All the women whose style I most admire have at least one pea coat that they wear to death. Which is not to say that they all dress the same: the very beauty of the pea lies in its mutability. Some, like my friend Tribeca Mom, do their pea coats straight up and neat, with a sweater, a skirt, and maybe just the simplest Ted Muehling drop earrings. Much like Love Story‘s Jennifer Cavalleri might, if she existed in another space-time continuum, and had lived to have children and volunteer on Harvest Day at the City and Country School.
Others, employing Jane Birkin as their spirit guide, take the pea coat in a more sophisticated direction, mixing it up with lots of black on black, all sexy and French-like.
A good pea coat has the magical ability to make you appear twice as pulled together as you might otherwise. Check out Brooklyn’s own Michelle Williams: harried Boerum Hill mom, instantly de-shleppified.
And if drama is what you’re after, pea coats can totally make that happen too. As French Vogue’s Emmanuelle Alt so aptly demonstrates. 
For a super-classic pea coat, you could do much worse than Sterlingwear of Boston, who have been supplying the US Navy for 40 years. Everything about them is the real thing, right down to the little anchors on the buttons.
Also quite classic, and more lightweight: this Schott jacket.
This longer number from Mango is what Mlle. Alt might wear if she were forced into diminished circumstances and had to shop the high street. 
Is this checked tweed not unstoppably chic? I ask you?
And for all of your outdoorsy, kicking-around-on-the-weekend-y type needs? May I suggest this rugged little number from Superdry?
I just bought the great big one from Emerson Fry and I’m in love with it. It’s big and bulky but streamlined in the arms and shoulders.
thanks! i am traveling to chicago this winter. schott all the way.
Very nice. I think I need to add a pea coat to my wardrobe.
“what Mlle. Alt might wear if she were forced into diminished circumstances and had to shop the high street. ” heh. You should rewrite product descriptions more often.
i never wanted a pea coat… until now.
They look so chic! I may buy one even though I rarely need it in Florida.
Ditto on the Emerson Fry one. A coat that will last for years. If I had it in my budget I would have also snagged their version of the Italian Army Coat. Speaking of army coats, that is another post you could do. Versions of it always seems to appear on the photo pages year in and year out.
And even a Costco version, by Michael Kors (dear god) will serve you well. All $60 worth of it.
WOW! I love that Super Dry
Just wish to say your article is as astonishing. The clearness in your post is simply cool and i can assume you are an expert in this subject. Well along with your permission allow me to take hold of your RSS feed to stay up to date with approaching post. Thank you a million and please continue the gratifying work.