A cheap pea coat (or pea jacket, pilot jacket) is definitely an outer coat, usually of a navy-colored heavy wool, originally donned by sailors of European navies. Pea coats are characterized by broad lapels, double-breasted fronts, often large wooden or metal buttons, and vertical or slash pockets. Even though it first appeared in the early 19th century, modern renditions nevertheless maintain the initial style and composition.

A “bridge coat” is really a pea coat that extends to the thighs, and is a uniform exclusively for officers and Chief Petty Officers. The “reefer” is for officers exclusively, and is identical to the fundamental design but generally has gold buttons and epaulettes.

These days the type is regarded a traditional, and cheap mens pea coats are now worn by all method of people, not just professional sailors. Often worn by a woman, it is frequently referred to as a Jackie O Jacket. This jacket is very related, but not the same as a trench coat.

Note that handful of from the jackets noticed about the street are genuine navy surplus; being a traditional garment, it is often available from retailers, though frequently with small style changes that reflect the existing fashion trends. The standard for historical pea coats was 30 oz. wool, but presently coats are made from 22-32 oz. wool. Whilst cheap pea coats are provided in numerous colours by retailers, the U.S. Navy-issue pea coat is always dark blue.

The phrase “pea coat” originated in the Dutch or West Frisian term pijjekker, by which pij referred towards the type of cloth utilized, which was called “Pilot cloth” , a coarse kind of twilled blue cloth with a nap on a single side. The cloth was occasionally known as P-cloth for that initial letter of the term and also the garment made from it was called a p-jacket - later cheap wool pea coats