Pea coat
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A pea coat (or pea jacket, pilot jacket) is an outer coat, generally of a navy-colored heavy wool,[1] originally worn by sailors of European navies.[2] Pea coats are characterized by broad lapels, double-breasted fronts, often large wooden buttons, and vertical or slash pockets.[3] Although it first appeared in the early 18th century, modern renditions still maintain the original design and composition.[1]
A "bridge coat" is a pea coat that extends to the thighs, and is a uniform exclusively for officers and Chief Petty Officers. The "reefer" is for officers only, and is identical to the basic design but usually has gold buttons and epaulettes.[2]
[edit] History
The term "pea coat" originated from the Dutch or West Frisian word pijjekker, in which pij referred to the type of cloth used,[2][4] which was called "Pilot cloth" (P-cloth), a coarse kind of twilled blue cloth with a nap on one side.[5] The terms "pea coat" and "pea jacket" were first used as early as 1723,[6] when it became a cold weather uniform in many Euopean navies, most prominently in the British Royal Navy and Dutch Royal Netherlands Navy.[3] The US Navy adopted them as early as 1881,[7] becoming standard fare in the 20th century.[2]
The modern appeal of the coat stems from celebrity interest in the item, and its classic style and practical simplicity.[8] Brad Pitt and Pete Doherty are both known for their preference for the pea coat.[3] Once considered a luxury item for civilians, it is now popular as casual winter wear on college campuses and among the young demographic.[9]
[edit] Characteristics
Today the style is considered a classic, and peacoats are now worn by all manner of individuals, not just professional sailors.
Note that few of the jackets seen on the street are genuine navy surplus; being a classic garment, it is frequently available from retailers, though often with small design changes that reflect the current fashion trends. The standard for historical pea coats was 30 oz. wool, but presently coats are made from 22-32 oz. wool.[2]
[edit] References
- ^ a b US Navy-style Pea ("P") Coat. US Wings Inc. (2008). Retrieved on 2007-12-31.
- ^ a b c d e Carl Saylor (2007). The History and Evolution of the Pea Jacket. ArticleSplash. Retrieved on 2007-12-31.
- ^ a b c Stilson, Sam (2007). The Perfection Of The Pea Coat. The Soko. Retrieved on 2007-12-31.
- ^ "Pea Jacket" definition. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (2000). Retrieved on 2007-12-31.
- ^ US Navy (1999). Navy Uniform History. About.com. Retrieved on 2007-12-31.
- ^ Alexander, John (2006-05-06). [http://www.history.navy.mil/library/online/origin.htm Origin of Navy Terminology: Pea Coat]. (US) Navy Department Library. Retrieved on 2007-12-31.
- ^ Harl, Van (2005). An Old Navy Peacoat. Chuck Hawks. Retrieved on 2007-12-31.
- ^ Hamilton, Morgan (2006-10-09). What's A Pea Coat?. iSnare. Retrieved on 2007-12-31.
- ^ Hendricks, Perisha. "Navy Blue: Pea-coats withstand the test of time", The Daily Reveille, Louisiana State University, 2004-02-04. Retrieved on 2007-05-12.
