Gilet owners...help! - YouLookFab Forum

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Gilet owners...help!

bella

(website)

Veteran

I am thinking of getting a black gilet/blazer vest. I think it might work well in my spring wardrobe. I could use it as a third piece and it doesn't add too much warmth.
However, I haven't seen many in stores for this spring. Are they already dated?
Also, gilet owners, did you wear your gilets a lot? Do you think it would be a good purchase ?
Also, feel free to post some of your gilet outfit pictures if you can.
Thanks in advance!

Shopping

22 replies

Latest reply was from Jenni NZ

Staysfit

Veteran

I wore mine as the temperatures started to fall and were in the range of the 40's and 50's. I plan to do it again as temps warm up. I saw one offered by DVF. I think they are available.

Joy

Veteran

I wear mine most as a third piece in warm weather, mostly over a sleeveless top. I like the look of the longer ones but the shorter ones look more casual.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Mine is worn mostly in transitional weather, too. It came from Kohl's.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I have only worn mine a few times but that it entirely due to lifestyle/ climate.

I do think it is still in style and a fantastic addition to a wardrobe if you will be standing and walking a lot. It is somewhat less comfortable/ practical if you are sitting a lot. Similar to a long coat vs. a shorter car coat.

Elizabeth P

Veteran

I also wore mine in the fall, before it was cool enough to need a coat. I don't currently have a coat long enough to cover mine, unfortunately, otherwise I'd have worn it all winter. I did bring it into work a couple of times in a tote bag and put it on for the day, over a black cashmere turtleneck. I am very glad to have it though, as it's a definite unusual statement piece, and fun to wear.

This is mine, and one of my fav ways to wear it, denim and a black top.

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Windchime

Veteran

I bought a long black vest last fall; it's been a fabulous piece in my closet. Adding it to an outfit I've had for a couple years brings the outfit on trend, and it gets lots of compliments. I've worn it a lot over blouses and bootcut pants or jeans and am looking forward to styling it with short-sleeved shirts this spring.

Anonymous

I have a long black knit vest from Aritzia - never worn . Can't figure out what to wear underneath that I like. I also have a lined boiled wool long sleeveless coat ( I just cannot bring myself to use the word *gilet*) in a caramel colour that I finally figured out how to style to my liking this past fall. The window for wearing it was about 4 weeks, so it got worn a total of once. Lastly, I have a faux shearling black one that is strictly a fall outerwear piece - again, small window for wear. I think if you work in retail, or are on your feet all day at work in the public eye it is a great piece to have. Otherwise, I find them marginal. Nice, but a marginal extra.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

What makes you think a gilet might be dated, Bella? Not dated.

I wore mine in the Autumn quite a bit, and will do so again in Spring. My gilet works over just about everything because it's very tailored and long. The fluid and oversized gilets are harder to style - especially at an odd length.

Rag & Bone 'Faye' Longline Double Breasted Wool Blend Vest

$575.00 $229.98

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Bijou

Veteran

Bella it probably depends on your climate. Living in Australia, I bought the Rag & Bone gilet and got to wear it a lot in Spring (with pants and shirts to work and with sweaters and jeans casually). I will be able to wear it in cooler Autumn weather, throughout Winter (we never go below 0 degrees celsius) and again in Spring. I have also worn it with skirts and boots. I find my gilet to be a great addition to my wardrobe.

L'Abeille

Veteran

I have a long black one, fairly tailored, a long white one, fairly flowy, and a hip-length one with satin lapels, so like a sleeveless tuxedo jacket. I wear all of them a lot, in all weathers. Outfits include: over skinny pants; over flared-at-the-bottom pants; over pencil skirts, tube skirts, or longer straight skirts; over sweater or knit dresses of varying lengths. Oh yes and over culottes. The one thing I haven't done is wear it over a shorter hemline.

On top I have worn them with sleeveless tops, turtlenecks, boat or crewnecks, tie-neck blouses, and collared shirts. My only challenge is duelling collars, but I have the same problem with blazers and frankly it is easier with a gilet. Mine are all lighter weight so can be worn alone in summer, under my white coat at the office, or under my long winter coat.

cindysmith

Veteran

I've chosen an asymmetric moto style vest in a longer length for my wish list for the year. I think that sort of thing is in the gilet family, yes?

shedev

Veteran

I've worn this asymmetrical gilet a few times last fall and plan to wear more in the spring. They aren't the most practical item, but they are fun.

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lpr200

Veteran

I bought mine late in the season so I didn't get to wear it, but I'm going to wear mine (the Veronica Beard in scuba material) with long sleeve Equipment dresses and jeans and long sleeve t shirt and scarf...when it's warm enough

Beth Ann

Veteran

I have two gillets -- one in a substantial knit, and quite long. The other is like a sleeveless jacket, but only comes to mid thigh. They took me a while to learn to style, but I love them.

Lisa

Veteran

I am no help on finding one, because I don't have any, and I haven't seen any lately. But I like the idea of a shorter one for your height. And it would 100% fit your style. I also think these are very classic yet with an edge when they have fun zipper details to them. Sort of like the blazer I have in this post on my blog (the third photo) which has zippers on it. I could see a gillet with zippers like this looking superb on you.

Greyscale

Veteran

I definitely have one on my shopping list still (I have for a few seasons, but I'm picky and haven't made it a priority). For my climate it's perfect for medium temperatures.

bella

(website)

Veteran

Angie - I haven't seen a single one at B&M Mango, Zara and another local chain. And both Zara and Mango have only a few online offerings, which are very fluid and/or oversized. That's why I was worried. But maybe it's just the beginning of the season and the best spring merchandise hasn't yet arrived in the stores.

You have given me some food for thought. I hadn't thought about sitting down/standing up. I would be wearing the gilet on teaching days, so approximately 3 hours of standing up in front of college students. That's why I want a structured/blazer style vest. - to give me some authority but not as stiff as a blazer.

I will think a bit more about which of my tops would work well with a gilet, and if I can come up with a few outfits in my head, I will give it a try.

Thanks for your help!

Brooklyn

Veteran

I have one. I think if you spend a lot of time standing up, it would be ideal. I spend a lot of time at my desk and that's the only reason I would hesitate to recommend one. I like the look, but I tend to want to take it off when I sit down.

Jenava

(website)

Veteran

I own this sleeveless trench in cream. It has slits to the waist in each side, so it kind of flutters as I move and doesn't feel like I'm wearing an actual coat.

I wear it with the belt tied behind. Typically I wear it over flare leg jeans or over a cream midi dress with a thin cream turtleneck beneath. i've also worn it with black cropped flares and a cream blouse with black edging.

Honestly, I can wear it over a tee and skinny jeans, casually, or many other ways. It's such a great, flexible item and I get a lot of compliments. I think it's a matter of finding a style that really speaks to you and then you'll find a million ways to wear it!

edit to add; an outfit example from this past early September. I got rid of this blouse after these photos because I couldn't believe how awfully it creased by the end of the day! I now have a nice polyester blouse that doesn't crease as much. (-:

It sounds like a long, structured vest like this would be great for teaching!

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Vince Sleeveless Wrap Vest

$375.00 $149.97

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Vince Pleated Shirtdress

$425.00 $169.20

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Joy

Veteran

Bella, there is a gilet for you. They can be polished or casual, structured or drapey, knit or woven, different lengths.

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

I saw someone yesterday in Sevilla wearing a long black gilet. She looked excellent. She also had on a red turtleneck, white cropped jeans and black boots.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

I have a faux fur vest which has been called a gilet. I did buy it in 2012, and had only heard of gilets from Trinny and Susannah's Body Shape Bible book written about 2007 at that stage. They said gilets may suit the "bell" shape which I fit with. Then a woman quite a lot younger than me admired it- " I love your gilet, I've seen things like that in London last year". I don't know if faux fur would be something you liked at all, but here are some pics from May 2015 just in case they help.
I have had a huge amount of wear out of this item and people always ask if they may touch it!

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