ORIGIN: European Navies, 1700s
This double-breasted staple helped countless sailors brave the fierce wind and rain. Originally made with a thick wool twill called pilot cloth (hence the p), it became a U.S. Navy standard-issue coat by the 1860s. Robert Redford solidified its pimp status (along with that of denim shirts and aviators) as he dodged rogue CIA spooks with foxy Faye Dunaway in the 1975 movie Three Days of the Condor.
WHY YOU NEED IT NOW: It slims your frame, and once you pop its Count Dracula collar, the pea coat gives you a “maybe this guy was a Navy SEAL” tough-guy look. Step the eff off!
Calvin Klein pea coat, $325
Rare Man Pujades jacket, $605
BOSS Black plaid pea coat, $595
WOOL SCHOOL
Wool can absorb 30 percent of its weight without feeling wet. It may get heavier, but it wicks your sweat and blocks the rain.