You’re a moron if you haven’t pull out your winter coat yet, so perhaps this post will remind you to do so.  Ann Arbor gets pretty damn cold, so it’s tempting to unfurl the giant parka and be on your way.  Yet, I recommend the pea coat, though far from the warmest option, as an addition to a gentlemen’s closet.

  It can be dressed up and down, so you have a suitable alternative to the schoolboy look of khakis, dress shoes, and a hulking North Face.

A word, though, on fit.  A pea coat can look awfully goofy if not bought in the correct size, but you don’t want to compromise warmth for aesthetic. As I am tall, skinny, and have long arms, a large is too big in the body (too big a fit makes the wearer look like a triangle), but a medium is too short in the sleeve (looking just plain stupid).  So, if you’re scoping one out, and have the aforementioned build, avoid bigger retailers like J.Crew and Banana Republic: the quality is there, but the fit is not tailored enough for younger gentleman.  I would recommend Urban Outfitters, which has an extensive collection that offer a very tapered, modern look.

A word, also, on the collar- this is extremely important!  Now, I know that we aren’t all as hip as Drake, so it may seem like we can’t get away with this.  However, do not leave the collar down: it’s supposed to be left standing so as to block wind, rain, and snow (seems less goofy now, doesn’t it?).  You may run the risk of looking like Dracula, but with Twilight as popular as it is, this is the one time you’ll be able to get away with the vampire aesthetic.

The mannequin didn't take my advice on the collar; inanimate objects these days... Pea Coat from Spiewak Dugan, an excellent purveyor of the garment of discussion