Today marks the official opening of Johanna Ortiz’s first flagship store in the US, on Madison Avenue, so what better way to preview the new location than inside her new space? “Yesterday my manager told me that people were coming in like, ‘Oh, I’m so glad you’re here!’ and saying ‘Welcome to the neighborhood!’” she recalled sitting on one of the vintage couches she had sourced herself. “And that feeling was so satisfying, you know—I feel like I’m always in my own world, and it’s so nice to know that people recognize the brand.”
Not surprising for the rest of us who have watched her cement the signature items that make her clothes instantly recognizable: her penchant for incorporating natural textures and materials as embellishments, and of course, her love of palm prints. All of these are obviously present in her resort collection, though they are now joined by more everyday pieces. “Resort is tricky because it arrives for holiday,” Ortiz explained. “People travel to warmer climates, they have destination weddings, but then they return to the city to the cold weather.”
For the “destination,” there were printed jersey dresses, caftans, and embellished dresses. Two highlights included an asymmetric black dress with a trompe l’oeil print of knotted ropes on one side, and a mini dress with a sequined and fringed skirt that the designer took care to point out was “really light, because if it’s too heavy you simply cannot carry it in your bag when you travel—it’s difficult to pack and then it’s impossible.” And for the city, there were leather and suede skirts with intricate braided insets and Western-inspired seam details, cozy brushed cashmere sweaters, and knitted separates with crochet details. A black cotton “mesh” halter dress with cutouts at the waist seemed like it could go either way—worn beachside, or for those blazingly hot and sticky New York summers.