How Meghan Markle's Cut-Out Johanna Ortiz Dress, Her Second Colombia Tour Look, Exemplifies Fashion Diplomacy
Everything the Duchess wears is intentional.


I've learned a lot about Meghan Markle's tour outfits in my seven years covering her fashion choices. She loves minimal neutrals. She can pull off a high-low pairing, like a Ralph Lauren suit and Cartier jewelry or a backless black St. Agni dress and sandal heels, like the best of them. And when she's traveling abroad, she'll do her research to pay her hosts homage through her clothing.
Case in point: the second outfit Meghan Markle chose for her tour of Colombia with Prince Harry. After starting the day (Thursday, August 15) in the tailored vest trend, courtesy of Veronica Beard, and a white manicure matching her Loro Piana bag, the Duchess changed for a performance at the National Center for the Arts in Bogotá into a woven cut-out midi dress by Johanna Ortiz. Prince Harry also made an outfit swap for the occasion, changing into a khaki suit and coordinating driving loafers.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry attended their second event of their Colombia tour at the National Center for the Arts in Bogotá.
Markle paired her dress with a few familiar stand-bys in her royal wardrobe: a Cartier necklace she wore for her CBS Sunday Morning interview earlier this month, a few Cartier rings, an da pair of Jimmy Choo sandal heels. She let her hair down from the chignon she wore in the morning, allowing loose waves to spill over her shoulders. But this second Colombia tour look was more significant for the meaning than the polished, end-of-summer styling. (Though that, too, was admirable. Thank her stylist, Jamie Mizrahi.)
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry both changed outfits to take in a cultural performance alongside
Meghan Markle's dress was a sign of fashion diplomacy—a tactic the Duchess of Sussex knows well. The idea boils down to respecting one's hosts on an international trip by wearing designers from the area. On trips to locations as varied as Canada, Australia, and Nigeria, Markle has historically paid close attention to local designers and worn pieces by home-grown talents for her visits.
Johanna Ortiz, the designer behind Markle's vibrant dress, is one of the biggest names in fashion to hail from Colombia. The label's dresses, swimwear, and resortwear is defined by vibrant, punchy prints and playful details—plus the occasional cut-out, like the one on the bodice of Markle's dress. According to the designer's website, her sustainability-driven label was founded in Cali, Colombia, in 2003. While Ortiz has gained international acclaim and retail partnerships at several global boutiques, she chooses to operate her business out of her home country.
Markle's dress featured a geometric woven print in shades of burgundy, mauve pink, and cream.
Markle paired her cutout dress with a Cartier necklace valued at $13,400.
While dressing in a Colombian designer is an apt choice for a stop in Bogotá, it's hardly the first time Meghan Markle has worn the brand. Back in May, she wore another Johanna Ortiz design for her official tour of Nigeria with Prince Harry. On that occasion, she chose a sultry, palm-print dress with a keyhole cut-out at the bodice and a not-insignificant thigh slit.
In May, Meghan Markle wore another Johanna Ortiz dress with a dramatic thigh slit to an event in Nigeria.
As Meghan Markle and Prince Harry get settled into four days of cultural visits and summits surrounding their advocacy for online literacy and mental health, expect to see the pair expanding their personal style horizons while nodding to the nation they're visiting. On her trip to Nigeria, Markle used a red dress by Lagos-based designer Orire to admit she wanted to experiment more with color. Her second Colombia tour look sure seems like an evolution of that idea.
Stay In The Know
Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.
Shop Dresses Inspired by Meghan Markle's Second Colombia Tour Look
Halie LeSavage is the senior fashion and beauty news editor at Marie Claire, where she assigns, edits, and writes stories for both sections. Halie is an expert on runway trends, celebrity style, emerging fashion and beauty brands, and shopping (naturally). In over seven years as a professional journalist, Halie’s reporting has ranged from fashion week coverage spanning the Copenhagen, New York, Milan, and Paris markets, to profiles on industry insiders like celebrity stylist Molly Dickson, to breaking news stories on noteworthy brand collaborations and beauty product launches. (She can personally confirm that Bella Hadid’s Ôrebella perfume is worth the hype.) She has also written dozens of research-backed shopping guides to finding the best tote bags, ballet flats, and more. Most of all, Halie loves to explore what style trends—like the rise of emotional support accessories or TikTok’s 75 Hard Style Challenge—can say about culture writ large. She also justifies almost any purchase by saying it’s “for work.”
Halie has previously held writer and editor roles at Glamour, Morning Brew, and Harper’s Bazaar. She has been cited as a fashion and beauty expert in The Cut, CNN Underscored, and Reuters, among other outlets, and appears in newsletters like Selleb and Self Checkout to provide shopping recommendations. In 2022, she earned the Hearst Spotlight Award for excellence and innovation in fashion journalism. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English from Harvard College. Outside of work, Halie is passionate about books, baking, and her miniature Bernedoodle, Dolly. For a behind-the-scenes look at her reporting, you can follow Halie on Instagram and TikTok.
-
Kim Cattrall’s Secret to a Refreshed Morning Gives Her Goosebumps
It's "invigorating."
By Samantha Holender Published
-
Acne Doesn’t Stand a Chance Against the (Somewhat Chaotic) My Morning Routine
Keep the texture and irritation at bay with these editor-vetted items.
By Ariel Baker Published
-
Hailey Bieber’s Just as Obsessed With This ‘90s Hair Accessory As the Rest of Us
The new mom was spotted in this Fashion Week-approved trend while running errands.
By Ariel Baker Published
-
Gigi Hadid Breaks Out a Kitschy Archival Moschino Bag for Vintage Shopping in New York City
She hit a vintage market looking the part.
By Kelsey Stiegman Published
-
Hailey Bieber Adds The Row's $2,000 To-Go Tote to Her Extensive Bag Collection
She carries it everywhere.
By Kelsey Stiegman Published
-
Doechii Takes Tabi Shoes, Fashion's Most Divisive Style, to the 2025 GLAAD Awards
She's a Tabi girl.
By Kelsey Stiegman Published
-
Selena Gomez Breaks Her All-Black Billionaire Dress Code for Two Inescapable Spring 2025 Color Trends
Color felt so nice, she tried it twice.
By Kelsey Stiegman Published
-
Hailey Bieber Dresses for Her Tax Bracket at Church, in a $4,450 Trench Coat
It's the ultimate rich-girl staple.
By Kelsey Stiegman Published
-
Selena Gomez Proves Skinny Jeans Are Cool Again With Khaite's $680 Benny Belt
Hear her out!
By Kelsey Stiegman Published
-
Rihanna Hard-Launches Alaïa's New $2,350 It-Bag With a Baseball Cap and Jeans
Styled with jeans and a vest, of course.
By Kelsey Stiegman Published
-
Olivia Rodrigo Wears the Bodysuit Version of Kim Kardashian's $1,808 Bondage Leather Dress to Headline Lollapalooza
This is the edgiest she's ever looked.
By Kelsey Stiegman Published