【ZUTTO Original】A Light, Flowing Long Gilet That Sways as You Walk

Sometimes you want to keep wearing your favorite clothes in new combinations, but you also crave a bit of freshness now and then. That's when a long gilet comes in handy. Simply throwing one on instantly adds a touch of elegance, transforming your everyday coordination into something special—making it a reliable piece for spring and summer. This time, ZUTTO created a cool, breathable long gilet using a richly textured linen and cotton fabric.

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Aiming for "Easy-to-Wear Style"

Bottoms: Ramie Linen Wrap Pants

Sandals: Open Toe Shoes NATURAL

Top: Linen Half-Sleeve Shirt

A stylishly effortless layered look is surprisingly difficult to pull off, and for those who don't often try it, it can feel like something reserved for the more experienced. But a long gilet, which instantly elevates any outfit into a more mature style, is actually an easy way for even beginners to create a fashionable look.

Whether you're someone who's into fashion or someone who defaults to a T-shirt every summer, we recommend trying a long gilet to expand your style options.

What Exactly Is a "Gilet"?

The word "gilet" comes from the French, referring to the same sleeveless inner garment known in Japanese as "chokki" or in English as a "vest." Compared to a chokki or vest, a gilet carries a more fashionable impression, and because it can be thrown on so simply and effortlessly, a wide variety of designs—from mid-length to long—have emerged in modern times.

By layering a gilet, you can give your favorite pieces and everyday staples a fresh new look, allowing you to enjoy fashion with them for even longer.

A deep slit is added at the back, creating a light, fluttering movement as you walk. The long gilet emphasizes vertical lines beautifully, and wearing it feels like it naturally straightens your posture, giving you an elegant silhouette.

A Refreshing Linen-Cotton Fabric

While a long gilet often gives off a modish impression, this time we added a casual touch to make it easier to incorporate into everyday coordination.

For the fabric, we chose a linen and cotton blend that feels crisp and pleasant even in summer. It features a herringbone pattern that stands out beautifully against a simple style.

▲Herringbone is a weave that gives off an elegant sheen when light hits it.

When you touch it, you can feel the rough texture of the linen alongside the softness of the cotton. The thick linen threads give it a refined heft, while the mix of cotton keeps it light, making it wearable across a wide range of seasons—from warm days to those with a slight chill in the air.

Favorite Details

This long gilet is packed with thoughtful details despite its simple appearance. We asked the designer to tell us more.

A. The tucks on the back panel and the deep slit in the back.

I imagined a gilet that would be approachable even for those trying one for the first time. A longer gilet can easily end up looking flat and elongated, and depending on the coordination, it can sometimes look heavy. By adding a slit, we were able to achieve both a light, airy look and greater ease of movement. The tucks also serve to add a little extra room in the body width, while doubling as a design point when viewed from behind.

We also paid careful attention to the position of the belt so that it would balance well with the tucks. You can tie it in front, or if you wear it open in the front, you can tie it in back as an accent.

▲The belt loops are made of thread loops, so the garment still looks natural even without the belt.

A. For those who prefer a polished look, pairing it with a shirt works well, and for those who prefer a casual style, wearing it over a T-shirt or tank top is also a great option.

It's also lovely to match the material with linen bottoms for a more relaxed fit. I'd be happy if you enjoyed experimenting with different silhouettes by wearing the belt or leaving it off.

Bag: VEGETABLE HORSE LEATHER DRAW STRING POUCH M (Drawstring Shoulder Bag)

Top: Staff's personal item

Bottoms: Drawstring Wide Culotte Pants

Sandals: Leather Sandals W0162 CUOIO

Top: Linen Stand Collar Shirt

Bottoms: Yarn-Dyed Moleskin Wide Tuck Pants

Shoes: Low Heel Ballet Shoes Patent/Brass

▼The items featured this time

▼See more ZUTTO original wear

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We now offer a clothing alteration service at ZUTTO.

Up until now, whenever a customer's beloved item broke, we've worked together with the maker as much as possible to establish a repair process. However, when it came to clothing, we hadn't reached the point of offering this as a service unique to ZUTTO. Now that we've set up an in-house atelier for making clothes, we're able to offer "clothing alterations and repairs," and have decided to launch this as a paid service for our customers.

"I'd like to shorten the hem of the skirt I bought by 3cm."

"There's a hole in a knit item I own, and I'd like it mended."

"I'd like the hem of my denim pants taken up while preserving the aging as it is."

We accept requests like these for mending and altering clothing. Of course, we welcome items purchased at ZUTTO, but we'll also do our best to accept items purchased at other shops.

Learn more here >>