7 WAYS TO WEAR A GILET

For A/W, padded gilets are a foolproof alternative to puffer jackets, as they are easier to layer over thick hoodies and sweatshirts – with the added bonus of being foldable if you happen to get too warm. Loungewear is the perfect pairing to a gilet in winter – cosy vibes all round. Neutral shades like navy, cream and grey are key to elevating your run-of-the-mill padded gilet – mix and match your separates to avoid ultra-casual tracksuit vibes, though (depending on the occasion, of course).

GET THE LOOK:
New Look puffer gilet in black, £30
Polo Ralph Lauren long sleeve sweatshirt in navy, £190
Lyle & Scott Loungewear jogger in oatmeal marl, £45
New Balance 204L unisex trainers in white and brown, £110

Volume 1, article 1 of the gilet rulebook states that gilets should ideally be positioned as the outermost layer of an outfit, but we’re perpetual rule-breakers. Lightweight jackets like windbreakers, raincoats and nylon parkas – which are must-haves for when it’s chucking cats and dogs – can be cosied up with the help of a gilet underneath. Elevate the look with some streetwear icons on your bottom half. Unpack your cargo trousers from your ‘out of season’ storage and reintroduce them to daylight alongside some techy trainers.

GET THE LOOK:
Farah Cambell padded vest gilet in brown - BROWN, £110
Pull&Bear Panel raincoat in green, £35.99
Carhartt WIP regular cargo pants in black, £120
Salomon XT-6 GTX trainers in black and flame scarlet and vanilla ice, £185

If you’ve never considered adding gilet-vest hybrids to your everyday rotation, boy do we have a 'fit formula for you. Banish those preconceived notions about gilets being exclusive to cold weather and outerwear rails, because style-conscious celebs like Joey Bada$$ and Tyler, The Creator have cosigned weightless varieties for any day-to-day affairs. Timberland boots (which we’re sure you already have), baggy jorts that sit just below the knee and a graphic tee deserve a gilet for some proportion play. When a gilet is in the conversation, even the most casual looks feel intentional.

GET THE LOOK:
Hugo Blue Bridger cargo gilet in green, £159
Ice Cream large running dog logo t-shirt in white, £50
ASOS DESIGN longer length pleated denim jort in black, £32
Timberland premium 6 inch boots in dark wheat nubuck, £190

Wearing a gilet to your 9-5 doesn't mean you’ll automatically channel finance bro. With a little sleight-of-hand re: silhouettes, textures and tones, you can dominate even the strictest of dress codes and avoid looking like a Kendall Roy cosplayer. Office gilets are typically black or navy with a slim fit. For a fresh take, opt for a burgundy gilet with oversized proportions. This one from Scalpers has wider padded panels resulting in a boxier shape, which looks even better with a well-crafted fisherman knit underneath. Smart wide-leg trousers and penny loafers finish this artistic, mid-century-inspired look.

GET THE LOOK:
Scalpers New Gstaad Vest in Burgundy, £109
ASOS DESIGN smart wide leg trousers with front pleats in black, £32
New Look fisherman knit jumper in dark grey, £25
ASOS DESIGN penny loafers in black leather with ruching, £45

The only rule with a statement gilet is to go equally statement with your styling pieces – from bold prints to standout colours and extra accessories. 00s Pharrell, Lil Wayne, A$AP Rocky and, more recently, Timothée Chalamet, make up the Mount Rushmore of city-ready streetwear. They love camo trousers, graphic beanies and loud logos on tees, and a coated gilet levels up the look even more. If this feels like it could be in a music video or headline a party outfit, that’s because it could – the shine adds dimension and main-character energy.

GET THE LOOK:
Bershka Puffer gilet in black, £35.99
Carhartt WIP duck single knee straight leg trousers in green camo, £130
ASOS DESIGN knitted graffiti graphic skull beanie in neutral, £14
Nike Shox TL trainers in purple, £154.99

Is Shaboozey on your moodboard? Because he’s been a mainstay on ours since summer, and we refuse to remove his leather-loving, horse-riding influence from our wardrobes. Depending on what constitutes a gilet in your mind, this faux-leather ASOS DESIGN piece may fit the vest or even waistcoat category better, but one thing’s for certain: it’s a statement piece that deserves its moment this A/W. Instead of sticking to western-inspired visuals more fit for last season, we’re pairing it with basics to position it as the centrepiece of this look: a boxy tee, baggy jeans and gold jewellery. We’re sure Shaboozey would approve.

GET THE LOOK:
ASOS DESIGN faux leather gilet in black, £40
Pull&Bear Baggy jeans in lavender blue, £35.99
ASOS DESIGN essentials oversized t-shirt in white, £10
ASOS DESIGN waterproof stainless steel box chain necklace in gold tone, £24

Any East London natives will know not to sleep on the utility gilet. So, what gives it the ‘utility’ title? Pockets (lots of them), metal hardware and techy fabrics. We’re going Barbour beige: this utility gilet has lower arm holes for more freedom and compartments everywhere. Swap a tee for a checked flannel or denim shirt, or a shacket to match the gilet's workwear fly. In classic high-low fashion, boat shoes are the optimal option here.

GET THE LOOK:
Barbour Utility gilet in mist, £119
ASOS DESIGN boat shoes in leather and suede with cleated sole, £45
Topman oversized fit flannel check shirt in light blue, £38
Topman wide leg check smart trousers in chocolate, £46