【Staff Favorite | F/ACSION Rain Skirt】

This is my go-to for rainy days, without exception. A single piece that's both effortless and stylish—my must-have item for not letting the weather get in the way.

Do you have an item that's your absolute go-to for certain occasions?

Just like a leather bag for commuting or a pearl necklace for formal occasions, many of us have our own staples suited to the time, place, and occasion.

For me, on rainy days, that item is the "F/ACSION Rain Skirt."

Today, I'd like to take a deeper look at just how convenient this favorite F/ACSION Rain Skirt of mine really is. I hope this helps anyone who struggles with what to wear on rainy days.

　A single piece is all you need—this skirt alone is perfect for rainy-day bottoms

Since skirts are comfortable with no tightness, I tend to wear them often in everyday life, but I always found it especially difficult to choose what to wear on rainy days. With long skirts, the hem inevitably gets wet unless you're careful about how you walk, and they don't dry easily. There were many times I'd decide on an outfit for the next day, only to panic in the morning when it turned out to be raining right before heading out.

After reconsidering those kinds of days, I finally arrived at the F/ACSION Rain Skirt. Even though it's made of rain-resistant nylon, it's a skirt you can wear as a single, fashionable piece all on its own.

There are many kinds of rain skirts out there, but there's one particular reason I came to think, "F/ACSION is the one!"

Most rain skirts seem designed to be worn over your regular skirt just to keep it from getting wet, but what I love about the F/ACSION skirt is that it can be worn as your everyday skirt in its own right—there's no need to take it off once you're indoors.

A nylon skirt is a bit unusual, isn't it? Because of that, some of you might feel uncertain about things like humidity buildup, see-through fabric, or whether it's really suitable for everyday wear. So today, I'll go ahead and review all of that thoroughly.

The first thing I want to mention is that, despite being called a "rain skirt," it can be worn on sunny days too. That's how natural the wearing experience is.

The photo above, shown on the product page, is actually me wearing just the skirt alone. If it were cotton, the fabric would be so thin and light that I'd want to pair it with a petticoat, yet the see-through effect isn't a concern at all. I think this is one of the great things about the F/ACSION Rain Skirt.

Also, thanks to the thin fabric combined with the softly flared A-line shape, air circulates as you walk, which greatly reduces the humidity buildup so common with rainwear. (Since rainy days are already humid, it's not that there's zero moisture at all, but at the very least, it never feels stuffy or unpleasant to wear.)

Another thing I love is the texture. It's smooth to the touch, and even though it's made of nylon, rest assured it's nothing like the slick, crinkly fabric typical of raincoats or rain jackets. It doesn't make that telltale rain-skirt rustling sound when you walk or twirl around, so it feels just like wearing a polyester garment—there's no awkwardness even when wearing it indoors.

The fabric is soft with a nice drape, and it hangs beautifully. If it gets dirty, you can hand wash it, and if wrinkles bother you, you can iron it too—so you can care for it just like any regular garment, which is reassuring.

The GREY and NAVY colors we carry at ZUTTO are calm, muted tones that pair easily with your everyday outfits. Grey clothing in particular tends to be a difficult color choice on rainy days since it changes color instantly when wet, but with a rain skirt, the water is repelled completely, so you can wear it with peace of mind.

It pairs easily with both office-appropriate work outfits and casual weekend looks, so I find it incredibly useful. Above all, the combination of a rain skirt and an umbrella is unbeatable on rainy days, and I love that it's a safe choice to wear whenever rain looks likely.

And one more thing I don't want to forget to mention: it's packable, folding down into a compact size. Since it folds up small, you can bring it along on trips too. On days when the weather looks like it might ruin your plans, having a rain skirt that keeps you dry is a truly reassuring ally.

▲The pocket on the inside of the waist can be turned inside out to fold the skirt down into a small size. It's compact enough to fit in either a backpack or a tote bag.

　Just how water-resistant is it? We put it to the test.

Since the fabric has a natural-material feel to the touch, some of you might wonder just how water-resistant it really is—so I ran an experiment. When I wet a quick-drying 100% linen fabric and the Rain Skirt to about the same degree, I found there was a striking difference between them.

First, I thoroughly sprayed both the linen skirt and the rain skirt with water.

The linen skirt absorbed the water, and while the rain skirt still had some fine water droplets remaining on it, the larger droplets simply rolled off the fabric. But please don't worry about these fine droplets—when you actually wear it, a quick pat or shake of the fabric will flick off almost all of them.

◆After 1 hour

After about an hour, almost all the water droplets had disappeared from the rain skirt. In this test we hung it indoors on a hanger, so it wasn't affected by wind, but if you were actually wearing it, the movement from walking or moving your body would cause the fabric to sway, making the droplets fall off more easily and dry even faster.

◆After 1 hour and 20 minutes

Twenty minutes later still, and the rain skirt was completely dry.

As for the linen skirt, it's a little hard to tell from the photo, but the moisture had spread and the whole thing was damp. There were even a few patches that were still visibly wet. Looking at this result, I think it's clear at a glance just how water-resistant the rain skirt is.

　I tried wearing it over another skirt

And there's another idea I'd like to suggest: layering it over another skirt. The benefit of layering is that **the skirt underneath stays dry**.

Suits and uniforms that can't be cleaned every day, or formal wear worn for entrance ceremonies and school visitation days—once these get wet, you start worrying about odor and stains, but finding the right time to have them cleaned isn't always easy. On days when you're wearing something important that you'd rather not get wet, protecting the skirt is one of the key roles the rain skirt plays.

What really comes in handy here is F/ACSION's water-repellent fabric, combined with the fact that it folds down small and compact. Once you're indoors, you can tuck it neatly into your bag, so unlike an umbrella, you don't have to worry about dripping on people around you, and unlike a raincoat, you won't feel embarrassed by rustling noises in a quiet space. Pair it with F/ACSION's packable all-weather jackets and coats, and you'll be fully prepared for rain.

▲All-Weather Unisex Coat KENROKU

F/ACSION offers a variety of shapes among its all-weather coats, suitable for both sun and rain.

Putting it on is very simple—just step into it from below and adjust the belt. If you already know you'll be heading out in the rain, putting the rain skirt on beforehand makes it even easier to wear.

Since it has a belt, it accommodates changes in body shape well, which also means it's nice that family members can share and wear it interchangeably. The generous A-line fabric doesn't get in the way of walking even when worn over another skirt, and crouching down is also very smooth.

Because it flares out widely, it's also handy when you want to ride a bicycle while wearing a skirt. It handles a wide range of situations where the hem of a skirt tends to get wet.

　Being able to carry it compactly brings other nice benefits, too.

Finally, let me introduce four scenarios where F/ACSION comes in handy.

1. You can head into wet outdoor situations while wearing your everyday clothes.

It's handy to have on hand when you want to enjoy the outdoors without owning full-fledged outdoor gear. Even if all you have is everyday clothing, wearing a rain skirt on rainy days or during activities where you might get splashed lets you enjoy the outdoors to the fullest.

2. It's useful when you want to sit on a damp bench.

You don't normally carry a picnic sheet around, but if you keep a rain skirt in your bag like a folding umbrella or a good-luck charm, it'll come in handy not just when you want to avoid getting your skirt hem wet, but also in unexpected moments. For example, when you have to sit on a saddle covered in water droplets, or when you want to sit on a damp bench. In such cases, it's a good idea to pull out the rain skirt as a way to keep yourself from getting your seat wet. You can wear it, or simply lay it down without wearing it—either works.

3. It protects your bag from water.

The rain skirt is highly water-resistant. This isn't a use recommended by the manufacturer, but since it's large enough to cover a bag you're carrying, it also works well for wrapping around a leather bag you absolutely don't want to get wet in a sudden downpour, shielding it directly from the rain.

4. It comes in handy at theme parks and outdoor concerts.

In the hot summer, activities where you get splashed with water can be found everywhere. It's fine to pick up rain gear on the spot, but when you already know you're going to get wet, it's more convenient—and lighter on your luggage—to head out wearing a rain skirt that lets you enjoy your outfit while also protecting against water.

▼Available in navy and gray. Click here for the product page.