Is there a more season-defining piece of outerwear than an old-school peacoat? When at college, with my WWII example, I didn’t think so — one of the few fashion-related takes from that time I still stand by today. With its instant elegance and hardwearing functionality, it can keep you warm while giving credibility to even the laziest of hoodie and pajama combinations let alone jeans and a tattered shirt.
But decades before my coat even existed, its predecessor was beasting in the underground, keeping members of the US Navy, veterans, and laborers protected against the elements. And to celebrate its impact on style, with vibrations still being felt today, Buzz Rickson’s is paying homage to this early version of a timeless hit with their 1910s-1930s era remake.
Distinguished from later examples by its flap hip pockets (in addition to those killer vertical handwarmer pockets), a longer length, and rubber buttons as opposed to plastic, this earlier version has it all. And with original examples nearly impossible to find, don’t get caught out in the cold, waiting for one to turn up and instead turn to this made-in-Japan version featuring a 100% wool shell and a smooth rayon and cotton lining. We might be headed into winter but we’re seeing warmer, periodically correct, days ahead.
Available for $1050 from Hinoya.
