Gilet

For the municipality in eastern Spain, see Gilet, Valencia. For the family, see House of Gilet. For the card game, see Gilet (card game).
Two men wearing gilets at Strasbourg railway station in France

A gilet is a sleeveless jacket resembling a waistcoat or blouse.[1] Currently, a gilet is a sleeveless jacket or vest. They may be waist- to knee-length, and are typically straight-sided rather than fitted. However, historically, they were fitted and embroidered.[2] In a further derivation, in 19th-century dressmaking a gilet was a dress bodice shaped like a man's waistcoat.[3]

Today, gilets are often worn as an outer layer, for extra warmth outdoors. Fashion gilets may be made of cloth or fake fur, or knitted. Sports gilets are often windproof and/or made of fleece. High-end hiking jackets often have an integral gilet inside them, that can be zipped on and off. Racing cyclists use thin light gilets with a windproof front and mesh back. Shooting gilets are rugged and made of leather.

See also

Look up gilet in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

References

  1. ↑ Merriam-Webster Unabridged - Gilet entry
  2. ↑ Sugino Costume Museum images - Gilet
  3. ↑ Oxford English Dictionary - Gilet entry