PeterRocco
Practically Family
- Messages
- 510
- Location
- Staten Island New York
I think Sterlingwear of Boston is ClosedWhat was the upgrade? I have a recent copy of Schott's 714US (the knee length peacoat), and the wool seems to have a noticeably smoother hand than my memory of a Schott 740N from college. I wasn't sure if my memory was playing tricks on me...
Like many others on FL, so many years ago I benefited from Peacoat's knowledge and scored a pristine vintage Kersey wool peacoat. It's a great peacoat, and I still wear it, but the thought of exposing the Kersey wool to possible beer and food stains was just too much (and it's the one of the few wool coats the wife likes the look and feel of!), so I got the 714US. It's a good coat! But it's not a peacoat, and my heart now yearns for something a little more hip-length, a little more... commercial, for the rare night out with the guys. I just need to explain to the wife why I need yet another wool coat jammed into the closet along with the 714US, the duffle coat, the post-WWII era UK greatcoats, and the Fidelity bridge coat...
For anybody curious, the 714US is a very respectable coat! A very close analogue of Fidelity's bridge coat, except with black instead of gold buttons, no epauletts, no half-belt, better slash pocket liners (corduroy lining instead of whatever Fidelity used that wore through quite quickly in the example I had), and two flap pockets along with two interior pockets. However, I suspect it won't be as warm as the 740N since the quilted lining is replaced by a poly-twill. Still, for a naval-inspired coat, it's a good coat. Since Fidelity is no more, the acquirer Sterlingwear seems to be in trouble if not already gone, and Cockpit USA's bridge coat has some... odd design choices, the 714US isn't a bad alternative.