The quilted jacket

The quilted jacket

What is a quilted jacket?

The term derives from the Latin “culcita”, meaning cushion or bolster. This is reminiscent of the stitching on this particular jacket, which creates a diamond pattern typical of a mattress or blanket.

The birth of the quilted jacket dates back to the early 1960s, when the U.S. Air Force Colonel Steve Gulyas retired and he and his wife Edna moved to Tostock, Suffolk in England. Together they founded Husky Ltd. (named after their beloved dog), where they designed and manufactured a garment that would become one of the most copied around the world: the diamond quilted jacket. The first version of the quilted jacket was not a jacket at all, but a waistcoat made for shooting. Waterproof, polyester, and quilted, it made a big splash among Gulyas’ club colleagues, so he reimagined it as a jacket in nylon with polyester fill. The original was a boxy, single-breasted affair with five pressed stud snap buttons on the front, and snap-close side vents. It had two angled patch pockets, a corduroy collar, and corduroy pocket trim. This unassuming but useful jacket came in pale olive green or navy blue; other colours would follow its rise to fame.

Queen Elizabeth II soon became a fan of this jacket, which she used for riding. It soon caught on as a cult item among young students, then to celebrities in both Britain and Europe by the 1980s, before finally arriving in America. It combined the best qualities of a raincoat and a windbreaker, emerging as a garment that was functional, lightweight, and warm. Add to those likeable qualities a certain finesse that’s missing in an ordinary lightweight jacket, and you have the modern diamond quilted jacket that every IT girl has in their closet right now.

Quilted jacket style tips

Today the quilted jacket returns to establish itself as a wardrobe must, with its many variations, both short and long, ready to satisfy the tastes of all of us in the most disparate styles. This iconic model does not go only with jeans and casual outfits as in the past; the latest trends in fact relaunch it as an outerwear to be worn even with elegant dresses and skirts.

All you need to do is choose the right model (that long one, for example, is perfect even on the most chic outfits) and indulge yourself with the coolest combinations. Plus, you can always wear them under larger coats and hoods when temperatures drop. If you’re scared that the straight original fit won’t enhance your silhouette, don’t worry: there are models with the belt that can be perfect for triangle and hourglass silhouettes too.

The perfect quilted jacket look

A look that has the ability to mix classic with modern, sporty with classy items. The quilted jacket, sporty and casual, mixed with a suede skirt and a blouse is the contrast you need to elevate your style.