Warm, stylish, and not beholden to the vagaries of fashion, there’s never really a bad time to consider buying a classic peacoat.
First created in the early 1800s by Dutch mariners, as with much of men’s fashion over the past two centuries, the style really took off once it was issued across European and American navies.
Regardless of regional variations, most fashion historians concur that all pea coats broadly share a number of common features. These include: an exterior fashioned from heavyweight and densely woven wool; a front closure that is double-breasted; and a length that ends just above the thigh — all characteristics heavily inspired by the needs of navy officers.
Despite the general imperviousness of the men’s peacoat to trends, this isn’t to say that the style has not ebbed and flowed in popularity. Its origins in tailored clothing have inspired dozens (if not hundreds) of classic menswear brands to riff on the basic format.
The style has been reimagined in luxe bolts of cashmere or leather; decorated with all manner of bold patterns and increasingly shorn of its military association in a world where science can produce effective (and often more affordable) performance fabrics.
That said, for men who are particularly keen on classic style, the peacoat is always going to carry a certain allure. Its versatility and maritime pedigree have made it a hero in numerous cinematic wardrobes over the years, particularly in the espionage/technothriller genre where it is a ubiquitous staple among fictional spies such as Daniel Craig’s 007 or Robert Redford in Three Days of the Condor (1975).
Naturally, in the latest addition to our Buyer’s Guide series, it is that classic incarnation of the peacoat that we’ll be most focused on. From seasonal bargains to lifelong investment pieces from iconic heritage brands, these are all the pea coats worth wrapping up in for 2023.
RELATED: Pitti Uomo Explained — The Biannual ‘Menswear Mecca’ Of Fashion
The Best Men’s Peacoats You Can Buy In Australia (2023) – Table of Contents
- Billy Reid ‘Bond’ Peacoat
- Hugo Boss Wool-Blend Coat With Double-Breasted Closure
- Burberry Wool Blend Peacoat
- Dunhill ‘2 In 1’ Peacoat
- Mackintosh ‘Dalton’ Wool/Cashmere Peacoat
- M.J. Bale ‘Tanaro’ Check Peacoat
- Private White V.C. ‘The Peacoat’
- Polo Ralph Lauren Wool-Blend Melton Peacoat
- REISS ‘Wind’ Shearling Pea Coat
- Ted Baker ‘Flasby’ Italian Wool Blend Peacoat
Billy Reid ‘Bond’ Peacoat
DETAILS
- 75% melton wool, 25% polyamide
- Handwarmer chest pockets
- Leather striping under collar
- Made in Ukraine
Arguably the coat with which award-winning Kentucky designer Billy Reid is most closely associated. Famously worn by Daniel Craig during his Skyfall era. A modern Americanised take on military pea coats of yore; complete with a slim, cropped fit, and collar lined with embossed calfskin leather.
“Licence to Kill” not included.
Hugo Boss Wool-Blend Coat With Double-Breasted Closure
DETAILS
- 78% wool, 22% polyamide
- Welted chest pockets
- Cut to a slim, contemporary fit
- Made in Ukraine
Conspicuously never referred to as a “peacoat” on the BOSS e-store, this fully lined “double-breasted” coat is as classic as they come.
Like most contemporary pea coats, BOSS makes theirs with a substantial proportion of polyamide — a thermostable polymer that boosts the (already robust) warmth of melton wool.
Burberry Wool Blend Peacoat
DETAILS
- 80% wool, 20% polyamide
- Button-through rear vent
- Signature checked undercollar
- Made in Italy
One of the few staple outerwear silhouettes that remains untouched by new Creative Director Daniel Lee’s vision (for the moment), this Burberry peacoat is a great weather-resistant alternative to the English luxury brand’s array of popular trench coats.
Pop the oversized collar — decorated on the under-side with the iconic Burberry check — every time you’re feeling flexy.
Dunhill ‘2 In 1’ Peacoat
DETAILS
- 65% polyester, 35% cotton
- Adjustable cuffs
- Detachable quilted liner
- Made in Italy
If we gave out innovation in design awards as part of these guides, then Dunhill’s tech-y take on the traditional peacoat would certainly be the primary contender. As the name implies, this design incorporates a removable liner capable of being worn separately, in the style of a puffer vest.
Mated with its larger outerwear silhouette, this is a versatile layer that excels in a variety of cold weather situations — especially where packing space is at a premium.
Mackintosh ‘Dalton’ Wool/Cashmere Peacoat
DETAILS
- 90% wool, 10% cashmere
- Front slash pockets
- Single vent
- Made in United Kingdom
Definitely one for lovers of noble fibres. Scottish heritage label Mackintosh’s ‘Dalton’ is the only option on our list to benefit from the addition of cashmere — a material cost that isn’t even that egregiously reflected in its final price tag.
Made in a slightly boxy fit (with squared-off shoulders and an elevated buttoning point) this is the epitome of a wardrobe staple. With bluchers and oversized denim, we can really see this being a fantastic go-to all winter long.
M.J. Bale ‘Tanaro’ Check Peacoat
DETAILS
- 63% recycled wool, 25% lyocell, 11% wool, 1% elastane
- ‘Prince of Wales’ check fabric
- Martingale half-belt-style back
- Made in PRC
Designed right here in Sydney, yet inexplicably named for an Italian river bordering the French Alps, the Tanaro clearly embodies twinned notions of new tech and old soul.
Aesthetically, the oversized Prince of Wales check evokes hunting, morning mist and life on the moors; even though its methods of production are essentially the polar opposite.
Recycled wool melton is blended together with lyocell and elastane, making for one of the most comfortable peacoats to grace our shortlist. Of course, all of those classic sartorial details — like the Martingala half-belted back — certainly don’t hurt either.
Private White V.C. ‘The Peacoat’
DETAILS
- 100% melton wool, woven in Manchester
- Etched copper rivets on the undercollar
- Adjustable back belt
- Made in England
Manchester-based Private White knew what they were doing when they dubbed this the peacoat — a garment of definitive quality, built to last through the ages.
Part of the brand’s best-selling ‘Heroes’ range, this thing has been made with a frankly impressive amount of historical attention to detail.
Essentially, as close as one can get to the mil-spec peacoats of the post-war era minus the explicitly 21st century addition of tablet-friendly zip pockets (which we love).
Polo Ralph Lauren Wool-Blend Melton Peacoat
DETAILS
- Italian wool blend
- Buttoned shoulder epaulets
- ‘RL’ engraved corozo buttons
Available this season in a small run of sizes at a rather hefty discount, this Polo-fied take on the classic peacoat is an appropriately preppy riff.
Cut from a blend of Italian-woven melton wool, this even takes a number of small details from the reefer jacket — a historic pea coat variation well known for its ornate buttons and shoulder epaulettes.
Given Lauren’s own well-documented passion for vintage military clothing, we’d expect nothing less.
REISS ‘Wind’ Shearling Pea Coat
DETAILS
- 78% wool, 22% nylon
- Front slip pockets
- Detachable sheepskin collar
More Superfly than able seaman, British high street label REISS’ ‘Wind’ bears the distinction of being the only white peacoat on our list.
Beyond its non-navy credentials, it also sports a detachable shearling liner — largely a cosmetic addition. Albeit one that looks great with Chelsea boots and slim denim.
Ted Baker ‘Flasby’ Italian Wool Blend Peacoat
DETAILS
- 64% wool, 26% polyamide, 10% acrylic
- Exterior shell made with 30% recycled wool
- Single rear vent
Cat nip for mods. The roped shoulder and high buttoning point of Ted Baker’s ‘Flasby’ make it a choice addition to wardrobes modelled around the London aesthetic of the Swinging Sixties.
That said, much like M.J. Bale, the brand has approached the production of this style with a decidedly sustainable mindset, crafting the external shell with a sizable percentage of recycled wool.
