Main Difference
The main difference between Gilet and Vest is that the Gilet is a sleeveless jacket and Vest is a upper-body garment extending well below the waist, sometimes with sleeves in the 18th century, more often sleeveless.
Gilet
A gilet () is a sleeveless jacket resembling a waistcoat or blouse. It may be waist- to knee-length and is typically straight-sided rather than fitted; however, historically, gilets were fitted and embroidered. In 19th-century dressmaking a gilet was a dress bodice shaped like a man’s waistcoat.Today, gilets are often worn as an outer layer, for extra warmth outdoors. Fashion gilets may be made of cloth or fake fur, or knitted. Sports gilets are often windproof and/or made of fleece. High-end hiking jackets often have an integral gilet inside them, that can be zipped on and off. Racing cyclists use thin light gilets with a windproof front and mesh back. Shooting gilets are rugged and made of leather. Short, overwear gilets are called bodywarmers in the United Kingdom.
Vest
The vest is a garment worn on the upper body and must be close fitting. It lacks sleeves and more often than not, ends near the waist. Any given vest can be simple or ornate or for leisure or luxury. Historically, the vest can be worn either in the place of or underneath a larger coat dependent upon the weather, wearer, and setting. Sometimes though, a vest is worn over a short or long sleeve shirt. There are many types of vests, made of a wide variety of materials, those of which serve various functions and purposes and allow for variation both within cultures and cross-culturally. A vest might be closed in the front and pulled on over the head or can contain various frontal material like buttons or zippers.
Gilet (noun)
A sleeveless jacket similar to a waistcoat.
Vest (noun)
A loose robe or outer garment worn historically by men in Arab or Middle Eastern countries.
Vest (noun)
A sleeveless garment that buttons down the front, worn over a shirt, and often as part of a suit; a waistcoat.
Vest (noun)
A sleeveless garment, often with a low-cut neck, usually worn under a shirt or blouse.
Vest (noun)
A sleeveless top, typically with identifying colours or logos, worn by an athlete or member of a sports team.
Vest (noun)
Any sleeveless outer garment, often for a purpose such as identification, safety, or storage.
Vest (noun)
A vestment.
Vest (noun)
Clothing generally; array; garb.
Vest (verb)
To clothe with, or as with, a vestment, or garment; to dress; to robe; to cover, surround, or encompass closely.
Vest (verb)
To clothe with authority, power, etc.; to put in possession; to invest; to furnish; to endow; followed by with and the thing conferred.
“to vest a court with power to try cases of life and death”
Vest (verb)
To place or give into the possession or discretion of some person or authority; to commit to another; with in before the possessor.
“The power of life and death is vested in the king, or in the courts.”
Vest (verb)
To invest; to put.
“to vest money in goods, land, or houses”
Vest (verb)
To clothe with possession; also, to give a person an immediate fixed right of present or future enjoyment of.
“to vest a person with an estate”
“an estate is vested in possession”
Vest (verb)
(commonly used of financial arrangements) To become vested, to become permanent.
“My pension vests at the end of the month and then I can take it with me when I quit.”
Gilet (noun)
a light sleeveless padded jacket.