What does the colour of your gilet say about you?

Join us as we take a closer look at the ultimate barometer of personality...

It’s a telltale mark of a strong rural leaning... Spot somebody wearing a “Schöff” and it’s as good a sign as any that you could have a reasonable exchange with them about horses, dogs, the price of wheat or the weekend’s rugby results.

You already know that, though. Schöffel is, after all, ‘the fabric of the countryside’. But what if you don’t have that exchange? Well, consciously or not, you’ll still make up your mind as to the type of person you’re looking at. And the colour of their fleece gilet will help you.

Perhaps you have a collection of Oakhams or Lyndons to choose from yourself? Maybe your wardrobe is a kaleidoscope of country-inspired hues and you’re sceptical about what you’re about to read?

It’s easy: choose your ‘go-to’ from the selection below and, once you’re done, why not let us know what else you’d add to our stereotyping, cliché-ridden and – in most instances – completely unfair deep dive into this dead-cert proof of ‘type’?

Claret

If you’re not a cavalryman and you don’t have your business fingers in a new whisky or gin distillery, you almost definitely own some mustard cords and have an interest in art, cigars, rare wines or cognac.

An unapologetic connoisseur, you can smell the difference between a Malbec and a Merlot at 20 paces. Your coffee order? Only the most seasoned of baristas will have a clue what you’re talking about.

The nemesis of waiting staff far and wide, you’ll always ask which estate the cote de boeuf on the menu comes from, whether the blackberries for the jus were picked locally and for how long the broth bones were roasted before being added to the pot.

We get it, it’s because you care about the finer things in life. And yes, you did tell us about your new venture into beekeeping.

Shop Claret Fleeces

Schöffel Oakham Fleece Gilet for Men in Red

Dark Olive or Forest

Usually infused with the distinct smell of gun oil, woodsmoke or horse manure, there’s no surer sign of a true country type than a Dark Olive or Forest gilet.

Your battle with dog hair is real; every day you teeter between going dogless and adding another grafter to your ever-growing pack.

With the season over, February could easily be a low time for the green wearers, but there’s roost shooting to look forward to, Cheltenham Festival is on the horizon, and in the evenings of a weekend, when you’re sat by the fire with ruddy cheeks and a cold drink in hand, there’s the day’s National Hunt action to catch up on, and a good chance of a Six Nations match to boot.

As at home in a tractor cab as it is at the stables or the market, expect ‘the nod’ and familiar look of quiet approval if you bump into another green gilet wearer in a more urban setting.

Shop Dark Olive & Forest Fleeces

Schöffel Oakham Fleece Gilet for Men in Olive Green

Pewter

Happier under the chassis of a broken 4x4 than you are a 50-yard pheasant, you’re a practical fixer with a logical approach to problem solving who stumbled upon the Swiss Army knife of fleeces while skiing.

A small part of you gets a buzz when something breaks, and your home is full of handy tech that somehow improves your life (if you live with a green gilet wearer, you definitely own a robotic vacuum cleaner).

Grey might be the ‘colour of compromise’, but you do your research, you want the best, and the details matter. The fact that you’ve invested in a Schöffel gilet, we think, is testament to its unmatched quality.

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Stone Blue

Your house and hobbies could be an advert for the good life. Teasels, feathers and dried flowers poke from vases at every turn, baking is a daily thing, and you have a tendency to dwell a little too much on the colour of the egg yolks from your half dozen bantams.

A poor year for elderflower or sloes is a travesty; God forbid a year’s break in your annual batches of cordial and liquer.

In the garden you know your Buxus from your Taxus and can wax lyrical about your chosen variety of apple in your mini orchard until the cows come home.

The dates of the seasons are ingrained in your mind, and you’re never happier than when foraging the hedgerows with your wirehaired dachshund or enjoying afternoon tea in a quintessential setting.

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Gunmetal

The fashionista of your friendship group, you don the Gunmetal as a statement of style and sophistication and contact us at Schöffel Country HQ at least a couple times a year to ask when a ‘true black’ gilet will be released...

A country girl or boy at heart, you’re also the most comfortable of your clan when in the city, and the most likely to pair your gilet with a snapback cap or trainers.

Vintage cars and edgy street art are your thing, and yet you're as familiar with a side-by-side as the old keeper back home; the pull of the sticks is ever present.

Shop Gunmetal Fleeces

Schöffel Oakham Fleece Gilet for Men in Grey

Navy

You went for the sharp and classic look. Versatile, too –you wear yours to the office, the races, the polo, out shooting, to the pub... In fact, you probably wear it just a little too often.

You’re not boring, honestly, but you do find it hard to look past proven classics. In your book, Labradors take some beating, Land Rovers are sacrosanct, and you’re not far off being able to name every UK National Trust property in alphabetical order... backwards.

Your job is now mostly desk based where you spend much of your time dreaming about getting outdoors – golfing, shooting, fishing, riding or racing – while navigating conversations with colleagues who Just.Don’t.Get.It.

Shop Navy Fleeces

Yep – the list above is by no means exhaustive. We’ve Petrol Blue, Duck Egg, Cedar and Pomegranate fleece gilets to choose from, too. To see the full range, visit our Oakham and Lyndon pages.

And, on a more serious note, you can learn more about how and where our iconic Italian-milled fleece is made here.