READING 1 Iris Apfel: Still Going Strong

IRIS APFEL:

STILL GOING STRONG

Read the following article. Pay special attention to the words in bold. 2.1

Many people in the United States retire in their sixties, but not fashion icon1 Iris Apfel. Born in 1921 in New York City, Apfel is now in her late nineties. But unlike many people her age, she isn’t relaxing at home. Instead, she is creating a new line of clothing and jewelry. She’s planning a fashion show, too. And she’s traveling all over the world. “I’m working harder than ever,” she says, “but I’m having so much fun.”

For many years, Apfel was an interior designer2 . Now she’s working in fashion. Her style is unique. She’s always wearing colorful clothing, jewelry, and large black glasses. On the street, people are constantly approaching3 her and taking her photo.

On Instagram, Apfel has over a million followers, but she is worried about social media. She thinks it’s ruining fashion. People are copying each other, Apfel says. Everything is becoming the same everywhere—in New York, Hong Kong, Paris. It’s boring, Apfel believes. When things are different, then they are interesting.

Don’t follow others, Apfel tells people. “Be your own person”—in fashion and in life. Ask yourself: “Am I doing the right thing for me?” This can be about your clothing choices, or even the subject you’re studying in school. Apfel lives her life this way. And at almost one hundred years old, she is still going strong.

1 icon: a person who is well known and important 2 interior designer: a person who decorates the inside of a home or other building 3 to approach: to come close to someone Iris Apfel’s style is unique. Here, she is wearing black and white with red accessories, and, as always, her famous large black glasses.