gilets

I have got about 6 I think. Three I knitted myself and I wear them in the house they keep my shoulders warm. I also wear them under a coat if its freezing outside.

I don't wear the padded style, which everyone you see seems to wear all the time- even babies

I asked Dh (who has a couple of them) and he says it’s all to do with physiology! They keep your core warm, therefore blood doesn’t rush to your centre and extremities stay warm. I don’t wear them as I would def look like a very short Michelin man!

My late DH used to wear one sometimes but he was never cold and did not wear a winter coat. I can't see the point. If you are cold enough to need something on, your arms need to be covered. For times you need a light covering without bulk, such as driving or gardening, a fleece is best.

I agree Baggs - they are neither fish nor fowl nor good red meat as my Grandma used to say. I have one and never wear it.

Love them
Have become a wardrobe staple.
I wear cotton traders fleece type over long sleeved top most days.
It is a good way of layering up (IMO)

As another poster pointed out they are good for driving in (no bulk),
just pop a coat on over the top when getting out of the car.
In cold weather it is an extra player of warmth again without the bulk.

In spring if we ever get one when it is too hot for coat I wear a normal type gilet over jumper.

In summer its an extra layer over a T shirt.

Early Autumn again a gilet with a long sleeved top

Can't bear a cold back.
It is important according to my late father to keep ones kidneys warm

I've had several but found that I hardly ever found a reason to wear one so they have gone to charity shops. I need sleeves.

Hazbeen Tilley do an outback vest that sounds as if it might be what you’re looking for, but they are pricey (well, I think they are!). If you google ‘fishing vests’, you will find similar ones that might be what you are looking for but at a more reasonable price.

Excellent!

What goes around comes around on Gransnet. I stuck this on a thread way back when.....about gilets.

Before we had the gilet,
One didn’t care for trends,
One wore a body warmer
And so did our posh friends.
When shooting in the country
Or riding out on hacks,
One wore a quilted ‘husky’
To warm those chilly backs.
Complete with Barbour jacket
And wellies, green, not black,
This garment had the kudos
That fleeces seemed to lack.
It beats a vest or waistcoat
And a bodice any day
But it’s just a sleeveless jacket
Whatever some may say.

Tongue in cheek of course.

Oops! seem to have somehow pasted some gobbleydegook into that last post . Second para should read:

However my daughter loved them and gilets, as she says she feels the cold in her trunk, but not her arms, and says that if she keeps her core warm then she feels warm all over. Doesn't work for me, I feel the cold all over.

Oh I remember a thread on these about 2 years ago. I had just bought 2 from Joules, a navy one and a fuchsia pink one. I have worn them SO often since, cost per wear can’t be more than 1p and they are not only practical in Spring/ Autumn /English cool summer but also smart enough for lunch depending what I wear underneath yet casual enough to wear walking Hattie!

My OH wears one when hes working (hes a builder) but his is more like a gamekeepers one with all the pockets and is heavy duty cotton. He says he can keep all his bits like his phone, keys etc safe fastened in the various pockets because he would lose them from his trousers with all the bending etc. Ive been looking for a new one for him for ages they arent easy to get anymore. It has to have at least 2 large flapped pockets and about 4 zipped smaller pockets according to him!

I'm with you Baggs on this. I've never really 'got' them either. Any more than I got the trend several years ago for sleeveless roll neck jumpers . Surely if you're cold enough to want your neck covered, then your arms would freeze?
However my daughter loved them and gilets, as she says she feels the cold in her trualthough never used in tailoring or professional dressmaking.nk, but not her arms, and says that if she keeps her core warm then she feels warm all over. Doesn't work for me, I feel the cold all over.

I have two and love them. Warmth without bulk as others have said. Particularly good on a bright but breezy day when a coat is too much but you need coverage on back and neck.

I bought one several years ago and wouldn't be without it. It's been a joy underneath my winter dog walking coat during this very cold weather. On the odd day when it isn't raining, I'll wear it for (dog) walking, the pockets take 2 tennis balls, biodegradable bags to pick up any pooh, dog treats, my mobile phone and car keys. no need for a bag. Oh yes and great for gardening as well.

I wear one when I’m gardening too for the same reason, it gives me more freedom to move my arms. I wear it over a fleece lined lumberjack shirt.

Just wondering, could my arms stay warm as they are being used more than the rest of my body when I’m working outside? Am I overthinking this?

I haven’t one n the wardrobe at the moment ( only because I hadn’t found one I liked) but I really like them I like my lower back to feel warm and they are light and can look good I don’t like the looks of all of them though
I think kids look good in the. Especially with a hood

I like them too as Marydoll says they give warmth without bulk. I can't wear the Puffa type ones (other brands available ) as they make me look like the Michelin woman.

I wear them when driving, less bulky than a big coat and I hate my back being cold. The feather and down ones are so light and cosy..
I remember wearing them the first time round 40 years ago, when out walking with the pram. I wish I hadn't binned them, as they were deemed unfashionable.

I wear one for golf but not otherwise - not sure why. I don't think they look great but I suppose its more about warmth than looks.

I find these are a very useful item of clothing. I hate my back feeling cold and one of these resolves that problem. I do call them body warmers rather than gilet.

I love them. I hate my arms being cluttered up but my back needs to be warm. Any blasts of cold air gives me nerve entrapment which cripples me for days. I like to have a pocket for my car keys because I don't keep them in my handbag when I'm out and the pockets of my gardening body warmer gilet are usually full of dog biscuits, twine, plant labels etc.

I often wear one over a T shirt when gardening until I warm up and can take it off.

I never wear one under a jacket though. Far too much bundling up. It's either or.

I agree. I occasionally wear one when gardening, as someone else has said, for its useful pockets.

I have two but rarely wear them except in the garden because I, too, like my arms covered. DH and DS wear them all the time but blokes call them body warmers!