9 Peacoats to Add to Your Seasonal Wardrobe

Stylish and functional.

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Warm and dependable, the sturdy double-breasted peacoat isn't just the premier jacket choice for sailors taking to the high seas. Today, the silhouette is a classic, fashion-forward addition to a modern woman's wardrobe. You'll be impressed with its ability to flatter every frame. Here, we chatted with fashion historian Kimberly Chrisman-Campbell about the iconic menswear jacket style that's perfectly suited for your outerwear needs.

Marie Claire: What are the peacoat’s origins?

Kimberly Chrisman-Campbell: The peacoat was first worn by sailors in the 18th century; the name may come from pije, a Dutch word for a thick, coarse wool fabric that’s warm and water-resistant. The style was later adopted by the British, French, and American navies.

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MC: When was the style embraced by women?

KCC: Yves Saint Laurent, one of the biggest proponents of menswear-inspired style, showed a peacoat in his line’s first collection in 1962. Famous peacoat wearers include Jackie Onassis and Jane Birkin.

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MC: What modernizes a peacoat?

KCC: Flap pockets instead of welt pockets, a longer silhouette with an hourglass shape, or the addition of a hood or belt. A traditional peacoat is fitted. However, boxy and oversize peacoats were popular in the 1980s and, more recently, in the late 2010s. The peacoat has enjoyed periods of heightened popularity without ever really going out of fashion.

peacoat

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Sara Holzman
Sara Holzman
Style Director

Sara Holzman is the Style Director at Marie Claire, where she has worked in various roles to ensure the brand's fashion content continues to inform, inspire, and shape the conversation around fashion's ever-evolving landscape. A Missouri School of Journalism graduate, she previously held fashion posts at Condé Nast’s Lucky and Self and covered style and travel for Equinox’s Furthermore blog. Over a decade in the industry, she’s guided shoots with top photographers and stylists from concept to cover. Based in NYC, Sara spends off-duty hours running, browsing the farmer's market, making a roast chicken, and hanging with her husband, dog, and cat. Find her on Instagram at @sarajonewyork.