Where overarching fashion trends used to dominate on the catwalks, thanks to social media, micro-trends are now coming through. While you may have spotted more attention being given to red shoes, hair bows and capri pants, there’s yet another item gaining interest from those with enviable style: the joyful gilet.

While we may think of gilets as being a sports-like winter warmer that bulked us out like the Michelin Man, the sleeveless style has enjoyed a real upgrade. In fact, it seems slightly strange to consider this new variety as being in the same category as the zip-up practical pick of yesteryear, and one brand in particular is behind the redesign.

Damson Madder, home to cute-meets-kitsch dresses, heavily patterned jeans and exaggerated collar blouses, is no stranger to pushing statement-making style, but the label’s Tilly bow gilet is now almost impossible to keep in stock. So much so that last year’s waitlist reached an incredible 12,000 sign-ups, which is almost unheard of for a brand still in its infancy. Now, it’s available in a punchy leopard print, a joyful gingham and a pretty pink stripe – and it’s still proving plenty popular. 

While the bow-front gilet looks gorgeous, working out how to wear it may seem a little confusing. After all, these gilets are certainly more of a fashionable than functional find. Will a simple T-shirt and jeans do it justice? Can you clash colours and print? Perhaps you’re working out whether it will suit being styled with a skirt? Well, the main appeal of these pieces is that the answer will always be yes.

“We think gilets are so popular because they are so versatile and can literally be worn with any and everything,” says Fontaine Anderson, creative director at Damson Madder. “They look great over a pretty dress or frilly blouse but also elevate a simple graphic T-shirt or sweat.” This sounds incredibly appealing – the pull of simply wearing a sweatshirt and jeans becomes ever-stronger as the rain clouds hang around.

“We also love to layer a gilet over a denim jacket or light trench coat. It’s all about adding interest through layering,” says Anderson. 

So, it seems the possibilities are endless. We’ll be using ours as a stepping stone for bringing colour back into our wardrobes and elevating everyday outfits within minutes. 

Images: courtesy of Damson Madder