What an absolute HONOR it was to wear Rockmount Ranch Wear while emceeing Denver Fashion Week’s Western & High Altitude show!
And let me tell you, the fun started long before I stepped onto that runway!
I had the opportunity to visit Rockmount’s iconic store and mini museum in downtown Denver, surrounded by decades of Western fashion history. Walking through those doors is an experience in itself. Everywhere you look, there’s a story, a photograph, a beautiful piece of clothing, or a reminder of just how much this Denver-born brand has influenced fashion around the world.
And the best part? Getting to spend time with the people who continue to carry that legacy forward!
A Little Denim, a Lot of Detail, and Some Runway Fun!
I had the pleasure of being styled by Ky, who selected an incredible denim button-up dress featuring the beautiful details that make Rockmount so recognizable.
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Rockmount has a way of taking something as classic as denim and making it extraordinary. The craftsmanship, the Western influences, the attention to detail! I felt like I was wearing a little piece of Colorado fashion history.
And getting to wear it while hosting Denver Fashion Week? What a treat!
Four Generations and Still Going Strong!
One of my favorite parts of my visit was spending time with Colter Weil, the great-grandson of Rockmount founder Jack A. Weil, and Thorne along with Ky, who are bringing fresh, contemporary ideas and energy to the brand.
There’s something incredibly special about seeing a new generation embrace a family legacy while bringing their own creativity and perspective to it.
Not that Rockmount needs help staying relevant.
I MEAN, COME ON! IT’S ROCKMOUNT!!!! 😂
But that’s what makes this so exciting. They’re honoring the history while continuing to explore what Western fashion can look like for today’s generation.
And of course, it was wonderful to reconnect with the fabulous Wendy Weil, a fashionista I’ve known for more than 20 years!
One of my favorite things about being part of Denver’s fashion community for so long is watching relationships, businesses, and creative legacies continue to grow.
A Little Rockmount History!
Rockmount Ranch Wear was founded in Denver in 1946 by Jack A. Weil, affectionately known as Papa Jack.
Papa Jack helped revolutionize Western fashion by introducing the iconic snap-front Western shirt, complete with distinctive sawtooth pockets and diamond-shaped snaps.
And those snaps weren’t just fashionable! They also served a practical purpose, allowing a cowboy’s shirt to release if it became caught on something while riding.
Now THAT is fashion meeting function!
Papa Jack continued working until he was 107 years old, leaving behind an extraordinary legacy of entrepreneurship, creativity, and innovation.
His son, Jack B. Weil, joined the company in 1954, helping expand the brand nationally and developing new designs. His grandson, Steve Weil, joined in 1981 and helped take Rockmount to an international audience.
And in 2026, Colter Weil officially joined the family business, marking its fourth generation.
Today, Rockmount’s designs are sold around the world, and the company continues to operate from its historic Wazee Street building in downtown Denver.
Over the decades, Rockmount has been worn by legendary musicians and actors, including Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, David Bowie, and Robert Redford. Its designs have also appeared in films including Brokeback Mountain.
Not bad for a little Denver company, right?! 😉
Celebrating Our Denver Fashion Legacy
As someone who has spent more than two decades celebrating and supporting Denver’s fashion community, experiences like this mean so much to me.
Rockmount represents something I deeply admire: creativity, individuality, family, craftsmanship, and the courage to keep doing something distinctive.
And seeing the next generation stepping into that story reminds me that fashion isn’t just about what we wear.
It’s about the stories we carry, the people we connect with, and the legacies we leave behind.
A huge THANK YOU to Ky, Colter, Thorne, Wendy, and the entire Rockmount Ranch Wear family for welcoming me and allowing me to wear a little piece of Denver history on the runway!
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What an honor. What a legacy. And WHAT A FUN NIGHT!
With love and a whole lot of Western flair,
Brandi McMichael
Founder, Fashion Denver
Visit Rockmount Ranch Wear at 1626 Wazee Street in downtown Denver or explore their collections at rockmount.com.