The gilet has a credibility problem and most of it is deserved. Years of corporate casual Fridays and golf club car parks have done real damage. But strip away the bad associations and what you actually have is one of the more practical layering pieces a wardrobe can contain. Something that adds warmth through the core without bulk at the arms, that works over a midlayer on a cold morning or under a jacket when the temperature drops unexpectedly. The zip version specifically does this better than the button front because it gives you real temperature control on the move.

What we’ve been looking for here are gilets that sit properly, fill well without puffing out like a life jacket, and come in colors that work with the rest of what men actually wear. No logos doing too much work. No technical trims that belong on a mountain rather than a Saturday morning. Just pieces that solve the problem quietly and look good doing it.