A gilet earns its place on the days a coat is too much and a knit is not enough. This cropped style puts warmth where the cold actually reaches you, across the chest and around the neck, and leaves your arms free to drive, carry a bag or push a pram. A wide shearling collar sits open over the shoulders, the panelled body zips clean to the top, and a thick band of shearling runs along the hem.

Stopping at the waist is what keeps it from reading as a bulky vest. Over a fine knit it still shows the shape of what is underneath; over a long sleeve tee with jeans it does the whole job of a jacket on a dry winter morning. Shearling trim finishes the armholes so nothing rubs against a bare arm, and the loose body leaves room for a chunky sleeve without straining the zip.

It comes in Black and White, Brown and Coffee Brown, in sizes S to 2XL. Our model is 5'6" and wears a size S. Take your usual size, since the body is cut generously on purpose so a jumper fits underneath without bunching at the front. Machine wash cold on a gentle cycle, or have it dry cleaned when the collar needs reviving.

• Fit: Loose through the body, true to size, with room to layer a knit underneath
• Collar: Wide notch lapel collar in contrast shearling
• Closure: Full-length zip front
• Sleeve: Sleeveless, with shearling trim around the armholes
• Length: Cropped, sitting at the waist
• Sizes and colours: S to 2XL in Black and White, Brown and Coffee Brown
• Care: Machine wash cold on a gentle cycle, or professional dry clean