Spring and summer skirt styles for achieving the silhouette you love

In dazzling May sunshine, what catches your eye is often

a dress or long skirt whose hem sways softly in the breeze.

Here, by learning about 【silhouette】and 【brand】, why not

search for the style that suits you best.

When choosing a one-piece dress that completes your look with a single garment, or

a long skirt that makes up the bulk of your outfit,

the thing worth considering is the 【silhouette】.

By selecting a dress or accessories to match the silhouette you want to present,

you'll often find your look comes together beautifully.

Generally speaking, when it comes to clothing silhouettes,

it's said to be good to choose while thinking about

the I-line, X-line, and A-line.

These letters represent the shape of the whole body, and

many of you have probably heard of them before, haven't you?

・I-line

This refers to a shape that falls straight down from top to bottom, without any flare.

For example, this coordination pairing a shirt with bottoms that have no flare at the hem

is also creating an I-line.

By emphasizing verticality, this silhouette makes the whole body look sleek and streamlined.

The key point is to be conscious of the 【vertical】above all.

It allows you to create a stylish, urban atmosphere.

・X-line

This X-line is a silhouette that makes the waist appear slim.

It creates a feminine impression with well-defined contrast.

A style where a top is tucked into a flared skirt or wide-leg pants,

creating a waist accent, also falls under this X-line.

This is recommended for those with fuller bust or hips.

The key points are 【waist emphasis】and 【flare at the hem】.

By marking the waist with a belt, or choosing a flared skirt or wide-leg pants,

you can create this silhouette.

・A-line

Unlike the X-line, which cinches at the waist, this silhouette flows straight down from the upper body, drawing the shape of an A.

This is recommended for those—common among Japanese women—who have a slender upper body but are more conscious of their lower half, or

who want to enhance their lower-body style rather than their upper body.

The key point is choosing a design that 【makes the upper body look neat and streamlined】.

The key is to choose a top that follows the line of your body, and bottoms that are loose and relaxed.

Since a one-piece dress can make an outfit on its own, and a skirt sets the tone for the whole look,

it's worth knowing the background and philosophy of the brand before wearing it.

Here we introduce a few of the brands carried by ZUTTO.

【ONEIL OF DUBLIN】

A distinguished Irish brand dating back to the 1850s, based in the capital Dublin,

it is a prestigious factory that has continued making kilts, the traditional Irish garment.

Skirts made generously with high-quality fabric represent a brand that honors tradition while

creating garments suited to the times.

The linen skirts and dresses characteristic of ONEIL OF DUBLIN are

a piece we'd recommend for spring and summer.

The relaxed linen fabric and the softly billowing dress

are a timeless type unaffected by passing trends, so you can wear them casually whenever you go out.

※Model height: 157cm

The skirt-type garment with an elasticized waist

gives a cool, breezy impression when worn by someone around 160cm tall, revealing a glimpse of the ankles.

A linen skirt that catches the breeze and sways gently—a piece you'll want to add to your wardrobe.

【HAVERSACK】

A casual brand born in Japan. It aims to create "highly refined, timeless designs unaffected by passing trends—

clothes that can become vintage pieces you never tire of, even after wearing them for a long time."

They regard clothing itself as a "tool" to be worn, designing from two perspectives: beauty of form, and

how it actually looks when worn.

In other words, these are garments that possess both beauty as an object and

beauty when worn by a person.

This is the Cotton Lawn dress.

Made using fine, smooth cotton lawn, this dress has a slight sheer quality.

※Model height: 158cm

Pleats run down the front, with delicate ladder lace tucked between them, and

gathers at the shoulders and cuffs make for an elaborate, carefully crafted design.

Despite the generous use of fabric, the beautiful shape avoids excess volume,

making it a dress with refined sweetness that suits adult women well.

【FilMelange】

This brand uses carefully selected natural materials, conducting thorough in-house development

from the selection of the raw cotton itself through to the yarn, fabric, and sewing.

Naturally attentive to comfort, they also actively use organic materials out of consideration for the environment.

Placing absolute trust in skilled Japanese artisans who value careful, meticulous work,

they are thoroughly committed to Made-in-Japan production, in order to pass on these techniques.

They pursue the meaning and joy of wearing clothes in their craftsmanship.

The LIBBY jersey skirt is a long skirt made of tubular jersey (marudo tenjiku) knit.

Its raw material is "Organic Raffy," an organic recycled cotton.

This soft, resilient cotton was custom-dyed and spun into a special yarn count,

and knitted on a tubular knitting machine using original mélange-colored yarn,

creating a jersey fabric with plenty of vintage character.

While jersey material tends to bring sporty images to mind,

depending on how you style it, this piece works beautifully as fashionable outerwear,

a superb item that combines substantial thickness with softness. 

【FOB FACTORY (FOB Factory)】

In Kojima, a textile town located at the southern tip of Okayama Prefecture—a denim-producing region that is a source of pride to the world—

FOB FACTORY (FOB Factory) is where craftspeople come together as one to make clothing.

With a craftsman's spirit, they make japan denim, pursuing what they truly believe to be the best in everything from thread and fabric to sewing, buttons, and zippers.

They pursue craftsmanship that gets to the heart of what is truly good.

By making the most of the fabrics they develop and the skills each craftsperson possesses, and by considering the human body itself and the lifestyle of the wearer,

the design is said to emerge naturally and inevitably. 

The G5126 ST.SKIRT is a denim skirt made from 12.5-ounce selvedge denim with added stretch.

It has a nicely compact, knee-length silhouette that's versatile for many different styles.

Made with high-quality materials, it delivers excellent wearing comfort.

It's a "basic essential," simple yet carrying just the right amount of attention to detail throughout.

It's truly the ultimate basic denim piece you can wear nearly every day.

▼If you'd like to learn more about FOB FACTORY

・From Kojima, Okayama Prefecture, a denim-producing town. In search of denim with a craftsman's spirit.

Now that you know your preferred silhouette and the brand's background,

let us introduce some coordinating outfits recommended for spring and summer.

・I-Line Coordinate

Top: PARKER3 Tubular Knit Fleece-Lined Hoodie

Skirt: LIBBY Jersey Skirt (BLACK MELANGE)

Shoes: 2337T Lace-Up Slip-On

Bag: 2way Square Bag, Kinari

The substantial, thick jersey material adds a stylish touch.

You can pair it with a loose-fitting hoodie as a top,

or match it with a t-shirt and cardigan.

Since the skirt itself falls in a clean I-line shape,

it's relatively easy to achieve a well-defined silhouette.

You can also create this look with a one-piece dress like this one, or a shirt dress.

・X-Line Coordinate

Top: RamieLawn Long Shirt

Skirt: Linen Swing Skirt LECKAVREA

Shoes: Flat Shoes, JazzShoe Black

Bag: Handled Basket 007

For an X-line coordinate that highlights femininity,

we recommend the swing skirt from ONEIL OF DUBLIN.

Simply tucking in a softly gathered top like this one

cinches the waist, and combined with the flared hem, completes the X-line silhouette.

One-piece: Linen One-Piece ANTHRACITE GREY

Cardigan: Crew Neck Cardigan (Blue × Gray)

Bag: GOAT Mesh Bag L (CAMEL)※Expected to be back in stock around June 1st

Shoes: SHELLCAP HIGH OFF WHITE​

It's also nice that cinching the waist with a belt like this can enhance your style.

We also recommend topping it off with a wide-brimmed hat to complement the flared hem.

・A-Line Coordinate

One-piece: Linen One-Piece MILITARY GREEN

Shoes: SHELLCAP HIGH OFF WHITE

This is also a one-piece from ONEIL OF DUBLIN.

Since it's sleeveless, wearing it on its own creates

a beautiful A-line silhouette with a softly flared hem.

Top: LADIES Cut-and-Sew Mock Neck Tee

Skirt: Linen Swing Skirt LECKAVREA

Shoes: VIOLET Walnut Nubuck

Bag: Fielding Cartridge Bag, Shoe Leather Black

Unlike the X-line coordinate, choosing a top that fits closely along the body's natural lines

can bring you closer to an A-line silhouette.

The A-line silhouette is characterized by being easy to try

during spring and summer, when you're not wearing outerwear.

Try choosing a fitted short-sleeve or sleeveless top

for this look.

Now that you've put together a refreshingly cool skirt outfit,

what kind of accessories should you pair with it?

・Wide-Brimmed Hat

A wide-brimmed hat that protects you from strong sunlight

is also one of the joys of the season.

The Straw French Hat Casablanca from DAY STROWS is

a handy piece with a plain design that matches any fashion style.

It's an original brand from Ishida Seibo, made carefully by skilled artisans in Kasaoka City, Okayama Prefecture,

and it adds a touch of charm without disrupting your silhouette.

・Cotton Cardigan

During the season when you might be troubled by the morning and evening chill, or the cold air conditioning indoors,

a cotton cardigan comes in very handy.

The W1607 30G 3/4SLEEVES Cardigan, with its shorter length that sits close to the skin, is

perfect for an A-line or X-line silhouette.

The S3918 30G LONG Cardigan, which covers down to the hips, and

the HENRI Cotton Cardigan has a thicker trim running from the collar down the front placket, so

it helps create good style balance and makes it easy to achieve an I-line.

・Stoles that wrap up compactly

A stole is essential for coping with the chill of morning and evening, and for protection against air conditioning.

For a skirt style with a soft, flowing hem,

one that can be wrapped compactly is recommended.

The Roselier Scarf is a light, airy scarf made from thin linen fabric.

The breathable linen fabric, even when wound loosely around the neck,

keeps its cool, refreshing impression intact.

A style full of seasonal charm, possible only in spring and summer.

We hope you'll find a favorite of your own.

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