Miami was a popular spot for pandemic relocators; at one point the New York Post called south Florida the sixth borough. Though Johanna Ortiz is based in Cali, Colombia, she found herself in Miami recently too. It’s both the inspiration for and the backdrop of her new resort collection. These photos were taken in Little Havana and Little Haiti; she prefers their soft, sunbaked pastels to the fresh paint jobs of Miami Beach.
The lockdowns have reshaped Ortiz’s collections. She likes to say that raffia has replaced ruffles. More broadly: There’s an earthier sensibility to the collection that extends beyond its spicy palette to the more pared-down, simplified shapes. Where earlier outings were marked by frivolity, she’s now leaning into a more functional approach. Long-sleeved dresses can be worn two ways, with a body-baring keyhole neckline at the front or the back, while halter-neck styles have versatile adjustable straps. She’s keeping the loungewear sets that did well for her during the pandemic in the lineup, and other dresses have the beachside ease of pareos. A plaid skirt suit strikes a different note, but look closely and there’s a cheeky cut-out at the hip.
Looking forward to September, Ortiz is considering a return to Paris, where she presented her pre-pandemic collections. It’ll be interesting to see how she synthesizes the party clothes she was once known for with her new POV about effortless dressing.
