The gilet fills a very specific practical gap that it handles better than anything else which is the occasion where you need warmth through your core but want freedom of movement through your arms. Walking in cold weather when you’re generating enough heat to not need full sleeve coverage. Layering in an office that’s too cold but where a full jacket feels excessive. The practical credentials are solid. Stylistically the gilet requires a bit more consideration because it can look incomplete as an outer layer in the way that removing sleeves from an already established silhouette sometimes does. We’ve found it works best worn as a genuine mid layer rather than trying to function as outerwear. Over a good knit or a flannel shirt with a proper coat available for outside it hits the right register without looking like you left part of your outfit at home.