Around Halloween, I pull out my winter bins and re-introduce myself to my jacket collection. It is like Christmas before Christmas. This year I made a goal to be more selective with my rotation. Last year I wore about 50% of my collection for only one day each. So this sent me into a deep spiraling meditation on jacket styles, uses, occasions, and weight. Down the rabbit hole, I went until I landed at my Peacoat. I had an unexpected thought. Is the Peacoat the GOAT of coats? I know. But hear me out.
The Peacoat is both sophisticated and utilitarian. It’s rarely out of place in any situation. It gives the wearer instant style points and anyone can pull it off, unlike say a biker jacket. This jacket is never doing too much. It’s foolproof but never looks lazy. Its only true enemy is a sunny day. Peacoats don’t look right on sunny days, even if it’s freezing. The Peacoat also never looks dated. It never gives you a specific decade feel, just feels classic but compatible with any modern use. I feel like very few jacket styles have all of these elements.
Since we are talking Peacoats, here is a look at my newest Peacoat—Kato Brand’s The Mallet in 21oz Olive Melton Wool.
Cut
The cut is modern/slim, and it has a gradual taper at the waist. The sleeves are slim and the length hits at your standard half-length.
Fabric
The 21 oz Melton wool infused with 10% Nylon is very solid and has somewhat of a stiff and ridged feel until broken in. It has a soft hand with very little itch factor. It is a warm jacket best suited for temperatures between 40˚- 60˚F.
Details
Two rows of 6 admiral-style anchor buttons
Lowered the hand warmer pockets for ease of use and a more natural stance.
Adjuster straps on the collar and cuffs
Final thoughts
I like the sharp cut of this jacket, especially since the 21 oz wool could make for a bulky coat, the slim cut helps balance the overall look. It’s great they made an olive color as I have enough navy and black peacoats to last a lifetime. I went true to size and the arms are so slim that I can only wear a tee shirt or a thin long-sleeve shirt underneath. With a tee, it’s still snug at the elbow. It is not uncomfortable but has less room than I prefer. Those who want to layer a chunky sweater underneath should size up. This feels like a jacket you could wear for decades.
Available at Kato Brand
