A Rockmount skirt chosen by a staff member who usually wears pants. This special order was made in a long length that's easy to reach for in spring and summer.

Things to consider when choosing a skirt

Cotton Tiered Skirt (Special Order STRIPE GREY ORANGE/86cm Long)

Do you have a favorite skirt in your wardrobe?

The reason I ask is that, until now, I never had a favorite skirt of my own. My go-to bottom has always been denim, partly because I simply prefer pants, but also because as I've gotten older, I've struggled more with choosing silhouettes that suit me, and skirts have been one of those struggles. On top of that, since comfort matters so much to me, I find myself worrying about fabric, or feeling like a skirt is too cute for where I am in life now, or it just doesn't meet my "will I wear this for a long time" standard—so I never quite found the right one.

That said, as the weather warms up and I see more ZUTTO staff members and people on the street wearing light, breezy skirts, I have to admit I've secretly admired them. And the skirt that finally made me think, "this one I could actually wear!" was from Rockmount. The special order piece that arrived this season was planned by a staff member who loves the brand, so her enthusiasm really comes through. We're bringing you a wear review of the Rockmount skirt along with a Q&A with the staff member who loves it—recommended not only for those who already wear Rockmount, but also for pants-lovers like me.

Clockwise from top left)Linen Tiered Skirt (GLENCHECK), Cotton Tiered Skirt (BLUE FLOWER), Cotton Tiered Skirt (Special Order STRIPE GREY ORANGE/86cm Long)

A wear review by a staff member who usually wears pants

[So comfortable to wear that I want to put it on both at home and out]

Cotton Tiered Skirt (Special Order STRIPE GREY ORANGE/86cm Long). At 159cm tall, when I position the waist just above my navel, the hem falls into a maxi length that covers my ankles without touching the tops of my feet.

The first thing I noticed when I put it on was how comfortable the elastic waistband is, and how there's no tightness around the legs. Since I usually wear denim, I really appreciated the ease of the elastic waist all over again. I normally keep a strict line between loungewear and outdoor clothes, but this is comfortable enough that I'd want to wear it as loungewear too.

It's also easy to move your legs in, which makes sense given that it originated as a dance skirt.

Rockmount, born in America, got its start in 1946 in Denver, Colorado, as the first shirt maker in the U.S. specializing in western apparel. It was also the first maker to use snap buttons on shirts, something now taken for granted. And just like its shirts, the brand's women's tiered skirt—a style that has continued since the era of the cowboy—was originally a dance skirt made for cowgirls who lived alongside the great ranches. Easy to move in and comfortable for spending time outdoors, it feels perfect for the season ahead.

[The reassurance of being able to wear it on its own]

Although it's made from a single layer of fabric, it's just the right thickness, so you don't have to worry about it being see-through.That worry about transparency, which often comes up when choosing a skirt, simply isn't an issue here, so I think even those who don't normally wear skirts can choose this one with confidence. From a distance it looks beige, but up close you can see the blue-gray stripes come through nicely. There's a certain nostalgic cuteness to it as well.

[Volume that isn't overly sweet, with a silhouette and length you can choose to your taste]

Linen Tiered Skirt (GLENCHECK). The crisp, linen-like texture of the fabric gives it an even cooler feel.

This applies to every Rockmount skirt, but because it's a three-tiered skirt with randomly placed pleats, the silhouette doesn't flare out too much, keeping the sweetness in check. This was actually one of the reasons I thought it would suit me, since I'm not a fan of overly sweet skirt styles. According to staff member M, who wears this skirt regularly, the pleats gradually loosen with wear and the silhouette slowly opens into an A-line.

Staff member M: "The way the pleats loosen and spread out is cute in its own right, so if you like an A-line silhouette, I encourage you to wear it many times and enjoy watching it change. On the other hand, if you prefer the tighter silhouette closer to how it looks when new, you can restore that shape depending on how you dry it after washing. Being able to change the silhouette however you like is one of the great things about Rockmount."

A card explaining how to wash the skirt comes included when you purchase it.

Twisting the skirt before hanging it to dry after washing helps restore the pleats.

For more details, see this article >>

"The appeal of wearing it cleanly. A Rockmount tiered skirt loved by grown-ups too"

Also, by preparing a special-order length this time, it's now easier to choose the silhouette you prefer.

Here, three staff members of different heights each tried on both the regular length and the special-order length. Please use this as a reference.

Item worn: Linen Tiered Skirt (GLENCHECK)

Item worn: Cotton Tiered Skirt (Special Order STRIPE GREY ORANGE/86cm Long)

[Easy to mix and match, so you'll wear it for years to come]

Looking at the skirt alone, it feels sweet, but the mood changes quite a bit depending on the tops and shoes you pair it with. It's a basic design, so it seems like something you could wear comfortably even as you get older, which clears up a concern I had. I think this is a skirt you could love for years to come.

Paired with a casual hoodie. (Items paired: French Terry Loose Fit Pullover, Ballet Shoes Slip on Ballet Shoe Yellow)

It also pairs well with heels.(Items paired: American Jersey Square Tee, M Sabot TEXAS 2020 LEATHER ROSE, Canvas Tote Bag (S) PINE No. 9 SCCP001)

Q&A with Staff Member M, Who Owns Several

From here, we bring you a review from Staff Member M, a longtime Rockmount enthusiast who helped plan the custom-order length.

Staff Member M: "Right now I own one in 'Cotton Flannel' and one in 'Corduroy.' I used to have another one too, but I tore it while playing with my kids. Because of that, this year I'm thinking of adding a cotton one with a smoother, crisper feel to my collection."

The fabric of the Cotton Flannel Tiered Skirtshe wears. It has a warm, cozy look and feel.

There are things you only come to understand after wearing several of the same item in different colors and materials over the years. Let's ask her about it.

Q. Which season do you wear it most?

"Honestly, I wear it all year round! You might think flannel and corduroy wouldn't suit spring and summer, but I don't really mind it—it's comfortable and easy to style, so I naturally reach for it.

Corduroy Tiered Skirt

That said, if I had to pick, I might wear it more in winter. I get cold easily, so when I wear pants in winter I want to layer tights underneath, but that ends up compressing my legs even more, so I basically never do that. As a result, I've settled into a style of tights with a skirt in winter. It's an approach I'd recommend to anyone who gets cold easily."

Q. Why did you choose a longer length for the custom order?

"Because I wanted to pair it with flat shoes (flats or sandals)! With the regular length I own, I sometimes felt it wasn't quite long enough. I'm 159cm tall, and the regular length hits around mid-shin on me. Since I wanted to pair it with sandals, I wanted something longer for better balance, so this time I asked for a custom order.

Items paired: Fanage Linen Kaftan Blouse, Thong Sandals NATURAL, GREGO Bottle Tote Bamboo Handle

When the custom piece arrived, it was exactly the length I'd hoped for! If you're somewhere between the upper 150cm range and lower 160cm range, I think you'd get a similar look wearing it. For anyone taller than me, I imagine you'd find the regular length even shorter, so I'd definitely recommend the custom option."

Q. When do you wear it? What do you love about it?

"It's so comfortable that I own a lot of skirts besides Rockmount, and I wear a skirt almost every day for desk work. Sitting in pants makes my legs feel compressed, which I don't like much. Rockmount's waistband elastic isn't too tight, but it's not too loose either, so I love that perfect balance—it gives a sense of security and also holds things in place nicely when I tuck in a top.

Because it has random pleats, I don't need to worry about wrinkles from sitting.

I also love that even as a long skirt, it's lightweight and easy to move in. Since it's a three-tier skirt, the silhouette is kept nicely in check, which might be another way it differs a bit from other A-line skirts. Some clothes that feel comfortable are fine around the house but not quite right to wear out as they are—but Rockmount skirts manage to be both, which is really convenient. Even if I suddenly need to go out on a day I hadn't planned to, it's absolutely no problem."

Q. How do you store it?

"I hang mine on a skirt hanger for storage. I've never worried about the pleats coming undone, so I've never tied it up when drying or storing it. That said, when I pack for travel, tying it up tightly makes it easy to just pop into a bag, so I do that in that case.

If you twist it vertically and roll it up, you don't need to worry about wrinkles, and you can easily tuck it into a travel bag.

With Golden Week and summer vacation coming up, I imagine a lot of people will be traveling soon, so I'd be happy if you'd choose one to bring along."

▼ Click here for the Cotton Tiered Skirt product page, now featuring BLUE FLOWER and [Custom Order] STRIPE GREY ORANGE/86cm Long