May 7, 2021 — Online eyewear retailer Zenni Optical has announced an exclusive collaboration with style icon and self-proclaimed “geriatric starlet” Iris Apfel (who starred on the cover of the September 2020 issue of EB at her Palm Beach home). 

The multiyear partnership launches with an eyewear curation of 100 Zenni styles handpicked by Apfel, “The Iris Apfel Edit,” in celebration of her 100th birthday on Aug. 29, 2021.

“Iris is one of the most iconic glasses lovers of all-time, most known around the world for her bold look and oversized frames. We couldn’t be more excited about this partnership,” says Michelle Ticknor, head of lifestyle and social impact partnerships at Zenni. “Iris loves to say, ‘More is more and less is a bore.’ This has been our north star building this first collection with her. Just like Iris, we believe your budget shouldn’t limit your style choices, and this collection makes it possible for our customers to have a very fashion-forward eyewear wardrobe of high-quality, affordable frames.”

The ”Iris Apfel Edit” was inspired by Apfel’s collected treasures from across the globe, including textiles, jewelry, and fine art. The assortment is divided into the following categories: Live Colorfully, an assortment of styles in eye-catching hues; Signature Style, focusing on statement-making silhouettes; Structural Design, consisting of metal frames inspired by architecture; and Mini Iris, trendsetting kids’ frames.

“I think it's very important to just be yourself, and not try to look like everybody else. That’s what is so great about this collection—there are so many possibilities and so many unusual and beautiful colorways, you can really transform any outfit,” says Apfel.

The campaign for the curated collection was captured by fashion photographer Ruven Afanador. A second Iris x Zenni eyewear collection (designed in partnership with Apfel) will launch in August, her centennial birthday month. 

To highlight the launch, Zenni will release filters on Snapchat on May 13 so that users can channel their “inner Iris” and try on styles via AR filters.