Inditex chairwoman Marta Ortega wore a new khaki green Zara cargo midi skirt costing €29.95 to the Gucci runway show at Milan Fashion Week. She attended the presentation alongside her husband Carlos Torretta, choosing to pair the high-street piece with minimalist wardrobe staples for a relaxed autumn look.
The Spanish fashion executive selected the straight-cut midi design from Zara's latest autumn collection, reinforcing the continued prominence of utility-inspired aesthetics for transitional dressing. Retailing for less than €30, the khaki green garment features large functional pockets distributed across the front and sides, a mid-rise waistline, and a practical rear split positioned below the knee.
Inditex leadership at Milan Fashion Week
Ortega, who serves as the chairwoman of Spanish retail giant Inditex, has regularly demonstrated how accessible high-street fashion can be styled alongside luxury garments. Inditex is one of the world's largest apparel conglomerates, operating global retail brands including Zara, Massimo Dutti, Pull&Bear, Bershka, Stradivarius, and Oysho from its corporate headquarters in Arteixo, Galicia, Spain. Ortega assumed leadership of the fashion empire built by her father, billionaire founder Amancio Ortega, and she has previously observed that she does not intend to replicate her father's career because no one ever will.
Her appearance at the Gucci show placed her among prominent international executives, designers, and celebrities gathered for Milan Fashion Week. The semi-annual Milan event is one of the fundamental "Big Four" global fashion showcases alongside Paris, New York, and London, bringing leading luxury houses together to present their upcoming seasonal collections. Gucci, founded in Florence in 1921, stands as one of the hallmark runway events on the Milan calendar, drawing global media attention to its seasonal debuts.
Torretta, who accompanied Ortega to the Milan runway presentation, works within the Inditex corporate ecosystem following his marriage to Ortega. Their presence at major luxury showcases highlights the evolving relationship between high-end fashion design and commercial high-street retail, where trends originating on luxury runways are translated into accessible collections for global consumers.
Styling a utility midi skirt
To style the high-street midi skirt for the luxury presentation, Ortega combined the khaki green garment with an oversized white t-shirt and draped a sky blue sweater over her shoulders. She completed the look with white shoes, balancing the utilitarian character of the cargo skirt with clean, minimalist garments.
The styling choice demonstrates that cargo designs can function well beyond casual or athletic environments when paired with understated wardrobe staples. Khaki green, a traditional shade rooted in military field gear and practical workwear, offers broad versatility for autumn dressing. The earthy tone pairs effectively with neutral colors such as white, beige, black, and grey, while also harmonizing with navy blue, brown, rich burgundy, and accents of red.
Utilitarian fashion has maintained a strong presence in women's wear over recent seasons. Following several years dominated by cargo trousers, the oversized pocket details have expanded into skirt designs, creating a relaxed alternative for mid-season styling. The straight-cut midi silhouette moves away from classic tailored skirts, combining functional pocket placement with modern street style elements.
Autumn styling options for cargo designs
The versatility of the cargo midi skirt allows it to adapt easily to different fashion styles and daily requirements. For a professional office setting, the khaki skirt can be combined with a clean white or light blue button-down shirt and leather loafers. For everyday daytime activities, pairing the piece with a knit jumper and ballerina flats delivers a comfortable yet polished aesthetic.
To elevate the garment for formal or evening occasions, matching the utility skirt with a romantic blouse and slingback heels creates an appealing contrast between soft tailoring and functional cargo pockets. For a casual weekend look, styling the skirt with an oversized sweatshirt and athletic sneakers highlights its sportswear roots. Outerwear options such as a leather jacket or a structured trench coat work effectively as top layers across all of these combinations.
The trend for functional autumn fashion
Amid autumn collections filled with satin skirts, pleated designs, and traditional tailored cuts, the cargo version brings a practical alternative to seasonal wardrobes. Ortega's decision to wear the affordable Zara piece to a major Milan Fashion Week runway presentation provides further momentum for the utility trend this season.
Zara has featured the €29.95 design in its new autumn collection, reflecting how high-street brands continue to refine functional workwear concepts for contemporary daily wear.
