EmergencyIan
Practically Family
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- 918
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- New York, NY
It worked. Great pics!
- Ian
- Ian
Hi DrMacabre,
I have a 36 that is very snug, around 19.75 ptp. This coat becomes very tight when a sweater is worn but is still okay...at least till I get in the car where it becomes too much. I have to make sure the coat is unbuttoned and it's still tight. Also, bending forward to tie shoes it constricts again. This coat is best (but still very snug) with a t shirt but it is very cold right now and having a t only is not a option.
Recently I bought an unknown size peacoat (1950) that measures around 20.5 ptp this is looser in the pits but when I wear a sweater it feels great. Even a thick one. In the car it is snug but not uncomfortably so. When I bring my elbows forward it quickly tightens under the pits. So I know it's not too big.
Given the choice of the two I'd take the looser one as it is just a better more usable winter coat that is comfortable in whatever I'm doing atm. When I put on the 36 it really seems almost too tight. It is wearable though.
FWTW, I have another 36 that is getting cuffs altered right now and that is slightly looser then my other 36.
I have issues with too much cleaning and too much alterations on vintage clothing, since it "ruins" it for the next person and I think voids whatever value it might have. I would never take a WW2 era anything and modify it. But hey, I guess there's a lot of these old coats floating around, so it's not like we're talking about modifying a Mona Lisa or something.Peacoat's advice to simply wear the coat would've been the best option. Best to be a little gentle on vintage clothing items so they can continue to be enjoyed decades from now.
You look quite the U-Boat commander. Excellent choice in a sweater. If you had asked me what I thought about the fit, I would have said it looks pretty good. These coats will shed water for a while, so a walk in the rain won't do a lot to it, unless it is a downpour. I have never much worn a peacoat in the rain. The snow, yes, but not the rain. I think I would leave it be rather than taking a chance on causing damage.
The p2p on a WWII size 40 is about 21", maybe just a bit more. The WWII size 38 is about 20", maybe a bit more, so use that as a guide. You will get about an extra 2" in the chest as you go up in size. The post war models will be about .25" bigger, such as 21.25" for a size 40 and 20.25" for a size 38.
When we get down to the size 36 and especially the size 34, the sizing is different. I have never understood it, but it seems to work. A post war size 34 will be right at 19" and the size 36 between 19.5" and 20", I believe. These measurements are from memory, so don't hold me to it. I think they are accurate, though.
If your chest circumference is 40", a size 40 WWII peacoat with a p2p of about 21" should have enough room for a sweater and still be a good fit. A size 38 WWII peacoat with a p2p or about 20" should give a trim fit with no room for a sweater. Remember I am talking about WWII peacoats, so the sizing will be just a bit smaller—perhaps 1/2 of an inch smaller in the circumference.
If your chest circumference is 40" a size 38 WWII peacoat with a p2p or about 20" should give a trim fit with no room for a sweater.
When we are measuring our own chest, we use the chest circumference and not the p2p measurement. The p2p is only used to measure the coat.
You may already know all of this, but if not, there it is. PC
On your size 38 WWII, I think you will find the p2p is a little over 20", maybe as much as 20.25"? As it still has the neck tag, It probably has very little wear as those old tags in the WWII coats are the first to disintegrate. I imagine you need to wear a sweater under the coat when you wear it out at night because it is generally cold up there on those winter nights. At least it was when I was there; doubt that much has changed.I own a size 38 WWII, made in Brooklyn, Pea Coat. It's chest circumference is just about 41 inches...NO larger, going from memory. It's just slim fitting, but there is room for a sweater underneath. Oh, and I'm sure it's a size 38, because it still has the rare gauze size and place of manufacture tag just beneath the inside collar.
- Ian
I have issues with too much cleaning and too much alterations on vintage clothing, since it "ruins" it for the next person and I think voids whatever value it might have. I would never take a WW2 era anything and modify it. But hey, I guess there's a lot of these old coats floating around, so it's not like we're talking about modifying a Mona Lisa or something.
Your " . . . unknown size peacoat (1950) that measures around 20.5 ptp . . . . " is a size 38 peacoat. Mystery solved.
thanks, I guess i have a size 38 then since it's 20 at the chest. It was described as a 40 but there is no size on the tag and i bought it based on the measurements. I'm just very skinny and i even lost some weight lately. That's probably why i feel kinda funny into the coat but the more i check on ebay, the less i think i will find a better deal. I've seen a lot of coat with weird alterations on the buttons or pretty beatup for some extravagant prices. I paid $120 for this one and it shows very little wear.
On your size 38 WWII, I think you will find the p2p is a little over 20", maybe as much as 20.25"? As it still has the neck tag, It probably has very little wear as those old tags in the WWII coats are the first to disintegrate. I imagine you need to wear a sweater under the coat when you wear it out at night because it is generally cold up there on those winter nights. At least it was when I was there; doubt that much has changed.
Which do you find warmer, the deck jacket or the peacoat worn with a sweater?