual art and conceptual fashion?

MK: “They are symbiotic, aren’t they? Fashion couldn’t exist without the connection between fashion and contemporary art. Fashion is a form of art and I couldn’t exist without art. I love the idea of living, breathing pieces of art. It’s one thing to hang a piece of art, but it’s more fascinating to breathe life into that piece and wear it. Wearing art makes you live it.

Art and fashion are merging more and more. So many new designers are more of artists these days — Dries Van Noten, Comme des Garcons, Ana Sekularac. Ana is a Serbian born, British designer who blends the conceptual with elegance. Her designs transcend trends. I can see myself wearing her pieces for 10 — 20 years.”

HS: So, you have to be tuned into the music industry. Who are your favorite artists?

MK: “If I had to name my look, I would call it a car crash of 70s luxe bohemian meets unapologetic tailoring meets rock n roll. I love rock — I’m a huge fan of the Rolling Stones. But I adore every type of music, from Marianne Faithfull to Billie Holiday to Grace Jones. But Grace is my top pick. I see her in the work of Gaga and the popular artists of the moment.

I need someone I can follow on a journey music-wise. Joni Mitchell is my favorite songwriter. She is just incredible. In every song, I feel like she is speaking to me. She’s probably the artist I listen to the most. Her music is like a lifestyle i believe in… The Church of Joni Mitchell. I even love her artwork. She’s fascinating. In my opinion she’s the greatest songwriter.”

HS: What do you see being the big trends of 2011?

MK: “There are quite a few but I think the one that will have the most impact has to be the 1970’s. Its influence is everywhere; the opulence trend which sees designers like Marc Jacobs at Louis Vuitton show a decadent spring summer 2011 collection, the resurgence of both the maxi skirt and the wide leg, the palette of  purples, plums, turquoise, mustard and jewel tones etc.”

HS: Is there a part of the world that you cannot get enough of… to visit or just for pure inspiration?

MK:  “Africa. The continent is an incredible source of inspiration for me. There is endless inspiration to be had as each country has many tribes, languages, cultures, traditional dress and so on.

No two countries in Africa are the same be it in terms of landscape, food or way of life. I am inspired by the little things and all the nuances in between, like the hair braiding trends in each country, or the bearing someone might have in their traditional wear, architecture in the different countries, the way people interact with each other, and how they celebrate their milestones.”

Marian Kihogo is a stylist, an online contributing editor at PUSH IT Magazine, and creative consultant. Check out her incredibly influential and entertaining Vogue UK approved blog.

Katherine Tyznik.HighStreet.New York

Nathan Jenden’s Spring 2010 show was an exhilarating collection of kaleidoscopic prints, vivid color, and volume. Jenden fearlessly sent his models down the runway in striking fluorescent, sequins, and digitally engineered patterns. So many loud elements at once usually borderlines on a collection looking too garish. However Jenden grounded his collection with elegantly tailored jackets, pencil skirts, and silk blouses in jet black and stark white. We thought it was just enough to make us look at each piece as an independent, wearable garment.

The show had a multi-cultural theme– the models were all black and Asian, each sporting two high pigtail braids. The brightly colored tight mini dresses, frilly skirts and over sized hats had an old school Jamaican dancehall feel to them. Along with the Jamaican vibe Jenden also tapped into Indian culture for inspiration: Indian goddess prints, sari style wraps, and harem pants. Sparkly bangles stacked from wrist to elbow were paired with embellished 80s shades. The look was neon, ethnic glamour.

Nathan’s collection was a bit over the top for most women, but we found the show inspiring and really fun. We would love to pull some pieces from this collection to incorporate into our wardrobes this season. We want something lighthearted and full of energy after the harsh winter that felt like it would never end.

We only just heard of Nathan Jenden, but we like what we see-we know we won’t get bored. The British born designer studied at Central Saint Martens and the Royal College of Art, then going on to apprentice with John Galliano in the nineties. After working for Kenzo and Daryl K, he found himself at Diane von Furstenburg in 2001, where he would be Creative Director until just this past February. Jenden launched his own line in 2006, where he shared with the world his signature style: highly tailored, modern pieces. We are excited to see what he will show us next.

HighStreet.New York.