The Stuff of Fashion Dreams

A bit behind the times, yesterday I discovered the amazing work of Colombian designer Johanna Ortiz, via this Resort 2018 gingham skirt (above). Thanks to Pinterest once more.

I gave up regularly reading fashion magazines a few years ago, and almost never pick them up, so I missed Vogue Australia’s 2017 article about Ortiz. In it, we learn it was the co-founder of the online shopping site Moda Operandi, Laura Santo Domingo, who saw another guest at a wedding wearing the label, as blown away as I was tracked down the designer, viewed her collection, and subsequently swept Ortiz off to New York. While Santo Domingo opened the doors to the international market, and seemingly created her ‘overnight success’, in fact Ortiz had been quietly designing away in her native country of Colombia for 15 years already.

I really love this striped, tiered skirt (above) as well, but no surprise there as I am always drawn to stripes, even more than gingham. These voluminous sleeves, and maxi and midi lengths are evocative of the 1930s as well, although I would style them quite differently, beginning by doing away with the messy long hair! (I don’t know how people can wear long hair in summer particularly.)

Unfortunately, even at half off as the tiered skirt is at the moment, $1250 is beyond my fashion budget. I can only dream.

Images from Vogue.com – click to view the full collection.