Anatomy of a Fortuny-inspired blush skirt

My fantasy life tells me this is a Fortuny skirt

See that pleated skirt I’m wearing? It’s by Anthropologie but when I look at it all I can think about is Mariano Fortuny, a Spanish-born designer who came onto the fashion scene after World War I with his exquisite and romantic pleated fabrics. Fashion writer Suzy Menkes has this great article that tells you a fair amount about his legacy and shows you examples of his work. I’m not including photos as I don’t know which ones I can use and which ones will land me in jail for infringing on copyright laws. Just think of all the outfits I wouldn’t be writing about if I was in jail!

Any hoo, at that time Fortuny’s pleated fashions were quite the revolution. Guess who was the experienced dressmaker who helped him create his sensations? His wife, Henriette Negrin. I’m thinking she’d been bugging him about making fashion that would look good on any sized woman. With his unique fabrics and simple designs, his drop-dead gorgeous gowns did look great on women of all shapes and sizes. Here’s a history of his life.

So that’s why when I saw the romantic fabric in this skirt, Fortuny was flashing before my eyes.

It’s a fluke that I even saw it at all. I was online researching the latest in jean styles, washes, and other jean details. I went to Anthropologie; I could count on them to have examples of the latest jean trends. I’m generally not an online shopper but one thing led to another and I came across this skirt on sale. I’ve been yearning for a fine pleated skirt for a long while. I had one countless years ago. It was black and below my knee and so incredibly romantic looking. I wanted to ask myself out on a date whenever I wore it.

A high low blouse adds a little street style to this romantic skirt

One day I was wearing that skirt to work. The fabric in it made me glide into rooms. I glided into my client’s closet to make new outfits from what she had. She commented on my skirt immediately. She expressed a need for a skirt as elegant as mine for an upcoming event so I gave it to her. I thought for sure I could just go back to the store and pick up another one but when I did, it was sold out. SOLD OUT!

I was crushed. I felt like Cinderella at 12:05 a.m.

Easy breezy summer style

My heart swelled as I looked at this Fortuny-like skirt online. I viewed the views of it. I had some guessing to do. I couldn’t touch it or tell for sure what the true in-person color would be. The only size left was a large. I wasn’t sure how their sizes ran. But everything in me pushed me toward the Buy Now button. I pressed it.

Once purchased and delivered, it’s time for styling

When I played around with it the other day, I decided to wear this high/low super comfortable cotton blouse by Brunelli Cucinelli from way back. It gave me that easy breezy look that went well with this light-colored skirt. This outfit felt June 21st to me like summer is here, let’s dine outside, drink wine, have dessert and watch the stars come out. Do I hear Julie Andrews serenading our table? “I feel pretty, oh so pretty. I feel pretty and witty and bright.”

Accessorizing the top half of the outfit

Accessorizing my pretty skirt outfit

Since I’m wearing two-pieces, I decided to pump up the accessories. I’ve had these rosy-blush shimmery beads for the last umpteen years. I felt a need to start with them as my accessory first course. They feel like an anchor. The color is darker than the skirt color, but they’re in that same blush family.

The next course was my heart necklace. It suits nearly any outfit but I like using it to punctuate the romance of the skirt. Next course was my crystal necklace. I like the light feel it brings to this triple deck of necklaces. The crystal has design weight to it without feeling heavy.

When you look at the three necklaces together, starting at the top, they’re each a different scale: small to medium to nearly large. The interest is building.

Three lengths of necklaces add interest

I added my wide Calleen Cordero blond leather and sliver cuff and my arty ring to one wrist. I’m wearing my white Tag Heuer watch, a summer month staple, and my Jennifer Moore ring that never leaves my finger on the other wrist.

I LOVE adding my woven leather bag by Caterina Lucchi in these light colors. This bag that I love and never once wore last year is one I’m wearing ALL THE TIME now. What’s terrific is that this year I’ve added the Camper sandals to my shoe wardrobe. That caramel color relates so well to the bag. That’s a big part of why it’s so easy to use this handbag this year.

If you’re interested in this sandal style and color, I just found this exact pair online at Nordstrom for 20% off. It’s a great color shoe to wear with jeans that have that same colored top-stitching.

Handbag and platform sandals share a color

I wasn’t sure if I would wear my red glasses from Uber Optics with this outfit but I figured I needed a little somethin’-somethin’ to bring attention to my face.

Let’s play!

As if this skirt isn’t dreamy enough, I get a kick out of the fact that I could roll it, fold it, or crumple it up and stuff it into my bag. It still comes out looking exactly as it is on my body. No wrinkles at all. So maybe I wear rolled up jeans for the day and then pull my skirt out of my handbag and go to that romantic dinner in the evening. Oh yes, I’m planning it now!

Handbag stuffed with sweet skirt

My dear friends! I have a bunch of questions! Do you wear skirts? Do you have some romantic dinners planned and where? Do you have fashion in your closet that reminds you of designers in our fashion history books? I want to know it all!

Love you!