When fall and winter are around the corner, you may want to trade your summer staples for winter outfits. And, the typical outfits for trading at that time are coats. Usually, most people give more emphasis to outerwear in cooler months. Besides, a good jacket can give you a stunning look. Among all such outfits, trench coats and pea coats are always considered two iconic options.
However, there is always a battle running between trench coat vs pea coat. Because their styles and designs represent the difference in classical attire. So, it is hard to decide whether you should buy just one or both. Today, we will break down these points in this article using an in-depth comparison.
What Is A Trench Coat?
A trench coat shows a similar look to an army jacket. Primarily, many military officers wear this attire to get a thick layer of warm clothing as well as a formal look.
If we look at the origin of these coats, they were actually made using rubber in the first period, which was precisely the 19th century. Yeah, you’ve read it right. Actually, rubber was used due to its resistance to water and rain. But, soon, the manufacturers realized that the material wasn’t the best to use for such professional apparel.
Most manufacturers refused to use rubber as it has the propensity to melt in the sun and keeps the sweat inside. Besides, the material isn’t breathable for closed structures, and sweat doesn’t dry that easily. Under those circumstances, new material came into the trench coat manufacturing process called gabardine, which is typically heavy-duty cotton.
These days, you will find only cotton gabardine trench coats because of their breathable and waterproof characteristics. Besides, this type of trench coat provides much more durable and lightweight usability.
What Is A Pea Coat?
Initially, while the trench coat was made for the military, the pea coat was made for sailors. And, the sailors wore this outfit to keep their bodies dry. In this way, it has become an attire synonymous with maritime style.
The first variation of this jacket was worn by the Dutch army in the 1800s, and the word “pea coat” also originated from a Dutch word called “pije”. That Dutch word refers to a coat that is made using coarse wool fabric. So, this jacket is mainly made using wool. Thus, the pea coat has become an item of warm clothing for cold weather conditions.
Mainly, the pea coat also has a double-breasted design, just like the trench coat. But, they don’t look that good if worn as the only attire. So, it is better to wear this outfit with a suit or sweater-jeans mixture.
Differences Between Trench Coat And Pea Coat
Whenever you look at a coat that falls among these two, you can easily differentiate them by comparing their unique designs. Usually, pea coats are shorter than trench coats and are made using other raw materials. To know more about these stylish outwear, read the full article.
1. Design
You already know that both of these coats are double-breasted. However, their overall design is not the same. While both the jackets come with a large collar, the pea coat has a total of 6 buttons dividing them between the right and left sides. However, the trench coat comes with 10 buttons, giving a practical design. Specifically, the trench coat represents professional attire, whereas the pea coat shows a more stylish look with a thick layer outside.
In most cases, the pea coat is available in short designs, which fall on the hips and don’t go much lower than that. On the other hand, the trench coat hits the knee and sometimes goes lower. So, the design of the pea coat suits mostly with extra clothing inside.
2. Fabric
The raw materials of these two coats are totally different. Wool is the main fabric to make a pea coat, whereas a trench coat is made using gabardine. If we look at the origin, the trench coat was made for military people first and designed to give protection from water or rain. So, it is evident that manufacturers need to use heavy-duty cotton, like gabardine. In some cases, polyester works for this coat as well.
On the other hand, the pea coat was made to protect from cold weather. Similarly, the raw material is something that can give warm clothing as an output. So, wool is the best option for its fabric. Not to mention, some manufacturers now create a blend of wool and synthetic fiber to make a modified fabric of the jacket.
If you look at the color of the fabric, the traditional color of a trench coat is “khaki”, whereas a pea coat comes with the traditional color of navy. However, both coats are available in various colors these days.
3. Warmth
When differentiating the trench coat and the pea coat, they don’t provide the same warmth. This thing happens due to their different build materials and sizes. When talking about a trench coat, does not give much warmth, which can fulfill your needs in frigid weather. Usually, this coat suits rainy or slightly foggy weather since its basic usage is to give you a thin layer of warm feelings and protection from water drops.
Meanwhile, the pea coat can give a lot more warmth than the trench coat. Basically, you can choose it for snowy weather or the winter season. Because the wool fabric of this coat can give a very warm feeling inside.
4. Uses
Presently, both the trench coat and the pea coat are wearable on formal or casual occasions. Though the trench coat is more suitable as formal attire, the pea coat can also be an attractive choice for formal occasions in early spring, winter, or late fall. When it comes to casual occasions, you can use either of the coats to get a fashionable and astonishing look.
In Conclusion
Don’t be confused with the similar look because these coats have distinct characteristics in many aspects. In general, trench coats are available in heavy-duty cotton and are long in size. On the other hand, pea coats mostly come with woolen structures and shorter sizes. Besides, the trench coat can give you protection from water, whereas the pea coat is meant to serve you in cold weather conditions.
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