Rapha, nice but a bit pricey?

I can't find Gore stuff in any of the shops here and I don't want to buy clothing that I can't try on (I'm not mailing it back to Wiggle internationally, or whatever). There's loads of Pearl Izumi but it seems to be sized very Japanese (i.e. small and slim, of which I am not particularly either) and some Assos, but that's even more pricey.

Rapha stuff generally fits me well and I can actually go try it on, which is nice.

You sound like your mind is pretty made up about going for the Rapha gillet. So you're unlikely to be dissapointed by it's VFM or performance. (although I would get the rain jacket, as recommended by Regal)

I like to listen to what some of the guys on here say - as many have ridden more than me and in more varying conditions but I have the ability to easily buy a wide variety of cycling clothing, so it's easy for me to say.

I was talking about the active shell vest but I would hazard a guess that the winter version is similarly excellent. I think smallfurry may have bought one?