Need some help picking out a coat for the winter...

[corz123]

Hey guys I could really use some input on picking out a coat. As I'm out of college long and longer I'm starting to feel embarrassed using a ski-esque North Face/Marmot jack as my outer layer during the colder months! So this will be my first real coat that I'm putting thought into. My budget is flexible but as I usually prefer to get something and use it for many years I wouldn't mind paying a bit more if it was worth it since a wool coat is doesn't really go out of style... I saw this while I was out and about and really like it so far:


http://www.brooksbrothers.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Merchant_Id=1&Section_Id= 569&Product_Id=1473369&Parent_Id=222&sort_by=&sect ioncolor=&sectionsize=


Thoughts on this particular item? General suggestions?


I also searched and saw this from last year: http://dappered.com/2011/10/the-best...llwinter-2011/

I also noticed that most of these were not 100% wool and were blends. (not sure if this is good or bad)


So I'm sort of torn between spending $180 or so for a BR/Express/Jcrew or $520 (25% f and f sale coming up) for the original jacket I saw. I did some googling and saw extremely favorable review for the Storm System Lora Piana fabric on styleforum and fedoralounge. Any input would be appreciate! Thanks!


Also, if someone knows of a side that I could use to upload and crop out my face I could upload some photos I took of myself wearing it...

[hon140]

Personally I'm a pea coat guy. It's just a really classic style, and I'm a huge fan of the retro Anchor buttons. Plus, a basic pea coat in navy, or even grey, is not only going to work with everything you own, but add a little flair to it. Topcoats like the one you linked are fine, but they really do lack the punchiness of a pea coat. Here are some photos of how versatile pea coats are:


Standard method of wearing one: http://cdn05.cdn.justjared.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/zachary-chuck/zachary-levi-new-chuck-episode-05.jpg


Unbuttoned: http://www.thechroniclemag.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Usher_Burberry_Prorsum_Military_Wool_Felt_Peacoat-3-214x300.jpg


Collar up: http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ll80zonkLg1qc20pto1_500.jpg


Collar way up: http://www.markdsikes.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Picture-35-peacoat.png


So you get my point: flair.


And if you're looking for a pea coat, I'd either recommend J Crew Factory (I haven't tried it, but its super cheap and you can always return it if you don't love it, and the regular J Crew one kicks butt) or, especially if you're a slim or muscular guy, Schott's slim fit pea coat. That thing is just flat out amazing.


Also from Schott, I haven't ever tried this, but someday I'll own it...http://www.schottnyc.com/products/me...l-car-coat.htm

[runner-guy]

That BB coat is nice. I would also look into a peacoat like hon140 mentioned. I currently have a nice charcoal wool coat from Banana Republic, but a pea coat will be my next purchase for a winter coat. Schott's has some awesome peacoats. Not cheap, but they are made in USA or Canada and probably better quality than J Crew Factory.

[zerostyle]

I ended up with a peacoat, but decided to go with navy instead of charcoal/black. I like it because it offers a little more contrast with my work pants (grey, brown, etc).

[corz123]

I'm still a little unfamiliar with the terminology. What makes something a peacoat exactly? Being double breasted?

[runner-guy]

This description is from the Schott NYC website:


The US Navy Pea Coat was adopted during the early 20th Century, from Britain’s Royal Navy Reefer Jacket. The Royal Navies first regulations for uniforms for other ranks were issued in 1857, a century after the regulations for officers and this garment was originally used by Midshipmen ( Reefers ). These crewmen had to climb the rigging and furl and unfurl, or ‘reef’, the sails of the sailing ships of the era. The jacket was short, to allow ease of movement through the rigging. It had a double-breasted front, which displaced the buttons to each side. This helped reduce the chance of them getting caught on ropes, as the wearer maneuvered the sails. The pockets were often close to vertical, and over the flanks, rather than horizontal and at wrist level. It was made of a very heavy wool, in dark Navy blue, with a nap on the face side.

The success of the style is proved by its singularly universal appearance throughout the Navies of Europe. This may account for the US Navies nomenclature as an Anglicization of the Dutch ‘Pijekkat, being a jacket made of ‘Pij’ (a coarse wool) cloth. Conversely, it may be from the shortening of the Belgium Navies term ‘Pilot’s Jacket’ to P. Jacket, then being misspelt / adapted to Pea Coat. The term ‘Pea Jacket’ is reputed to first appear in the Oxford English Dictionary between 1717 and 1723. ‘Pea Coat’ does not appear for another century.

[deebs]

Can anyone comment on Land's End wool coats? 40% off this peacoat:http://www.landsend.com/pp/mens-wool...242740_59.html seems like a good deal, but I've never bought anything from them.

[bvaghela]

wow that coat from lands end looks nice. i'm interested in hearing opinions on that too. could it possibly go on sale in the near future?


here's a link for the jcrew factory one:


http://www.jcrew.com/mens_factory_ca...~~~~/12948.jsp

[zerostyle]

That Jcrew one is probably fine - my guess is that you'll need to size down to make it fit decently.


Here are the peacoats I tried on last year:

1. JCrew - loved the construction, but even the small was big on me

2. Zara - bought one in a medium that seemed to fit just a bit snug, but trying to wear it with a sweater was impossible. Just too slim.

3. A few other random ones at Macy's/Nordstrom


Finally settled on a Tommy Hilfiger one I got from Macy's for around $100 with a coupon. It actually ran on the smaller side. The only thing I didn't like was the single center vent in the rear which pops open a bit, and the buttons are kind of cheap.


This looks like the model I bought (but paid $100 on sale):

http://www1.macys.com/shop/product/t...xx.esn_results

[trash]

Speaking of pea coats, what length do you guys prefer? I feel like all the pea coats I see these days go down to just below the belt line, and I have a couple that are around mid thigh length. I always feel a little funny in them but I'm wondering if it's just because cropped is the current trend.

[runner-guy]

Some nice ones here made in USA:


http://www.legendaryusa.com/Wool-Nav...show=20&page=1

[Lib]

@trash: to me, a coat is supposed to extend well down beyond the belt-line. Keeps you warmer, covers longer garments, and keeps more schmutz off of you. A pea coat/jacket that ends at your belt line doesn't sound particularly versatile as a true winter coat.


I think that coat that Zachary Whoever is wearing (pic in Hon's post) looks silly. You shouldn't feel that way!

[corz123]

hey guys. a few questions before I pull a trigger or two....


is the composition of the coat important? what about different grades of wool? do all jcrew peacoats fit the same? I'm thinking of trying some on at the mall and then getting the factory one..

[hasenkopfe]

Hey, give it a week or so and the banana republic bridge coat should make it to the internet.


http://dappered.com/2012/09/most-wanted-affordable-style-september-2012/


I WISH I needed a winter coat cause I would by that so fast even though I'm like broke haha. My winter slot is currently occupied by the JCrew Bayswater peacoat in black. Don't get me wrong, I love the peacoat but that bridge coat.... mmmmmm

[corz123]

Hello. Can you explain to me what all the fuss about this bridge coat is? Lot's of activity on the sites about this....


Also..is it only in that one color?