Sitting just a few seats away from the late Zelda Kaplan, I watched the Joanna Mastroianni fashion show and was distracted by the commotion of the respected socialite’s untimely demise. The news that centered around Kaplan’s death unfortunately took the spotlight away from a much deserved and under-publicized successful new collection from Mastroianni.  Before I continue with this article, I would like to offer my condolences (though late) to Zelda Kaplan’s family.  She was a woman after my own heart.  She died doing what she loved best, being a part of fashion in the making.  Zelda Kaplan, rest in peace.

Now, I would like to talk about the one show during fashion week that has consistently has blown me away since my discovery of Joanna Mastroianni, and the knowledge that one who possesses an architectural background can successfully incorporate inconceivable geometric shapes into fashion design.

Fall 2008 was my introduction to Joanna Mastroianni. I saw her collection in New York and was inspired to learn more.  Her designs were so involved, yet familiar.  I remember there being several pieces from that collection that literally reminded me of Lewis Carrol’s Alice in Wonderland.

“That really was inspired by the true architecture of that part of the world.  It was very geometric; yet at the same time, there was an interest to it. Morocco.  As she [the model on the runway] turned around, you saw something that could have been inspired from a detail of one of the top of the buildings.  It was soft, feminine, flattering to the body.  It was made up of metal in the back.  It was metal and ribbon, and these beautiful stones,” states Joanna Mastroianni in Agenda Magazine‘s Spring 2008 interview.

The fall 2012 collection is very different from that past show, but Joanna Mastroianni still utilizes the same principles in construction and design.  Iris Apfel was the inspiration and muse for this latest collection.  Mastroianni used the fabrics luxe cashmere, leather, silk taffeta, and hand-embroidered organza. The opening piece was a flowing silk gown with a high slit styled with a “futuristic” classic evening glove.  As usual Mastroianni offers visual appeal with her rich color palettes of gorgeous greens, reds, blacks, all accented with white and bronze, bringing depth to her collection.  The silhouettes are classic Mastroianni, bringing out the glamour of her collection and her muse Iris Apfel.  Joanna Mastroianni’s understanding of form and use of textiles translates well in this collection.

Click the image below to see Joanna Mastroianni’s Fall 2012 Runway during Mercedes Benz Fashion Week New York, photographed by Arun Nevader. (Not viewable in I.E.)