Happy Wednesday, my friends! How’s your week going? We’ve made it halfway through the week.

Today, please allow me to do one of my favorite things here : introduce you to a new designer…

The Designer: Johanna Ortiz

Today’s designer-in-focus is Colombian designer Johanna Ortiz.

The first time I took note of Johanna Ortiz was when I first spotted her Tulum off the shoulder top (available here in white) on Moda Operandi last spring. You might remember me wearing the blue and white striped version here and here. I can’t wait to break it out again this season!

While the label might have launched in 2001, it was catapulted into the spotlight last summer. The Tulum top turned out to be the “it top” of the summer. Olivia Palermo was even spotted wearing it to a People Stylewatch Magazine fashion party in NYC. With that attention, a write-up by Man Repeller, and lots of social media coverage, Johanna Ortiz began garnering the attention she rightfully deserves.

That off-the-shoulder top embodies Johanna Ortiz’s aesthetic perfectly. Clearly inspired by her Colombian cultural roots, her designs ooze elegance and femininity. She embraces a notion of sexiness in which showing the neck, shoulders, and collarbones is infinitely more attractive than a skin tight short dress. As she told Man Repeller:

“I imagine that the women I design for are powerful and strong. They mix the sex appeal and femininity of Brigitte Bardot with the elegance of Jackie O. It’s a balancing act. You have to show the right amount of skin, use the right amount of volume and the right amount of color. It can never be too much of any one element for me.”

Johanna Ortiz : Our Top 12 Picks

If you’re ready to embrace these flirty ruffles and dramatic silhouettes, browse our top 12 currently available pieces below. Plus, for a few more days, you can peruse and preorder her fall collection at Moda Operandi.

What are your thoughts on her style? Had you heard of Johanna Ortiz before? I certainly appreciate her fun, festive take on femininity. I hope you do too!