The definition of rara avis is "a rare person or thing; rarity." Also a rare bird. So I only thought it appropriate to start this out with a few exotic feathered friends.. but as I was hunting for rare birds I found Iris Barrel Apfel, the irreverent and envelope-pushing New York City fashionista socialite and businesswoman. She is a complete original, and is one of the rarest of the rare birds. An individual who embodies and displays the concept of cultivating TRUE personal style. Following a large and amazing display of her bold clothing and accouterments at the metropolitan museum of art’s costume institute in 2005, called Rara Avis: Selections from the Iris Barrel Apfel Collection, a catalog has been created! The book is entitled Rare bird of fashion: The Irreverent Iris Apfel.
