If you don’t learn constantly, you don’t grow and you will wither. Too many people wither on the vine. Sure, it gets a little harder as you get older, but new experiences and new challenges keep it fresh.
Iris ApfelRead
I'm a practical person. Most fashion people live in the clouds, and they're full of it. I live like a human being - or, I try to - and I have to be intelligent; I have to be practical. I'm a great believer in common sense, and the older I get, I see that common sense is not that common.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the importance of practical thinking and common sense over lofty ideals in the fashion industry.
Iris Apfel highlights her belief in practicality and common sense, contrasting her grounded approach to that of many in the fashion world who may be unrealistic. She points out that as she ages, she notices that common sense, which should be a given, often seems scarce, indicating the value she places on intelligence and real-world reasoning in contrast to the whims of fashion.
Themes
PracticalityCommon SenseFashionIntelligenceWisdom
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about the importance of grounded thinking in creative industries.
More from Iris Apfel
All quotes →I'm happy. I give thanks every morning that I can get up, that I still have my husband with me. I'm extremely grateful. After all, how many 93-year-old cover girls do you know?
Iris ApfelRead
People with a lot of money don't dress as well as people who have to make do, who have to be inventive. Those are the people who are always more interestingly dressed, I think. Everything I do, I do with gut instinct. If I think too much, it won't come out right.
Iris ApfelRead
I'm not out to preach. I just live my own life. I'm very happy if I can help somebody - that's wonderful. But it's up to them what they want to think about it or what they want to take away; it's their business, not mine.
Iris ApfelRead
I never had to look for confidence because I just wore what I wanted to wear. I would never wear anything to offend my husband or my mother, but outside of that, I always figured, I hope I'm not a rebel, and I hope everybody liked it. And if they didn't like it, it really was not going to disturb me because it was their problem, not mine.
Iris ApfelRead
The fashion industry has done itself in by neglecting the 60- to 80-year-old market. They have the time and the economic resources. They want to go shopping.
Iris ApfelRead
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