Habsburg Wolkersdorf Loden Vest with Velvet Rabbit Fur - Schlamm

Austrian loden outside, velvet rabbit fur inside.

The Habsburg Wolkersdorf is a women's gilet made from robust Austrian loden and fully lined with soft velvet rabbit fur. The outside is plain and precise, in Schlamm, a deep earthy brown that sits naturally in the forest and the field. The inside is pure warmth: the fur insulates by its own nature and feels soft against a knit or a shirt.

The edges are bound in corduroy, a small Habsburg signature that gives the vest its refined finish. The cut is sporty and slightly tailored, with a gentle curve at the waist and side slits for freedom of movement. At the back, a tunnel with tabs lets you adjust the width at the waist, so the vest sits close over a thin layer or with room over a thicker sweater.

Press studs close the front, and two zip pockets keep keys, gloves or a phone safe.

How to wear it

Wolkersdorf is made for layering. On a cold hunting day, wear it over a merino base layer and a fine knit, under a loden or waxed jacket, and take the jacket off when the sun comes out. In town and on weekends in the country, it works on its own over a roll-neck or a crisp shirt, with jeans or cords and leather boots. Schlamm goes with camel, cream, olive and every shade of brown, and with burgundy or plum if you want more colour.

Product Details

• Brand: Habsburg, Austria
• Model: Wolkersdorf, women's vest
• Colour: Schlamm
• Outer: Loden, 100% virgin wool
• Binding: Corduroy, 100% cotton
• Lining: Velvet rabbit fur (real fur)
• Fit: Sporty, slightly tailored; adjustable waist at the back
• Details: Press-stud closure, two zip pockets, side slits
• Back length: 64.7 cm (size 36) to 67 cm (size 42)
• Sizes: 36–42
• Care: Air regularly, iron only lukewarm, store on a hanger away from direct sunlight; remove small marks carefully with a damp cloth and a little vinegar. Keep the fur away from moisture and direct heat, and brush it regularly.

Field Notes

I always freeze when I sit still. What should I wear?

Keep your core warm and the rest follows. Start with a wool base layer, add a fine knit, and put a warm vest on top before the outer jacket: it keeps the body heat where you need it without stiffening your arms when you raise the rifle. A loden vest lined with fur, like Wolkersdorf, is one of the warmest layers you can wear for its weight, and it stays quiet when you move.

What should a woman wear as a guest at a driven shoot on a country estate?

Dress with quiet elegance: natural materials such as loden, tweed and wool in earthy colours, a fine knit or a shirt, good boots, and blaze orange where the host requires it. A fur-lined loden vest is the piece that carries the whole day. It keeps you warm on the peg under your jacket, and when the jacket comes off at the shooting lunch you are still beautifully dressed. In Schlamm, Wolkersdorf sits naturally with tweed and loden.

What size should I take in a loden jacket or vest with fur lining?

Fur lining takes up a little room, so measure your chest and choose by that: Habsburg's size 36 fits a chest of 86–89 cm, 38 fits 90–93 cm, 40 fits 94–97 cm and 42 fits 98–101 cm. If you are between two sizes, or want to wear a thick sweater underneath, take the larger size. Wolkersdorf is only slightly tailored, and the tabs at the back let you fine-tune the waist.