If you’re in New York City this week and are wondering why there are simply so many more pretty people than you’re used to wandering around, it’s because it’s New York Fashion Week (or NYFW for short, natch). And, because it’s fashion week, there are fashion shows. But what if I were to tell you that fashion was about to turn deadly?

95 year-old fashionista and socialite Zelda Kaplan died while in the front row of the Joanna Mastroianni show, a befitting end to a wonderful life. Zelda was often seen shutting down nightclubs at 3 or 4am with starlets seventy years younger than her – quite a punk rock old lady if there ever was one. This shouldn’t be an omen for the Mastroianni line; in 2010 Kaplan was quoted as saying “nobody does evening wear better.” Soon after the show, Ms Matroianni released this statement:

‘We are deeply saddened to lose Zelda, such an icon of the fashion community. Zelda has been someone I have known and respected over the years.  I truly admired her for her individuality and incredible spirit. She had such a love of life and believed in living everyday to its fullest. She will be sorely missed and my heartfelt condolences to her family.’

Kaplan had quite a storied life. In her own words:

“I was a successful ballroom dancer and women’s golf pro in Miami Beach in my 20s, a doctor’s wife in New York in my 30s — and in my 60s and 70s I spent my time largely in Africa and Southeast Asia campaigning directly with local tribal government leaders for women’s and children’s rights.”