Pea Coats

It is interesting to note how many styles of coats came into their popularity as a military-surplus reject.  Like the duffle coat and the trench, the pea coat is another example of a once strictly utilitarian garment that, after a surge in availability, modern fashion adopted and applied its own ideas and twists.  While the pea coat got its start in 18th-century Europe, it most likely owe its swelled appreciation to the US Navy, who adopted the coat as their outerwear in the 20th century.  The pea coat was also adopted by other European navies throughout the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries.  The classic pea coat is typified by its double-breasted structure and, fittingly, navy blue wool material, but modern adaptations have turned out this style in virtually every colour and material, making the style both accessible and popular with many men, women, and children, not just for sailors anymore.

As it was noted, the original style of the pea coat featured a wool garment, which served as a sturdy, warm outer layer for those in the military.  Today, however, other styles and fabrics are being combined with the pea coat for trendy updates on a classic style.  For example, instead of wool, a pea coat could come in leather, bringing the sexy luxury of this material to the clean, structured lines of the pea coat.  Belts can often be added, turning the pea coat into a sort of mini-trench.  And while the mass-market wool found in the classic, original pea coats could be a bit scratchy and certainly smell manky when wet, the advent of synthetic fibers has made the pea coat a more weather-friendly option for the general public, as it’s hard to imagine it to be someone’s preference to smell like a wet sheep.

The double-breasted style of the pea coat makes it the perfect outerwear for many more formal occasions, but does not make it seem out of place in casual settings, either.  It is suitable to wear to work for men and women, and is also sharp enough to take you from the office to after-work drinks with the boss.  It is also perfect for the university student who prefers clean, classic lines to the more slouchy, unstructured styles of outerwear that are popular today, and is great on the way to class or to the pub.  The pea coat has endured for many centuries, and its classic wide appeal is sure to keep it around for a good deal longer.

© Designer Coats.org.uk 2007.

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