Peas, please!
One story says the pea coat (probably from the Dutch pijjaker, a jacket of coarse wool) originated with Dutch sailors over 200 years ago; there are other acccounts of its provenance, but regardless of fact or fiction, the garment endures for a reason: the insouciant-yet-functional coat is long enough to cover the hips, short enough not to create uncomfortable bulk while driving. Like its cousin the duffle, peas protect both sexes of all ages, while lending a snappy-salty air.
Some women avoid double-breasted styles, but seeing the pea coats on several voluptuous friends, I noticed the double row of buttons actually elongates, when the entire coat fits well.
Options are numerous as Christmas trees on a city lot, and today's windows are overflowing with peas!
Wild peas
J. Crew's Majesty Pea (regularly about $325, but on sale if you hit the right day) comes in a turquoise that thumbs its naval nose at winter darks.
Holy flippin' Admiral! Michael Kors makes one in leopard; on sale via House of Fraser, £200:
Lauren (Ralph Lauren) have re-imagined the coat as a down puffer. At first I thought this might deliver the best of both worlds, but it doesn't cover the hips. I do like that it's washable. Price, about $250.
Classics, in degrees of warmth
Land's End "luxe" pea comes in colours like plum and red, but if camel is your palette, consider the vicuna. Price about $200; again, LE run frequent promotions and free shipping offers.
They also carry the coat lined with Thinsulate, but only in neutrals, and a "luxe edition", in regent blue with dark-brown buttons, now on sale (limited sizes) for about $110. (Reading the reviews, I see some women changed the buttons, one of my favourite tricks.)
Bonjour, Brittany!
The French pea coat (caban), in classic navy, from a Breton vendor whom I recommend, Chal Loisir is like dropping anchor in a calm port after those wilder options.
The "Isabelle Hiver" comes in sizes up to a French 52 (see chest measurements on site), and has a soft matelassé lining as well as the requisite and reassuring details. Price, €242 which includes a free lambswool tartan scarf.
A lighter-weight model, simply called "Isabelle" is also on the site, as well as the uber-preppy "St. Briac" from the temple of French BCBG, St. James.
Posh peas
The Brits have staked their own claim to peas.
I admire Brora's Linton tweed pea coat (£425), which looks like a double-breasted coat to me. Made in an evocative tweed (Linton also supply Chanel), with Liberty-print lining, this is one classy topper nonetheless.
Brora also offer a serene Delft blue textured tweed, another Linton fabric, which they also call a "pea coat". The price reflects that provenance (£425), but does not really give us a pea coat, now does it?
Boden edge closer to the classic with the Ledbury Pea Coat, tarted up in orange, as well as navy, with vice-versa flashes of those colours under the collar. (Like all the peas I've shown, it is wool with a small percentage of synthetic for wear.) Price, £159.
You can find an all-wool version at L.L. Bean, and it too is offered in some upbeat hues, with various sale pricing to sweeten the pea. At time of writing, their jacket, shown in Molten Red, was $199, with 10% off till today.
In fact, it's hard to find a coat vendor who does not offer a pea coat, because once out of the temperate zones, everyone needs cozy outerwear. I have a shopping list headed "midweight jacket, not black and I really mean it" and by March will be eager to shed the ultra-warm (yep, black) puffer.
Maybe, just maybe, I could bring in one pea?
Some women avoid double-breasted styles, but seeing the pea coats on several voluptuous friends, I noticed the double row of buttons actually elongates, when the entire coat fits well.
Options are numerous as Christmas trees on a city lot, and today's windows are overflowing with peas!
Wild peas
J. Crew's Majesty Pea (regularly about $325, but on sale if you hit the right day) comes in a turquoise that thumbs its naval nose at winter darks.
Holy flippin' Admiral! Michael Kors makes one in leopard; on sale via House of Fraser, £200:
Lauren (Ralph Lauren) have re-imagined the coat as a down puffer. At first I thought this might deliver the best of both worlds, but it doesn't cover the hips. I do like that it's washable. Price, about $250.
Classics, in degrees of warmth
Land's End "luxe" pea comes in colours like plum and red, but if camel is your palette, consider the vicuna. Price about $200; again, LE run frequent promotions and free shipping offers.
They also carry the coat lined with Thinsulate, but only in neutrals, and a "luxe edition", in regent blue with dark-brown buttons, now on sale (limited sizes) for about $110. (Reading the reviews, I see some women changed the buttons, one of my favourite tricks.)
Bonjour, Brittany!
The French pea coat (caban), in classic navy, from a Breton vendor whom I recommend, Chal Loisir is like dropping anchor in a calm port after those wilder options.
The "Isabelle Hiver" comes in sizes up to a French 52 (see chest measurements on site), and has a soft matelassé lining as well as the requisite and reassuring details. Price, €242 which includes a free lambswool tartan scarf.
A lighter-weight model, simply called "Isabelle" is also on the site, as well as the uber-preppy "St. Briac" from the temple of French BCBG, St. James.
Posh peas
The Brits have staked their own claim to peas.
I admire Brora's Linton tweed pea coat (£425), which looks like a double-breasted coat to me. Made in an evocative tweed (Linton also supply Chanel), with Liberty-print lining, this is one classy topper nonetheless.
Brora also offer a serene Delft blue textured tweed, another Linton fabric, which they also call a "pea coat". The price reflects that provenance (£425), but does not really give us a pea coat, now does it?
Boden edge closer to the classic with the Ledbury Pea Coat, tarted up in orange, as well as navy, with vice-versa flashes of those colours under the collar. (Like all the peas I've shown, it is wool with a small percentage of synthetic for wear.) Price, £159.
You can find an all-wool version at L.L. Bean, and it too is offered in some upbeat hues, with various sale pricing to sweeten the pea. At time of writing, their jacket, shown in Molten Red, was $199, with 10% off till today.
In fact, it's hard to find a coat vendor who does not offer a pea coat, because once out of the temperate zones, everyone needs cozy outerwear. I have a shopping list headed "midweight jacket, not black and I really mean it" and by March will be eager to shed the ultra-warm (yep, black) puffer.
Maybe, just maybe, I could bring in one pea?
Comments
The jcrew is not cut properly...buttons would need to be moved and a few other alterations, I even sized up, they were returned (the fabric is not that good). The Michael Kors I fell in love with online....in person the fabric is VERY thick, so when the coat buttons (double breasted) it makes you look like you have gained 20 lbs in your stomach area or are pregnant. Back it went, sadly. I hope this helps someone.
BTW, I did order the leopard cardigan, though I suspect the smaller size that was sold out may be the one I need. Will report back.
une femme: You and materfamilias could be turquoise twins!
LPC: Limitless budget- but also limitless storage space.
materfamilias: I could not give closet space to two, plus the requisite puffer- if you can, several coats give you lots of pea pleasure!
How did you get rid of moths? I have a terrible infestation and all my clothes are beginning to look "boro" which I love but I'd prefer to have the option of boro or not boro.
Vancouver Barbara
For the closets, I bought cedar planks and wiped them down with essential cedar oil, taking care to not place them in direct contact with clothes. I also used essential lavender oil on cotton balls, placed in all drawers. The oils do not kill moths or larvae but supposedly are a deterrent; I re-apply those monthly.
I did not buy the pherome traps because the product reviews were so inconclusive.
The cycle is 3 weeks and even after cleaning we saw them intermittently for the first few weeks. We hunted the live ones!
Except for the nightmare of last winter, nowadays there are usually warmer winter days when we can wear something prettier than those horrid (but warm) down puffers. I was waiting for a bus in Ottawa and an elderly lady was going on about how we need two winter coats nowadays.
I'm glad you've had some victories in the war on moths. I'd never dare hang anything woollen in the bedroom closet where the hot water heater lurks (this is of course an old building).
I actually really like puffers; I have one that is fitted. The problem with many is the ratty fake fur trim. Fake ends up matted and stringy.
Vancouver Barbara
It's suddenly turned really cold over here, so I'm just thinking about how warm I can be while outside.