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Tailoring a pea coat

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helpmedress25

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I just received a Sterlingwear pea coat in navy.* It fits well around the shoulders and chest but it is a bit baggy. If I have the waist brought in, will that make it harder to layer the pea coat (ie with a sportcoat) or will it have no effect? Also, how long is a peacoat supposed to be?* This one probably goes 1-2 inches past my bottom but it just seems kind of long.

Final question--is the navy color supposed to look very dark (almost black even)?* This is actually the second Authentic pea coat I’ve received from Sterlingwear (the first was too small) but I noticed that even though both jackets were navy and the same make, the first navy jacket was not as dark as the second.* Which shade of navy is most desirable?
 
#2 ·
My Sterlingwear pea coat is VERY dark blue….you would have to shine a light (or the sun) on it to see it is not black.) I believe that is the right shade for true “navy”. As for the rest, it is down to personal preference. I have never worn my pea coat over a sport coat….two totally different applications IMO. I wear my overcoat (or top coat) when I wear a suit in the winter. My pea coat is reserved for more casual occasions and I usually wear it with a sweater, or other layers. The material is very durable and may be tough for some tailors to work on….but a good tailor should not have a problem. Good luck.
 
#3 ·
helpmedress25 said:
I just received a Sterlingwear pea coat in navy.* It fits well around the shoulders and chest but it is a bit baggy. If I have the waist brought in, will that make it harder to layer the pea coat (ie with a sportcoat) or will it have no effect? Also, how long is a peacoat supposed to be?* This one probably goes 1-2 inches past my bottom but it just seems kind of long.
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Yes, in the interest of "fashion", designers are coming up with shorter and shorter jackets but your pea coat is the real thing. If you were out on deck in the North Atlantic would you want your rear to freeze? A suppressed waist is appropriate for a riding jacket. You have the authentic peacoat, if you take in the waist it will no longer be authentic and it will be difficult, if not impossible to layer underneath it.
 
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#4 ·
helpmedress25 said:
I just received a Sterlingwear pea coat in navy.* It fits well around the shoulders and chest but it is a bit baggy. If I have the waist brought in, will that make it harder to layer the pea coat (ie with a sportcoat) or will it have no effect? Also, how long is a peacoat supposed to be?* This one probably goes 1-2 inches past my bottom but it just seems kind of long.

Final question--is the navy color supposed to look very dark (almost black even)?* This is actually the second Authentic pea coat I've received from Sterlingwear (the first was too small) but I noticed that even though both jackets were navy and the same make, the first navy jacket was not as dark as the second.* Which shade of navy is most desirable?
Click to expand...
Yes, taking in your peacoat will make layering more difficult and will not look good. A peacoat is square cut, not fitted, and that's how its supposed to look. If it doesn't cover your backside by and inch or two, you have a problem.

The darker the navy is, the better I like it.
 
#5 ·
Right on !

arkirshner said:
Yes, in the interest of "fashion", designers are coming up with shorter and shorter jackets but your pea coat is the real thing. If you were out on deck in the North Atlantic would you want your rear to freeze? A suppressed waist is appropriate for a riding jacket. You have the authentic peacoat, if you take in the waist it will no longer be authentic and it will be difficult, if not impossible to layer underneath it.
Click to expand...
 
#6 ·
Pea coats aren't meant to be worn over a sport coat, just a thick sweater if anything. Don't get it taken in.
 
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Discussion starter · #7 ·
Picture this though--my waist is 32" and the coat is built for a 40" waist. I had to get a larger coat due to having a large chest. So what if I just had the coat taken in a few inches? I'm not talking about a drastic tailoring job. And I'm sure a good tailor would know not to take it in too much right?
 
#8 ·
You have a 46" chest?
 
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#10 ·
I'm in a similar situation--I have a narrow waist, so many of the jackets I get need to be taken in.

With a peacoat, you're in an interesting situation. Yes, the previous posters are correct; a traditional peacoat is rather square-cut. However, I find that, with my clothes, having them tailored/taken-in makes them warmer, as they hold more warmth next to my body. Thus, if keeping warm is your goal--and, really, such is the purpose of the peacoat--you may want to have it taken in.

Or, of course, as has been said, layer a sweater underneath as it is now.
 
#11 ·
helpmedress25 said:
And I'm sure a good tailor would know not to take it in too much right?
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Do not be so sure. The direction of recent men's "fashion" has seen tailored clothing designed to be worn closer and closer to the body. Tailors are engaged in a service business , and they want to give the customer what the customer wants. If one does not communicate to the tailor exactly what one wants, one runs the risk that the tailor will give the customer, what the tailor, in good faith, thinks the customer wants. Today the default alteration may be to take a garment in to a "fashionable" degree of tightness, which is to say too tight.

Of course, you have every right to have your clothes fit you the way you choose. If you choose to alter the waist of your peacoat, be sure that you and your tailor are on the same page. You may want to have him pin the coat first so that you can see exactly how much will be taken in.
 
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#12 ·
put your pea coat on over your sport coat. then see if it still needs to be taken in.
yes a peacoat style is square up and down. taking it in will spoil the style.
the length should cover your butt and at least 2 inches below.
 
#13 ·
+1
The rest of us, (myself included), just pussyfoot around. You tell it like it is.
 
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Discussion starter · #15 · (Edited)
Brought the pea coat to my tailor and he pinned it with about 1 inch taken off on each side. It looks way better, still has the square-cut look of a pea coat, and will still be large enough so I can comfortably layer underneath. I agree that pea coats usually shouldn't be tailored but I think me having a muscular build and unusual dimensions made it more necessary.
 
#16 ·
helpmedress25 said:
Brought the pea coat to my tailor and he pinned it with about 1 inch taken off on each side. It looks way better, still has the square-cut look of a pea coat, and will still be large enough so I can comfortably layer underneath. I agree that pea coats usually shouldn't be tailored but I think me having a muscular build and unusual dimensions made it more necessary.
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That sounds okay. As long as you can comfortably fit a sports coat underneath and still have a little extra room it's good. A square cut for a large person might look more like an A-line cut on a thin person. It reminds me of a woman I saw on the train wearing a large overcoat that made her look really fat. Then she took it off and she had a really large chest with a small waist. A square fit isn't always the most flattering.
 
#17 ·
helpmedress25 said:
Brought the pea coat to my tailor and he pinned it with about 1 inch taken off on each side. It looks way better, still has the square-cut look of a pea coat, and will still be large enough so I can comfortably layer underneath. I agree that pea coats usually shouldn't be tailored but I think me having a muscular build and unusual dimensions made it more necessary.
Click to expand...
My tailor did exactly the same to my new pea coat last year for the same reasons. Looks fine. With a 10" drop between chest and waist on a 5'7" body, I take similar situations to her often, and she has learned how much to remove from the waist to eliminate folding over and bunching without creating a drastically tailored look.
 
#18 ·
Matt S said:
That sounds okay. As long as you can comfortably fit a sports coat underneath and still have a little extra room it's good. A square cut for a large person might look more like an A-line cut on a thin person. It reminds me of a woman I saw on the train wearing a large overcoat that made her look really fat. Then she took it off and she had a really large chest with a small waist. A square fit isn't always the most flattering.
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...and then you woke up, having overshot your destination with at least 3 stations....
 
#20 ·
helpmedress25 said:
The Sterlingwear Authentic is great but it is too warm for fall weather, for me at least. Im thinking of getting a second pea coat. Can anyone recommend a lighter one that would be suitable for 40-60 degree weather?
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This may be better for spring, but it is suitable for your temperature range. And it's on sale https://www.brooksbrothers.com/IWCa...Id=1502425&Parent_Id=305&default_color=NAVY&sort_by=&sectioncolor=&sectionsize=

https://www.brooksbrothers.com/IWCa...Id=1502425&Parent_Id=305&default_color=NAVY&sort_by=&sectioncolor=&sectionsize=
 
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