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Ask Angie: (and others) Coats for the Gilet

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Having finally worn the famous gilet out of the house, I now want to wear it all the time. Alas, I live in a (brrrrrr) cold (brrrr) climate. And I know many of the other forum gilet owners do as well.

I experimented with this gilet and I know I can successfully layer it over wool and cashmere sweaters of various hefts; denim jacket; leather jacket (and leather jacket with pullover worn over a shirt). It also works with a big scarf or muffler. And all these are ways of extending its season well into November...if I am lucky.

But. I would like to find ways of wearing into winter in my climate.

At the moment, I don't have a coat that is long enough to cover it. It comes to just below my knee. So that would mean a midi-coat.

Do you think it would work with a wool coat over it, or would that be too bulky and stiff? I really wonder. Am considering whether that lovely CM coat would work with it.

Another option I'm considering is a longer trench. Especially when I move to a more temperate climate, the trench would extend the gilet's wear right through the winter for me (with the right under layers). And it might not feel as bulky or uncomfortable as a wool coat on top of a wool coat (which is sort of what gilet-under-coat would be). Plus -- bonus -- I could wear the gilet on rainy days. But I haven't seen one I love yet. (Not that I have looked very hard, to be honest.)

So. Am I crazy to want to find ways of wearing this piece all winter long, or should I simply accept that it's best for fall and spring in my part of the world and let it be (and wear the heck out of it while I can, and then wear the heck out of my other beautiful clothes in their own season)?

How are you going to (or are you going to) wear your gilet in the winter time?

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20 replies

Latest reply was from Diana

Elizabeth P

Veteran

Have to admit Suz, this was one of the reasons I wasn't as sad to let the gilet go as I might have been. I have other long (but not nearly as nice) vests that I struggle to wear as soon as coat season hits. I used to always have a long coat, when I walked, but now that I drive most of the time, I prefer shorter coats. Not sure where the gilet would fit into that.

So... following!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Yes, it's a dilemma, isn't it. I am lucky I suppose in that I am mostly on foot so longer coats work well for me. But I know exactly what you mean about driving -- when I drove to work every day I only wore short coats and when I do the tae kwon do run for my daughter it's always my pea coat that goes on.

catgirl

Veteran

This was a main reason for me not even trying the gilet, along with the length. I think it requires taking on and off at destination.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Sure. Why not. But you might not want to close your coat.

Elizabeth P

Veteran

Angie, you're so cute. Not close your coat? In the southern Ontario winter?

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Ha, Angie -- too true!!

(But not too practical where I live, sigh...)

So...will you wear a long coat over yours?

Do you think a trench could work well?

Or will you put it away in winter and wear your longer sleeved coats instead?

Joy

Veteran

I have a longish EF bone gilet and use a long trench. My favorite is a leather trench picked up at a consignment sale. Leather is warmer than fabric. I think a light weight wool coat would be great too. It may take some trial and error.

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Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Suz, you're going to wear that gilet to death next year on the West Coast. Mine is a WORKHORSE, and I feel the cold much more than you do. (Don't worry about making it work this Winter).

No. I shan't be wearing mine under a coat. But I WILL wear a chunky knit and thermals under it so that I can wear it a little longer.

Staysfit

Veteran

I bought a Canada Goose puffer that looks like a sleeping bag. It works perfectly. Very long and fits right over the top of everything!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

THAT can work.

DJP

I think the longer trench is the way to extend the wearability of your gilet plus it can usually solve many an outerwear dilemma. (especially out here on the WET coast!)

tulle

Veteran

I was wondering about one of those super-long puffer coats that Staysfit describes. It would certainly be warm, though it might overwhelm your petite frame. One of the things I'm looking to buy this Fall is a very lightweight packable puffer jacket. Could one of those work under your gilet?

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Tulle, absolutely -- a lightweight puffer would work under the gilet without the slightest problem. And it would probably look fun, too.

DJP, I'm thinking that's the most practical solution for my future climate. I looked at Nordies and the Bay and CM and various others and did not see a long trench I liked in my price range, alas. But one will show up.

Staysfit, that's smart and it is what I would do if I were not going to move west. I don't think I'll need the super long puffer in Victoria.

Glad to hear you plan to layer with yours, Angie. I'm sure that will work. I tried a bunch of combinations of layers under the gilet in my initial try-on session and loved most of them. I'll be really curious to see which pullovers you try! You know I tried it with a leather moto under it, too, right? It worked surprisingly well...and didn't feel uncomfortable either.

Joy, what a clever idea -- a leather trench would be VERY Annie Lennox. Hmm. Maybe I'll go thrifting.

Anonymous

I would wear heck out of the gilet in the season it was meant for.

Gaylene

Veteran

Ditto what Angie says about the practicality of the gilet on the west coast.

What I'm wondering, though, is whether it makes sense to buy any coat which could potentially be a one-winter item? I'd also be leery of buying items I "think". or am told, might be useful in my future circumstances. I'm currently the owner of a pair of rather pricey rainboots I was positive I'd need for the rainy, coastal winters. Turns out I've never worn them because (1) they aren't comfortable enough for distance walking and (2) my waterproofed, leather boots hold up just fine on rainy city streets. Maybe if I was mucking about in the countryside, it might be different.

Can you work with what you've got for another snowy Eastern winter? It might be nice to go shopping after you've been living on the coast for a few months and have a better sense of what YOU need/want. Plus, remember, Angie and Seattle will be only a couple of hours away...

Joyce B

Veteran

Would adding a cape on not too cold Winter days look outdated or could that work?

Runcarla

Veteran

I saw the Top Shop duster I bought styled on a mannequin. Coat over a gilet (over a hoody) with cropped flares, and high shaft booties!

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Suz

(website)

Veteran

Carla, you read my mind. I've just been scouting Zara for similar inexpensive items. To wit -- example A below. Might overwhelm petite me, but worth a shot if I see it in store maybe?

Joyce, a cape would be fun! Hmm. Wonder if I could find a long one.

Gaylene, I think you're completely right. I'm actually sort of "window shopping" and cogitating now more than shopping in earnest; chances are I won't buy unless it is something I am really SURE I'd wear out west (and I find it at a great price). A trench, maybe. (I think we can be confident a classic trench would be useful since I like wearing them already and have been wanting a lighter coloured or brighter one...my current short and knee length trenches are both black). But a wool coat...well...I'm just not sure. I'll probably end up taking yours, Smittie's and Angie's advice and just wearing the heck out of the gilet in the months it works here, and letting it rest during Dec-April.

But heck...a girl can wonder and dream, right?

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Sal

Veteran

I am with Gaylene and Smittie - I think the beautiful thing about the gilet is the simplicity of it, and layering it under a coat could make it fussy.

I think for an indoor function you would be able to wear it anyway so I would tend to make do with your existing coats to get to and from the venue.

Diana

Veteran

I think you should just think of it like a dress and wear any coat you'd wear over a dress. For me that would be knee length trenches or wool coats. If the coat is open you'll get a cool layering look and if it's closed you'll just see a few inches of gilet hem at the bottom, no big deal, just like you might see a few inches of dress or skirt under someone's coat. (Honestly the whole "coat and dress must be exactly the same length" obsession some people have really perplexes me. Who cares?)

ETA: having never seen the gilet in person, is it really THAT bulky? Like, significantly more so than a chunky sweater or a heavy blazer with shoulder pads? Not being a puffer wearer... I always make sure I can layer a lot under my wool coats. And for me having bulky SLEEVES under a coat is what makes it uncomfortable, which would not be an issue with the gilet.