THE QUEEN OF ELEGANCE, SEASON AFTER SEASON

You expect to be blown away every time you sit down to watch Joanna Mastroianni’s runway show.  And, somehow, you always are.  For Fall/Winter 2013, she found her inspiration in strong women.  I know, it seems just about everyone designed for “strong women” this season, but this is a different kind of strength.

It’s not surprising to see Iris Apfel grace her front row nearly every season, for she represents the kind of strength that inspires Mastroianna, strength in endurance, experience and longevity.  That said, this is not a collection designed for “women of a certain age.”  It is, as always, young and sexy, a series of fantasy looks.

She started with shining metallics, in short party dresses, long red-carpet looks and even a dressy two-piece.  She then moved on to softer fabrics, playing with texture and embellishment.  Rosettes lined the necklines, and every piece sparkled.  Rich jewel tones turned sexy with see-through panels, and everything sparkled.

Mastroianni is famous for her fabulous fit, and every one of her pieces moved beautifully with each step.  The most amazing thing about the collection is the laborious hand beading that embellished her most glamorous looks, including the final gown, glimmering, backless and red-hot.  It brought together all that made this whole collection special, right down to the rosettes that lined the bottom.

This is a designer who truly understands the woman who buys her clothes and knows what she wants:  pure elegance.

Photography: Anton Brookes