Sweet Peacoats
I love peacoats of all kinds -- the authentic naval version and upscale designer versions, long and short, navy and black, old and new. There are in fact so many versions today that it's sometimes hard to tell what actually constitutes a peacoat. My idea of one is a dark-colored coat that is military in feel and made of thick wool fabric. It also has to be above the knee and/or double-breasted. There is something about the formality of the tailoring and the stiffness of the fabric, mixed with the casual way that most men wear them today that make them very attractive to me. It's like when a guy who I'm used to seeing dressed-down puts on a suit, I think "Wow, he looks great dressed up!" The peacoat is an easy way to add a bit of "dressing up" to your everyday or weekend outfit. After all, I know I'm not the only girl who likes to see a guy in uniform.
This guy shows a lot of personal style by wearing the top buttons of his peacoat closed but parting it in the front to put his hands in his pockets. His pose is functional and unaffected but looks cunning nonetheless. East 60th Street, NYC, February 2008.
As Paul Simon demonstrates, the seventies is my favorite era for men's classic clothes -- the beards and longer hair helped tone down the formality of it all. 1975. (Photo: Getty)
This outfit is pretty much perfection for me -- a convincing combo of comfort and tailoring without too much going on. Madison Avenue, NYC, January 2008.
This guy wears his old-school peacoat in a contemporary context. Wooster Street, NYC, January 2008.
George Clooney really does it for me -- I fall for him hook, line, and sinker every time. NYC, December 2002. (Photo: Getty)
I might be pushing the limit by classifying this as a peacoat because of its length -- but it's unusual and great-looking no matter what you want to call it. North 6th Street, Brooklyn, NY, February 2008.
Are those gold buttons on Neil Young's peacoat? I hope so. They're a great contrast to his hippie image. 1969. (Photo: Getty)
This guy's clothes have all the trademarks of a downtown look -- peacoat, cargo pants, sneakers -- but the refinement of each piece makes it look at home uptown. East 59th Street, NYC, February 2008.
A young Ben Affleck looks put together in his peacoat -- I wish he'd ditch his recent jockish looks for more like this. On the set of Daredevil, NYC, November 2002. (Photo: Getty)
A black peacoat can look much more updated and modern -- especially in the context of this man's slimmer pants and black leather shoes -- than the navy original. Waverly Place, NYC, January 2008.
Jonathan Rhys-Meyers would look way too grungy for the red carpet if it weren't for his peacoat. The Tudors premiere, 2007. (Photo: Getty)
Thank you for an exciting collection of peacoats. I have to agree with you, anything that goes below the knee is not a peacoat, but I'm not sure what I'd call that. Anyway, it's an excellent piece of clothing, looks great, very classic. Not being able to wear mine in warmer months is the only thing I hate about summertime.
Love mine. It's old and needs mending. There are holes in both pockets. The good thing is that in a jam, I can go to the coat closet and usually there's a piece of nicorette that's fallen down inside the coat. Let me say, it's come in handy. I think I'll continue to wear it as is. Great picture of Neil. I'll bet he still has that coat. Always fun here.
When i was in high school, i used to borrow my father's pea coat. It somehow made me feel a little bit more 'grown up.' That was the only item of clothing i ever borrowed from anyone, actually.
i would just like to say that i really enjoy your blog, and i'm not sure if you normally take requests for a future topic to post on, but given the weather is starting to get better, i would love to hear your opinion about mens shorts.
The page on pea coats has a picture of paul simon and it is his brother [eddie] in the mid seventies.