I spent three winters convinced a gilet was what golfers wore, and nothing on this earth was going to change my mind. Then I borrowed one off a friend for a dog walk that turned into a pub lunch that turned into a supermarket run, never once took it off, and had to have a quiet word with myself in the car park. So consider this the formal apology. A black weekend gilet is not a golfer’s compromise, it’s the thing that solves the specific problem of being too warm for a coat and too cold for just a jumper, which is basically every day between October and April.
The good ones have proper weight to them, enough that they hold their shape rather than flapping about like a bin bag in the wind, and a collar that actually stands up and does something when you zip it to the top. Padding helps, but not so much that you end up shaped like a duvet, that’s the version I bought first and wore exactly twice before it went to my sister, who wears it to put the bins out and nothing more.
Styling one is genuinely the easy part, which is half the appeal.
Over a jumper it does the heavy lifting on a proper autumn walk. Over a shirt, it stops you looking like you’re heading to the office when you’re actually heading to a very long lunch. Layer it under a coat on the coldest days and you get an extra ten minutes outside before you have to admit defeat. It sits well over roll necks, it’s fine over a hoodie, and it somehow makes jeans look like you tried without trying, which is the entire point of a weekend uniform.
Occasion wise, this is not a going out piece, and it shouldn’t try to be. It’s for the school run, the farmers market, the walk that starts as twenty minutes and becomes two hours because someone suggested a pub. It’s for standing at the side of a football pitch pretending you’re not freezing. Black keeps it from ever looking like sportswear, so it moves between all of those moments without you having to think about it, which, honestly, after three years of thinking about it far too much, is exactly what I want from mine now.
Top Picks
BLACK GILETHARVEY NICHOLS USCanada Goose Freestyle Quilted Arctic-tech Shell Gilet - Black
$740.61 HARVEY NICHOLS US
BLACK GILETKARL LAGERFELD (US)Kl Jeans - Reversible Padded Gilet, Woman, Black, Size: Xs
$120.00 KARL LAGERFELD (US)
BLACK GILETHARVEY NICHOLS USMoncler Arashi Shell Gilet - Black - 5 (UK44
$837.21 HARVEY NICHOLS US
SHOPBOPBarbour Barbour Otterburn Gilet Black
$165.00 SHOPBOP
KARL LAGERFELD (US)Karl Lagerfeld - Logo Patch Puffer Gilet, Man, Black, Size: Xs
$329.95 KARL LAGERFELD (US)
HUGO BOSSHUGO Onion-quilted gilet with water-repellent finish - Black Men's Casual Jackets
$199.00 HUGO BOSS
PERFECT MOMENTChevron Down Gilet
$520.00 PERFECT MOMENT
THE WEBSTERTrackpant Gilet Black
$499.50 THE WEBSTER
THE LUXURY CLOSETAlaia Black Textured Cotton Alveole Double Gilet
$550.00 THE LUXURY CLOSET
HUGO BOSSBOSS Tonal-logo gilet with water-repellent finish - Black Men's Casual Jackets
$299.00 HUGO BOSS
HUGO BOSSBOSS Water-repellent gilet with wadding - Black Women's Casual Jackets
$399.00 HUGO BOSS
THE LUXURY CLOSETJohn Elliott Black Synthetic Gilet
$201.00 THE LUXURY CLOSET
JOE BROWNSWomen's Boho Ribbon Gilet - Size Small/Medium - Black - by Joe Browns
$55.00 JOE BROWNS
KARL LAGERFELD (US)Karl Lagerfeld - Lightweight Packable Gilet, Man, Black, Size: Xs
$189.00 KARL LAGERFELD (US)
HUGO BOSSHUGO Lightweight gilet with vertical quilting - Black Men's Casual Jackets
$229.00 HUGO BOSS
HUGO BOSSBOSS Down-filled gilet with welded-logo pattern - Black Men's Down Jackets
$399.00 HUGO BOSS
KARL LAGERFELD (US)Karl Lagerfeld - Black And White Tailored Gilet, Woman, Black, Size:
$499.95 KARL LAGERFELD (US)
SUPERDRY (US)Superdry Men's Men's Everest Hooded Puffer Gilet Dark Grey / Jet Black
$174.95 SUPERDRY (US)
KARL LAGERFELD (US)Karl Lagerfeld - Karl Dna Studded Gilet, Woman, Black, Size:
$220.00 KARL LAGERFELD (US)
CERQULAROVERSIDE Racing Utility Mens Biker Gilet Black
$46.79 CERQULAR
THE LUXURY CLOSETMoncler Black/Red Thoule Hooded Reversible Gilet
$606.00 THE LUXURY CLOSET
CERQULARBRAVE SOUL Mens Workwear Gilet Black
$36.39 CERQULAR
KARL LAGERFELD (US)Kl Jeans - Reversible Padded Gilet, Woman, Black, Size: Xs
$120.00 KARL LAGERFELD (US)
KARL LAGERFELD (US)Karl Lagerfeld - Cropped Gilet, Woman, Black, Size:
$220.00 KARL LAGERFELD (US)
SUPERDRY (US)Superdry Men's Fuji Lite Padded Gilet Black
$134.95 SUPERDRY (US)
THE LUXURY CLOSETMax & Moi Black Fox Fur Short Gilet
$316.00 THE LUXURY CLOSET
THE LUXURY CLOSETBurberry Black Nylon Down Gilet
$325.00 THE LUXURY CLOSET
HARVEY NICHOLS USCanada Goose Freestyle Quilted Arctic-tech Shell Gilet - Black
$740.61 HARVEY NICHOLS US
CERQULARPatagonia Fleece Gilet - Large Black Polyester
$48.23 CERQULAR
CERQULARRugged Wear Gilet - Medium Black Cotton
$80.39 CERQULAR
CERQULARDOGGER Mens Black Agility Gilet M Polyester Blend Woven Zip Vest Outdoor
$36.39 CERQULAR
HARVEY NICHOLS USMoncler Parke Quilted Shell Gilet - Black - 7, Men's Designer Gilet, Male
$901.61 HARVEY NICHOLS US
HARVEY NICHOLS USMoncler Arashi Shell Gilet - Black - 5 (UK44
$837.21 HARVEY NICHOLS US
HARVEY NICHOLS USBarbour Dulsie Faux Shearling Gilet - Black - 14 (UK14 / L)
$167.44 HARVEY NICHOLS US
CERQULARChaps Ralph Lauren Gilet - Large Black Nylon
$66.99 CERQULAR
CERQULARArborwear Workwear Gilet - XL Black Cotton
$87.09 CERQULAR
CERQULARTherma-Fit Nike Acg Gilet - Large Black Polyester
$53.59 CERQULAR
SUPERDRY (US)Superdry Men's Non-hooded Everest Gilet Black
$174.95 SUPERDRY (US)
SUPERDRY (US)Superdry Men's Box Quilt Fuji Lite Gilet Black
$134.95 SUPERDRY (US)
KARL LAGERFELD (US)Karl Lagerfeld - Ikon Padded Gilet, Man, Black, Size: Xs
$150.00 KARL LAGERFELD (US)
−50%
SUPERDRY (US)Superdry Women's Active Fleece Gilet Black$99.94
$49.97 SUPERDRY (US)
−60%
SUPERDRY (US)Superdry Women's Women's Longline Hooded Padded Gilet Black$189.95
$75.98 SUPERDRY (US)
−56%
HARVEY NICHOLS USRains Black Logo Shell Gilet$172.70
$75.99 HARVEY NICHOLS US
−50%
HARVEY NICHOLS USRepresent 247 Run Shell Gilet - Black$185.48
$92.74 HARVEY NICHOLS US
−30%
SUPERDRY (US)Superdry Women's Tech Padded Gilet Black$134.94
$94.46 SUPERDRY (US)
−50%
SUPERDRY (US)Superdry Women's Women's Women's Classic Logo Badge Longline Hooded Puffer Gilet, Black$189.94
$94.97 SUPERDRY (US)
−50%
HARVEY NICHOLS USVarley Colwyn Quilted Nylon Gilet - Black$206.08
$103.04 HARVEY NICHOLS US
−50%
HARVEY NICHOLS USMM Lodola Quilted Shell Gilet - Black - 8 (UK8 / S)$437.92
$218.96 HARVEY NICHOLS US
−30%
SHOPBOPLa DoubleJ Fun Guy Gilet Black$350.00
$245.00 SHOPBOP
