Journal
From Chukker to Evening: How to Style a Quilted Field Vest
Excerpt: A field guide to layering corduroy, linen, and silk-lined outerwear across seasonal transitions and evening gatherings.
The Versatility of the Field Vest
Few garments bridge outdoor utility and courtly refinement quite like the quilted field vest (gilet). Born out of the necessity for core warmth and unrestricted arm movement on the polo turf, the modern House of Bera field vest is tailored from structured corduroy, insulated with natural cotton batting, and finished with antique brass crest buttons.
Here is how to seamlessly transition this signature piece through three distinct sartorial settings:
Look 01: The Morning Chukker (Active Equestrian Utility)
Designed for crisp early mornings on the field, outdoor walks, or countryside travel.
Base Layer: Heavy-gauge off-white or sand-washed linen shirt with sleeves rolled to the mid-forearm.
The Layer: House of Bera Quilted Field Vest in Forest Olive or Earthy Khaki.
Trouser: Tailored cotton riding breeches or structured selvedge denim in raw indigo.
Footwear & Accents: Burnished leather jodhpur boots and a dark brown bridle-leather belt with brass hardware.
The Touch: Keep the bottom two buttons undone for optimal comfort and mobility when seated or in motion.
Look 02: The Safari & Field Dispatch (Daytime Exploration)
Engineered for game drives across Jawai’s granite kopjes, afternoon flights, and weekend retreats.
Base Layer: A fine-knit merino wool polo or a band-collar chambray shirt in stone blue.
The Layer: House of Bera Quilted Field Vest in Sandstone Tan or Deep Ochre.
Trouser: Straight-cut heavy cotton chinos or pleated Gurkha trousers in olive drab.
Footwear & Accents: Suede desert chukkas, tortoiseshell sunglasses, and an archival canvas weekend duffle.
The Touch: Unbutton the top collar slightly to reveal a glimpse of the silk Illustrated Map lining along the inner chest facing.
Look 03: The Courtyard Dinner (Stately Evening Elegance)
Refined for open-air dinners under the arches of Beragarh Fort or smart-casual urban evenings.
Base Layer: A crisp white pinpoint Oxford button-down paired with a soft cashmere-silk scarf draped loosely inside the collar.
The Layer: House of Bera Quilted Field Vest in Midnight Navy or Imperial Black Velvet.
Trouser: Tailored charcoal flannel trousers with side adjusters and a clean break.
Footwear & Accents: Polished dark oxblood Chelsea boots or black calfskin loafers.
The Touch: Pair with a House of Bera silk pocket square slipped into the vest’s chest welt pocket, picking up the burnished tones of the brass crest buttons.
The Golden Rules of Vest Tailoring
The Shoulder Alignment: The shoulder seam of the vest should sit flat against the outer edge of your natural shoulder bone—never extending beyond it.
The Length Ratio: The hem of the vest should comfortably cover your belt line, sitting just above the mid-hip to maintain balanced leg proportions.
The Layering Breathability: Always layer over natural fibers (linen, cotton, fine wool) to let the natural cotton batting of the vest regulate your body heat effortlessly.