Men’s Down Vest Guide: Herno Gilets and How to Layer Them

A men’s down vest, called a gilet in Britain, is a sleeveless padded layer that keeps your core warm while leaving your arms free. Herno makes them in Nylon Ultralight with 90/10 down, in brushed flannel, corduroy and cashmere and silk, priced from $1,130 to $3,330 at Coveti. Wear one over a shirt and a knit, under a blazer, and under an overcoat when it is properly cold.

Quick answer

• What it is: a sleeveless padded jacket. Gilet, vest and body warmer all describe the same piece.
• Lightest Herno option: Nylon Ultralight, a 20-denier Japanese nylon with 90/10 injected down padding and a silk-like feel.
• The house classic: Lo Smanicato, Herno’s own name for its vest, in recycled nylon microfibre and in brushed flannel.
• Price at Coveti: $1,130 to $3,330.
• How to layer: over a shirt, over a knit, under a blazer, under a coat.
• Sizing: your usual jacket size; Coveti lists Herno’s Italian size minus 10 as the UK/US chest size.

Gilet, vest, body warmer: what is the difference?

None, in practice. Gilet is the British word, borrowed from French. Vest is the American word, which is why searches for a men’s down vest and a men’s gilet land on the same clothes. Body warmer is the older British term, usually for a quilted country style. Herno’s Italian label for the piece is Lo Smanicato, which simply means the sleeveless one.

What changes between styles is the fill, the shell and the collar. A down vest is padded with goose and duck down. A feather-padded vest uses more feather, which is a little heavier and slightly firmer. A flannel vest swaps the nylon shell for wool-blend cloth and looks closer to tailoring.

Why wear a down vest at all?

Your torso does most of the work of keeping you warm. Insulate it and your hands and feet benefit too, while your arms stay free to move. That makes a gilet the most efficient layer in a cold-weather wardrobe, and the easiest to adjust: unzip it indoors and you lose most of its warmth in a second.

It is also the piece that makes a coat work across more weather. A light vest under a wool overcoat turns an autumn coat into a winter one without forcing you into a heavier, bulkier jacket. Herno built its reputation from the 1980s on very light nylon parkas and down jackets with natural down, and its vests use the same fabrics and the same thinking.

What is inside each Herno vest?

The best Herno gilets and down vests for men

Eight picks, from the lightest packable down to cashmere and silk. Sizes on Coveti are UK/US chest sizes.

1. Blue and Chantilly Vest in Nylon Ultralight

The purest expression of Herno’s down at $1,160, the lowest price in this edit. It uses the house’s iconic Nylon Ultralight: 20-denier Japanese nylon with 90/10 injected down padding, which gives decent water resistance and a silk-like feel against a shirt. It weighs almost nothing under a coat. Sizes run 34 to 44. It suits the man who wants one vest for travel, the office and the weekend.

2. Lo Smanicato in Blue

Herno’s classic vest, part of the same family as La Giacca and L’Aviatore. Recycled nylon microfibre has a light coating on the reverse that gives a soft hand and a waterproof matt finish. Herno cuts it with contemporary proportions, a high neck and striped quilting, and finishes it with the metal logo. At $1,350, sized 36 to 48, it is the first Herno vest most men should buy. A light taupe version is also stocked.

3. Lo Smanicato in Navy Blue

The tailoring-friendly version at $1,640. Herno uses a soft, lightweight flannel in wool, viscose and polyester, brushed on both sides for an enveloping feel. The fabric is fully washable, has a subtle twill weave and carries a water-repellent finish. Under a navy blazer it reads as a waistcoat; over a roll neck it reads as outerwear. It suits men who wear grey trousers and want a vest that looks like cloth, not nylon. Grey and camel are also available.

4. Navy Blue Resort Vest in Ultralight Nylon and Suede-Effect Microfibre

Nylon Ultralight with 90/10 injected down, trimmed with suede-effect microfibre for a softer, more finished look. It belongs to Herno’s Resort line, so it is meant for travel and mild climates where a full jacket is too much. At $1,570 in navy, sized 38 to 48, it suits the man who flies often and wants a warm layer that packs small. A light blue version is also in stock.

5. Dark Taupe Vest in Arendelle and Monogram

Made in Italy in a super-matt polyester that is lightweight, soft and velvety, with feather padding inside. The tailored detailing is the draw: striped quilting, a high collar and side pockets with press studs. Dark taupe is a quiet, warm neutral that works with brown, navy and cream. At $1,660 it suits city dressing, worn over a merino polo shirt. Navy is also available.

6. Corduroy Vest in Ivory

Wide-wale corduroy in polyester microfibre with feather padding and striped quilting, finished with a high collar. Herno describes it as a casual wardrobe icon made for layering, and the texture does most of the styling for you. Ivory looks best with brown, olive and navy. At $1,550, sized 36 to 44, it suits weekends and country trips, and pairs with Herno’s corduroy shacket for a coordinated look.

7. Cashmere and Silk Vest with Monogram in Navy Blue

The luxury choice at $3,330. Cashmere and silk give a soft, radiant cloth, finished with an eco-friendly, PFC-free water-repellent treatment, then padded with soft down. The monogram is woven in a fine jacquard. It runs from chest 34 to 50, the widest size range here, which makes it a strong pick for larger builds. It suits the man who wants a vest that sits as comfortably under a cashmere coat as over a shirt.

8. Light Taupe Resort Vest in Cashmere-Feel Flannel

Not a down vest, and that is useful. Herno uses an ultra-light boucle fabric with a melange, voluminous look that adds three dimensions to a simple outfit. It is designed to be worn over a pullover, so think of it as a knitwear layer with structure. At $1,350 it suits milder days and indoor offices where a padded vest would run too warm.

How do you layer a gilet?

• Over a shirt: the simplest version. An Oxford-weight shirt and a Nylon Ultralight vest is a complete outfit for a cool spring day.
• Over a knit: a merino crew neck under Lo Smanicato is warmer than most jackets. Browse men’s knitwear for the base.
• Under a blazer: choose a thin down vest with a high neck, zip it fully and keep the blazer buttoned. The flannel Smanicato works best here.
• Under a coat: any lightweight vest turns a wool overcoat into a winter coat. See men’s coats for the outer layer.
• Over a shacket: a weekend look. Keep the vest slimmer than the shacket underneath. Our men’s shacket guide has the picks.

One rule covers all of these: the gilet should be the slimmest layer under anything with sleeves, and the bulkiest layer over anything without them.

How should a down vest fit?

Order your usual jacket size. A gilet should close over a medium-weight knit without pulling across the chest, and the hem should cover your belt. If you plan to wear it mainly under a blazer, check the chest size against your blazer and stay in that size. Size up one only if you will wear a thick knit under a slim-fit piece. Herno uses Italian sizing, and Coveti shows the UK/US chest equivalent: IT 50 is a 40, IT 52 a 42.

How do you care for a down vest?

Read the label first, because Herno’s fabrics differ. The flannel Lo Smanicato is described by Herno as totally washable. Down vests need a gentle wash with a down-specific detergent and a long, low dry with clean tennis balls to break up clumps. Our step-by-step guide on how to wash a down jacket applies to vests too.

Shop every style in men’s jackets and the full Herno collection. Every piece is checked for authenticity before dispatch and ships worldwide. New to the house? The Herno brand page covers its history since 1948.

Read next: Herno down jackets for men, Herno La Giacca padded blazer and the best Herno shackets.

Frequently asked questions

Is a gilet the same as a vest?

Yes. Gilet is the British word and vest is the American word for the same sleeveless padded jacket. Herno calls its classic version Lo Smanicato.

Is a down vest warm enough on its own?

On a cool, dry day over a knit, yes. In real cold, a down vest works best as a mid layer under a coat, where it adds core warmth without bulky sleeves.

What is Herno Nylon Ultralight?

Nylon Ultralight is Herno’s iconic down fabric: a 20-denier Japanese nylon with 90/10 injected down padding. Herno describes it as highly water-resistant with a silk-like feel.

How much is a Herno down vest?

At Coveti, Herno vests cost $1,130 to $3,330. The Vest in Nylon Ultralight is $1,160, Lo Smanicato starts at $1,350 and the Cashmere and Silk Vest with Monogram is $3,330.

Can you wear a down vest under a blazer?

Yes, if the vest is thin and has a high neck. Zip it fully, keep the blazer buttoned and choose the same colour family, such as a navy vest under a navy blazer.

What size Herno vest should I buy?

Buy your usual jacket size. Coveti lists Herno’s Italian sizes as UK/US chest sizes, which equal the Italian size minus 10, so IT 50 is a 40.