Men's Peacoats and Pea Coats
Peacoat, pea coat, pea jacket, reefer: four names, one coat. The name comes from pije, the coarse blue cloth Dutch sailors wore, and the design was standardised by the world's navies: double breasted so it buttons against the wind either way, cut short so it clears a ship's rail, collar sized to turn up against weather. Gloverall has made peacoats in England for decades, and both coats in this collection are cut and sewn at our factory outside London.
The Churchill Peacoat
The Churchill Peacoat is the traditional coat of the pair, made from 100% Melton wool at 750 grams per linear metre, the heaviest cloth Gloverall puts in any coat. It carries broad lapels, embossed anchor buttons, four outer pockets (two hand warmer, two patch) and two inside, and a full lining. It comes in Navy, Black, Grey and Loden, and in sizes XS to 4XL, one of the widest size ranges we make.
The Admiralty Melton Wool Peacoat
The Admiralty takes the same 100% Melton wool and the same anchor buttons into a cleaner, more urban cut with a smooth satin lining. It comes in Black, Charcoal and Burgundy: the burgundy in particular is a colour you will not find in many peacoat ranges, and it wears in beautifully.
What Is a Pea Coat?
A pea coat is a short, double breasted coat in heavy wool, worn by sailors since the 1800s and standardised by the Royal Navy and the US Navy. The giveaways are the wide lapels, the double row of buttons, and the dense cloth: traditionally Melton, a wool woven and finished so tightly that wind cannot get through it. That cloth is why a real peacoat feels different from a fashion copy, and it is the cloth both Gloverall peacoats are made from.
Wearing a Peacoat
The peacoat's naval origins give it natural formality: it works over a suit jacket in a way a casual coat cannot, and its short cut keeps it practical for driving and commuting. Over a Submariner Jumper and heavy trousers it goes back to its seafaring roots. Turn the collar up; that is what it is for.
Peacoat, Duffle Coat or Overcoat?
The peacoat is the shortest and sharpest of the three. A duffle coat is more casual, with toggles and a hood; a wool overcoat is longer and more formal still. Choose the peacoat when you want naval sharpness at commuting length; choose the others when you do not.
