Report About fashion adornments Pea Coat

One of my fondest memories of my father was one in which he paraded around the living room in his pea coat. He was so very proud of the garment that kept him warm while he served in the United States Navy in the 1960’s. He said that he had never worn a coat that kept him warmer, or one that had stood the test of time.

The pea coat is a classic coat traditionally worn by United States Navy personnel. These coats have been a staple for the Navy uniforms since the beginning of the Twentieth Century. Navy men designed the coats to endure harsh, cold temperatures that many of the men faced on the seas. Today, the coats are a staple for civilians as well.

Pea coats are usually navy blue and double-breasted. They are constructed out of worsted wool. Worsted wool is named for the process used to make the wool. It is extremely durable because the fibers in the material are parallel in alignment. The construction and quality of the traditional pea coat is outstanding.

Another appealing element of the pea coat is its classic style. The coats are easily recognized at a glance because of their standard style. In addition to the traditional navy blue color and double-breasted construction, the coats are easily spotted by their wide, rounded lapels and their buttons. The buttons traditionally used anchors in its design.

The name ‘pea coat’ may have a number of origins. Some claim that the name derives from the ‘pea-soup’ weather that many sailors face when going to sea. Others suggest that the name is derived from ‘pilot’ because the coats were originally made from pilot cloth. Pilot cloth is a heavy twilled cloth that is usually blue in color. Pilot cloth has been to make jackets since 1723. This cloth was called ‘p-cloth’ and the term ‘pea coat’ eventually evolved from that. Many believe that the term comes from the Dutch word meaning “short.”

Whatever the origin, the pea coat immediately conjures an image of the traditional, double-breasted, durable, navy blue coat. Over the years, the pea coat has become a staple for civilian wardrobes as well. The civilian pea coat is not always Navy surplus. They may lack the quality of the wool original, but the traditional style has stood the test of time over the past century and it continues to maintain popularity today.

Report About fashion adornments Pea Coat