Men's Country Gilets & Waistcoats

Waistcoats, Bodywarmers & Vests: Country Style Explained

While traditional country attire includes everything from shooting socks and braces to a tie, field coat, and breeks, one piece of kit that is absolutely essential to every country outfit - whether casual or dashing - is a waistcoat or gilet. Although they’re often borrowed in the fashion choices of city slickers, no one forgets that the waistcoat’s home is in the British countryside, so feel no shame in stocking up on these practical, durable and yet oh-so-charming articles.

If you flip between super smart and laid back attire (we love lazy Sundays too!), you’re in luck, because these days country style can go several ways. Casual chaps or country-men out for a regular day of work can opt for waxed cotton choices, while gents heading for a hunt or a wedding will look ever so dapper in proper hunting attire made of the best tweed. Pair with a matching jacket to truly up that country charm or wear with boots to demonstrate your familiarity with that outdoor lifestyle!

Choosing the Best Country Waistcoat For The Occasions

British culture has, fortunately, adopted waistcoats as appropriate attire for every possible function of our society - so whether you’re attending a country wedding, heading a business meeting, or taking your lady’s parents out to brunch, consider them your most reliable piece of kit.
We recommend colours like black or beige for your fancy events, while a fitted, sleek style will accentuate your silhouette. While attending sporting events or exercising your horse, bright colours like red and yellow will keep you looking dapper - just remember to go for wool or padded options when the weather is uncharacteristically (we kid, we kid) chilly.

Shooting & Hunting

Several large pockets to hold your cartridges are another essential for shooting and hunting waistcoats, and you’ll probably appreciate a good shoulder pad that will protect your shoulder from the kick-back of the weapon and prevent the fabric from wearing out. Even in chillier weather, a sleeveless waistcoat is ideal, as it promotes a better range of motion that will help to alleviate the common issue of sleeves rolling up as you take your shot.
We recommend a warm wool option in the winter, and since you’ll be wearing your coat atop your waistcoat, this will ensure that you’re not forced to fix your sleeves after each and every shot.

Walking & Hiking

While a stroll in the park doesn’t call for ten pockets in your waistcoat, a day spent hiking necessitates that you have at least a few large pockets to keep your essentials (like those granola bars!) at hand.
Sleeveless waistcoats are perfect for everything from low-key walking to vigorous hiking because they keep your body warm while allowing for a full range of motion...yet have breathing room to facilitate heat loss after you get warmed up.
While hunting and shooting waistcoats are best in muted and earthy colours, while walking and hiking you can opt for gilets in any hue of your choice, including more fashion-forward options.

Overview

Some people have never heard of the name ‘gilet’, but they will have seen them, they might not know the name of that which they admire but admire them they will. Who cannot be impressed by the rugged, classically handsome good looks of a check waistcoat in the finest country tweed, or a waxed hunting gilet?
Our large and varied selection of waistcoats for men are perfect for enhancing your country sports be they shooting, hunting or horse riding.
Our selection is good looking yet supremely practical because looks are pleasing to the eye, but practicality is what we reach for every day. No matter the vagaries of the British weather, a good windproof or waterproof men’s gilet will be worth its weight in gold on the field.
You can dress them various ways; a bodywarmer can be worn on its own over a shirt in the summer, over a shirt and jumper combination in the spring and autumn. Some of our customers, to keep warm in the coldest parts of the UK, wear their gilets over their winter coats when they need to be outdoors in the harshest of weather.
Design is an important feature of gent’s country clothing, often taken for granted, we want you to know you can depend on us to only stock tried and tested designs. Whilst a pocketless design might look sleek in a magazine photo shoot; those pockets are essential in the real world of country living.
Our selection encompasses various designs to suit different figures, a variety of materials from wool tweed to waxed cotton, equally suited to a more formal country esquire look or a laid-back casual look when you’re pottering in the garden. We stock the full range of the more popular colours; green, olive, tan, black and grey.
Choose a style with additional padding for added warmth, useful inner pockets, hand warmers or game pockets. Or maybe you’re looking for something more lightweight? All styles are hardwearing and robust, with no concession to style.

Why not team your shooting gilet or a waistcoat up with a matching pair of trousers, plus fours, or a tweed jacket from the rest of our collection? Have a look at our other sections on the site and remember, if you buy online you get free UK mainland delivery.