The pea coat
The French touch
Have you always confused duffle coats with pea coats? Stay tuned, because this sublime basic is for you. Because both are made of wool. Both were originally used by sailors, and later by a country's navy. But the similarity ends there.
The duffle coat is English, but probably of Belgian origin because of its wool. It is traditionally rather black or gray, it has a hood and closes with frogs, which could ultimately indicate a German origin. Finally, it is longer and resembles a coat .
Let's get back to our very French pea coat (and probably also a little English, or even Arabic!). Used for centuries by Breton sailors who covered it with grease to waterproof it, it became the uniform of the French navy in the 19th century. Very elegant, it has a large collar to protect against the elements and a six-button closure (stamped with the navy's anchor) crossed to be easily folded down by the wind on boats (the direction of the closure was changed depending on whether you were on the port or starboard side).
After the war, he was adopted by artists and intellectuals of all stripes: Cocteau, Prévert, Gainsbourg, Mick Jagger... In short, he was a true icon!
The basics of the pea coat
The material is a heavy woolen cloth. Any added synthetic material betrays the spirit of the garment.
The basic cut is slightly flared, sometimes fitted and relatively long (covers the top of the trousers) but less than a coat. It has a large (fundamental) collar and double-breasted buttoning, slanted side pockets, often shoulder tabs and a martingale. The most sophisticated models may also have tabs at the collar.
The color is obviously navy! For those with allergies, there is also black, gray, and more rarely brown or green...
Generally speaking, pea coats, parkas and down jackets are more suited to taller men. Others will prefer shorter styles like jackets , vests or leathers . Raincoats will highlight slimmer figures.
The Balibaris pea coat
The Balibaris pea coat, understated and masculine, is deliberately very refined but retains the fundamentals: large collar, double-breasted buttoning and noble wool material, sometimes even enriched with cashmere on certain models, for an incomparable softness and fluidity of the fabric. For an iconic style, adopt without hesitation this garment with its very strong character!
Wear a pea coat
Turn up the collar, that's the basics! And if you wear it over a jacket, the sleeves shouldn't stick out. It's great worn short enough with a cable-knit sweater or denim overshirt, a wool hat, and dressier pants to balance things out.
A slightly longer top, worn open over a suit with a thin cashmere scarf. Closed top over a thick gray turtleneck sweater and straight-leg jeans.