And every serious man should have a pea coat. (And even if you’re not very serious, if you have a pea coat around you can appear substantial and capable on those occasions when it’s strategically called for.)
Pursue your own sea adventure
When I was a little kid, I used to know it was cold outside when my dad put on his pea coat. He had one of those genuine ones, with the anchors on the buttons. It kept him warm for decades. When you think about it, a pea coat’s ability to preserve your precious bodily warmth is to be expected – sheep are not able to stand around comfortably in inhospitable environments like the Aran Islands without applying some sophisticated biological tech. That tech is wool. As an insulator and all-around weather foil, wool is a marvel. In European navies of the 18th century, sailors found that it would keep them warm in wet and windy conditions. It was tough, almost impervious to fire, and felt cozy against the skin. The pea coat had its origin in those 
navies, and sailors and fishermen have been wearing them for about 300 years now. The pea coat is one of the oldest styles of garments in continuous use, along with denim jeans, the necktie, and the kilt (though, you know, when was the last time you pulled out a kilt?).
The image at right is of a historic model of pea coat — click the image to see many contemporary versions of the pea coat available at Zappos.
The US Navy adopted the pea coat around the beginning of the 20th century. The Navy is nobody’s fool.
Sailors tend to keep their pea coats all their lives, and it didn’t take civilian men long to catch on. First, it keeps you warm in a variety of cool-to-cold conditions (especially when combined with an under-layer, such as a hoody). Second, its practical, efficient design and detailing express overt masculinity and competence. Three, it’s a versatile part of the wardrobe. The pea coat can be worn with anything from jeans to slacks, from T-shirts to a button-down shirt with a tie. It’ll look good wherever, whenever.
When wearing your pea coat, you’ll appear to be the kind of guy who can handle himself on the deck of a ship in bad weather, or handle a first date with that stylish blond graphic artist from Marketing.
Every guy should have a pea coat. Since it’s fall, get yours now. Below are some of the best pea coats, ordered by price. All are well-made and will work as advertised. And all will help you be that serious, capable, intrepid dude. Plus, it feels good to be warm. To keep you even warmer, after the pea coats I’ve added a bunch of watch caps (beanies) and scarves to complete your cold-weather outerwear ensemble.
Levi's Wool Blend Pea Coat
If you’re going to wear a pea coat, you can’t go wrong with one from Levi’s. It’s got the basic components and nothing you don’t need. 58% wool, 29% polyester, 13% rayon. Two exterior welt pockets and one inner pocket. It’s not particularly easy to find the Levi’s pea coat in stock this time of year, but not to worry – you can find it on sale now for about $97 at Overstock (others have it for as high as $200). But don’t wait, sell-out risk is high.
Calvin Klein Melton Wool Blend Peacoat
One of the more stylish pea coats you can get is the Calvin Klein Melton Wool Blend Pea Coat. It features nice touches, such as epaulettes on the shoulder, slightly longer sleeves with button straps at the cuff, a flattering profile, and a warm 80% wool blend. Customers praise its hipness (think Boondock Saints), construction, and versatility. You can get it in charcoal and black. And it’s on sale right now for a very good price from Overstock (under $110 — 57% off).
BGSD Cashmere Blend Pea Coat
If you’d like a more luxurious fabric in your pea coat than stand-alone wool, go for the Cashmere Blend Pea Coat from BGSD, which is constructed with a blend of cashmere, wool, and nylon. It’s got a quilted, polyester-filled lining and some nice tailoring touches, such as a center vent in back. The price is right, too, when you get it from Buy.com (only $149; nice for a garment with that fancy goat wool). If you like black, you’re in luck, because it comes in black.
And if you’re a new customer at Buy.com, you can also get $10 off a purchase of $150 or more using the coupon code on this page (through the end of December, 2011).
Click to get the Spiewak Dugan Pea Coat from Zappos
Since 1904, when they began making and selling clothes to the dock workers on the New York waterfront, Spiewak has been providing clothing to working men, soldiers, sailors, and firemen. Their authentic industrial design has become one of the best-kept secrets on the American fashion scene. This is street-cred from the street. Get the Spiewak Dugan Pea Coat ’10 from Zappos for the quite reasonable price of $156, with free shipping. It’s 29 ounces of good Melton wool in three colors (Navy, Charcoal Heather, and Black) with 8 oversize anchor buttons, poly twill lining, and polyfil insulation. Hey, if Spiewak’s clothes are good enough for cops and EMTs, they’ll be good enough for you. Check the customer reviews at Zappos. Keep in mind that the sizes of this coat run a little large, to make for easy layering.
Men's Regular Wool Pea Coat from Lands' End UK
When it comes to useful, classic clothing, you’ll find it at Lands’ End. And I’m going to make it easy for my readers in the United Kingdom to pick up an authentic pea coat by including one here from Lands’ End UK (yeah, you guys in the U.S. can order one from the U.S. site, too, if you want) — the Lands’ End Men’s Regular Wool Pea Coat.
Authentic Anchor Button
Lands’ End is known for constructing clothing that lasts, with thoughtful touches and reliable functionality. Their pea coat is no exception: 70% melton wool, 30% nylon. Fully lined. Traditional anchor buttons. It comes in 3 color choices, including True Navy (you sticklers will want the True Navy). They have women’s pea coats, too. Lands’ End is also legendary — legendary — for customer service that goes above and beyond, so you can shop there with confidence. This pea coat will last for years. Add the Lands’ End Cashmere Watch Cap for total warmth and credibility.
By the way, wanna know why this coat is called a “pea” coat? The fabric of the original coats was made of “pilot cloth,” a thick, coarse, twilled blue cloth with a nap on one side used particularly in making overcoats for sailors. After awhile, people took to referring to it as ”P-cloth,” and the jackets made from it became “pea coats.” The term pilot cloth apparently had its origin in the Dutch word “pijjekker,” in which “pij” refers to “coarse cloth” and “jekker” is “jacket.” It’s thought that both the British Royal Navy and the Dutch Netherlands Royal Navy were early adopters of the pea coat in the 1700s.
G-Star CL Pea Coat
I’m not automatically a fan of everything that G-Star puts out, but when they get it right, it’s clear – few other companies produce such an attractive combination of interesting materials, edgy form, and quality. (And any outfit that sponsors Magnus Carlsen has to be basically cool.) The G-Star CL Pea Coat is a pea coat for the 21st century — it has the wool (70% blend) in dark navy, snap pockets outside and inside where you want them and where you don’t expect them, a flattering double-breasted design, adjustable cuffs, a perfectly-sized collar that looks good up or down. Get it now for over $70 off from Zappos (you won’t generally find this price). And remember: Zappos also pays for your shipping both ways (in addition to having the best customer service on the web).
Colton Pea Coat from Fossil
Woolrich is the oldest woolen mill in the United States — 180 years. In fact, the site of their second mill, in Pennsylvania, has become the town of Woolrich. So when Fossil wanted to create a new pea coat, it made sense to go to Woolrich for the fabric. Thus you have the Colton Pea Coat from Fossil. Only wool — 100% of it. Flapped hip pockets, hand-warmer pockets, reinforcing buttons on the interior, quilted satin lining. This is a serious pea coat that may last you the rest of your life. And you’ll look good at the same time. (By the way, you get free overnight shipping from Fossil when you spend $125. Need a gift fast?)
If you’ve read through some of the posts on my blog (and if you haven’t, you’re in for a treat!), you know that I tend to admire Scandinavian — particularly Swedish — companies and designs. Here we have a pea coat from Swedish designer Filippa Knutsson, whose clothing company, Filippa K is based in Stockholm. Some guys will appreciate the additional warmthand attractive length of the Filippa K Wool Blend Pea Coat. (Sometimes you just want something below the hips.) This stylish coat is made of an 80% wool blend, in black. It’s fully lined, has a back vent, and welt pockets. The Filippa K design motto is “uncomplicated yet modern.” The company is also devoted to quality. You will get compliments when wearing this coat, I guarantee. Get it from ssense for $500. And explore the rest of the ssense site to find the best in contemporary men’s fashion and accessories. Pair your high-end pea coat with the Golden Goose Henry K Beanie in 100% cashmere. You will get compliments.
Finally, for those of you who don’t live in a part of the world where the winters get nasty (you feel me, Jacksonville residents?) but still want to incorporate the style of a pea coat — or you want a pea coat you can wear during milder fall and spring days – here’s a nice number from Converse: the Converse Twill Pea Coat. This is a stylish coat you can wear and not sweat if the mercury is around 59 (to find the coat on their site quickly, just search on “twill peacoat”). It’s made of mini moleskin (cotton and spandex) and comes in dark olive. And it’s from Converse . You know Converse: legendary style, fun, timeless quality. (Yes, that Converse. Didn’t you know they made stuff besides Chuck Taylors?)
So, order one of the coats above (and if you want to check out a selection of good-looking, well-made pea coats for even less green, try Kohl’s — yes, Kohl’s has some good stuff at good prices) and then, to keep even more warmth in, get a watch cap/beanie to go with it. Try the Wigwam Outlast Watch Cap from 
REI (in black) or the Columbia Watch Cap (pictured right) in black acrylic. Or the wool jersey Chaos Knit Watch Cap from Sierra Trading Post, or the Airblaster Seaman Beanie (non-itchy acrylic) from Dogfunk, or the Icebreaker Chase Beanie from Moosejaw. And for an excellent 100% wool watch cap, check the Victorinox Knit Hat (by the same folks who make Swiss Army knives).
Of course, for the ultimate keep-warm outfit, you should add a scarf. For that, get the Scotch & Soda Men’s Scarf in Navy/Gray from Revolve Clothing (pictured below) or, for true luxury, the Lux Cashmere Scarf by Y-3 from SSENSE (in black, totally hedonistic). You will now be well-nigh impervious to the elements — and your wardrobe will be impervious to criticism. Keep warm, look good: that is winter’s getting-dressed motto.
Scotch & Soda Men's Scarf in Navy/Gray from Revolve Clothing will perfectly complement your pea coat -- and keep your neck warm
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