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Style & beauty

How to wear a Gilet

(82 Posts)
petallus Sat 05-Jan-13 19:20:18

I sent for a fleecey gilet, heavily reduced in a certain mail order firm's sale.

I am so tempted to keep it because it was such a bargain, even though it makes me look like a fat sausage when it is zipped up.

My question is, this garment would only be worn in really cold weather because it has fleece and a feather filling.

So, how do you stop your arms getting cold?

I can see you could wear a heavy jumper but then the body would be too warm.

Is there anyone out there who wears a gilet?

JessM Sat 02-Feb-13 16:40:21

I am happy to have found my forest green Swazi gilet from NZ. Not only because it had a quirky route to my wardrobe (see 6th jan, above) as it is high quality windproof outdoor gear. I wore it today as there was a chilly wind. Happy that it zips up - it is one of those barometer garments - an extra inch on the hips and it no longer fits. I am wearing it now over a coloured long sleeved t shirt.
Can I commend this wonderful NZ firm to you. They keep on manufacturing in a deprived part of NZ where jobs are like gold dust. (Not outsourcing to third world). Despite a kick in the goolies when the NZ government gave a contract for army clothing elsewhere.
Ray Mears (saint Ray himself) can be seen modelling it on TV from time to time. Tough as old boots outerwear. i do not have shares.
There is a lovely photo on their website too:
www.swazi.co.nz

Ana Sat 02-Feb-13 16:42:51

Yes...just what has he got on under that coat? hmm

MargaretX Sat 02-Feb-13 17:01:01

Oh dear I've got about 8 gilets- all sorts. Or is a gilet only a padded garment? If so then I don't own one, but a lot of waistcoats. When I bought the first one I didn't know the English for this garment- only the German word. So it is fleece gilet and I have also knitted 3 for myself which I wear at home over long sleeved jumpers.
I bought one in the sales last Monday and this one has short sleeves. They are So....... cosy to wear and still all the rage in Germany where women seem to prefer a more tailored look- very few dresses are sold or even seen on TV. The latest gilets in Germany are made of fake rabbit fur but I don't intend buying one.

JessM Sat 02-Feb-13 17:11:44

www.swazi.co.nz/Online-Shop/Thermal-Base-Layer/ of course ana what were you thinking shock

Ana Sat 02-Feb-13 17:13:43

Well, he certainly wasn't wearing the micropants! grin

JessM Sat 02-Feb-13 18:52:53

Oh I see he has bare legs. Trust you to notice ana You shocker! grin

Ana Sat 02-Feb-13 18:53:50

Just observant, Jess, that's all! grin

Glassie Sun 03-Feb-13 11:17:45

Hello everyone. I am new on here so have been having a look round before plunging in. My gilets cover me for differing reasons. I play golf and where them for golf on the spring type days over maybe a long leeved tshirt or even over short sleeved ones. I also have two longer ones with collars that I wear when driving to stop the seat belt slicing my neck in half and they are lightweight. I also have a couple of more formal type ones in heavier material that look quite nice over shirts and jeans.

Nelliemoser Sun 03-Feb-13 11:23:21

merlot gracesmum You two are brilliant. grin

JessM Sun 03-Feb-13 11:38:43

indeed great poems

petallus Sun 03-Feb-13 11:41:01

Glassie welcome!

I can see that a gilet would be useful for golf or mucking out horses or whatever, when you want your arms to be unencumbered by thick sleeves.

I don't have horses though I think a gilet would be useful when I clean out the rabbit hutch.

But don't you get cold arms?

kittylester Sun 03-Feb-13 14:05:34

I love wearing my gilet and don't get cold arms if I wear gloves confused

But, beware, it was wearing a gilet, bright scarf, jeans and Chelsea boots that lead to my mother suggesting that next time I visited her I might try to look like the wife of a professional man! [angry

gracesmum Sun 03-Feb-13 14:07:29

Oh I remember mine forbidding me to drive up to Scotland to visit them in jeans - I was 42 at the time.

kittylester Sun 03-Feb-13 14:09:14

I hope you took note GM or did you change just down the road? smile

gracesmum Sun 03-Feb-13 14:15:34

In a lay-by off the A68grin

annodomini Sun 03-Feb-13 14:36:07

My sister, not so much younger than I am, thinks we are too old to wear jeans, though I have seen her wearing a gilet. grin

JessM Sun 03-Feb-13 18:51:10

Warm body though petallus . My NZ one is my new favourite garment. it fits cinderella, it fits. And it keeps the wind out grin

BarbaraAbbs Wed 28-Oct-15 11:28:45

Help. Can anyone tell me where I can buy a long padded gilet? Two friends have them to hip level - more flattering than those that stop at waist, which most seem to - one came from France, the other from Sweden.

ninathenana Wed 28-Oct-15 11:31:49

Have you tried Cotton Traders. I haven't checked but it's the type of garment they would have.

shysal Wed 28-Oct-15 11:40:59

I have checked the latest Cotton Traders brochure, but none there. You are right that a lot of them seem very short. Some of these might be suitable.
www.google.co.uk/?gfe_rd=cr&ei=ZS3sVLv-BZHj8wfr_oGIAQ&gws_rd=ssl#q=long+padded+gilet&tbm=shop

grumppa Wed 28-Oct-15 11:49:53

Try Barbour.

feetlebaum Wed 28-Oct-15 12:43:10

I have a habit of dozing off while at my desk here... and when I wake I'm cold - the gilet warms me up in a very short time - I wouldn't be without it!

loopylou Wed 28-Oct-15 13:14:45

I've got several from Landsend and there's a 25% off too!

Luckygirl Wed 28-Oct-15 13:36:30

I never wear them because I do not like having old arms.

Anya Wed 28-Oct-15 14:21:00

Should wear them with bate arms Lucky hmm how very Village People!