Joanna Mastroianni Celebrates a Century of American Dress-Up for Spring/Summer 2011
POSTED September 16, 2010
FASHION WEEK
Alexander Patino
Joanna Mastroianni’s latest collection celebrates how American women had fun dressing up in the 20th century. Shown as a presentation at the designer’s atelier in the heart of the
Garment District, the range of homage that Mastroianni delves out in 22 garments spans from the 1920s to the 1960s and beyond, to the year 2011. The attendance of Ruth Finley, founder
of the Fashion Calendar and 65 year fashion veteran, was not only appropriate, but poetic. The range of reference sounds obtuse, but it doesn’t look it. “This collection was inspired by
Clarice Cliff who did this incredible pottery in the 20s and 30s,” says Mastroianni about the initial sparks that led to her vibrant showing. “It was also very much the 60s. It was the Andy
Warhol girls who were hanging out and cruising and they were so totally cool and they loved dressing up. It was all about the celebration.”
Mastroianni taps into America’s revived obsession with the sartorial 60s by way of Mad Men with funnel neck lines, cropped short-sleeve jackets and architectural sleeveless vests. These
are chic and elegant pieces, but it’s much more fun out in Chelsea than out in Connecticut. The patterns, the three-dimensional color-blocked textures all feel more prescient in the shorter
cocktail garments, as seen on a very femme and fun black wool asymmetrical shift dress.
“This is for the girl that wasn’t around to hang at The Factory," says Mastroianni. "We wish we could’ve been there and this is my fantasy moment of bringing the girls back to that special
place.” The New York-based designer keeps her promise with paneled dresses, pops of chartreuse, bead work and other 60s inspired embellishments suitable for any self-appointed fun-
loving aesthete. A white dramatic-petal inspired organza caplet (also seen in sunshine yellow and tangerine) over a black matte jersey sheath had all the controlled bombast of the Warhol-
disciple who definitely had fun having disciples of her own.
Garment District, the range of homage that Mastroianni delves out in 22 garments spans from the 1920s to the 1960s and beyond, to the year 2011. The attendance of Ruth Finley, founder
of the Fashion Calendar and 65 year fashion veteran, was not only appropriate, but poetic. The range of reference sounds obtuse, but it doesn’t look it. “This collection was inspired by
Clarice Cliff who did this incredible pottery in the 20s and 30s,” says Mastroianni about the initial sparks that led to her vibrant showing. “It was also very much the 60s. It was the Andy
Warhol girls who were hanging out and cruising and they were so totally cool and they loved dressing up. It was all about the celebration.”
Mastroianni taps into America’s revived obsession with the sartorial 60s by way of Mad Men with funnel neck lines, cropped short-sleeve jackets and architectural sleeveless vests. These
are chic and elegant pieces, but it’s much more fun out in Chelsea than out in Connecticut. The patterns, the three-dimensional color-blocked textures all feel more prescient in the shorter
cocktail garments, as seen on a very femme and fun black wool asymmetrical shift dress.
“This is for the girl that wasn’t around to hang at The Factory," says Mastroianni. "We wish we could’ve been there and this is my fantasy moment of bringing the girls back to that special
place.” The New York-based designer keeps her promise with paneled dresses, pops of chartreuse, bead work and other 60s inspired embellishments suitable for any self-appointed fun-
loving aesthete. A white dramatic-petal inspired organza caplet (also seen in sunshine yellow and tangerine) over a black matte jersey sheath had all the controlled bombast of the Warhol-
disciple who definitely had fun having disciples of her own.
Photo Credit: Fernando Colon
| View Coverage of MBFW NY Spring/Summer 2011 DAY 1 - DAY 2 - DAY 3 - DAY 4 - DAY 5 - DAY 6 - DAY 7 - CURRENT |
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