Contemporary Pea Coats

If you plan to add a pea coat to your fall wardrobe this year, but want a more contemporary style than the classic pea coat, you are in luck. You can choose from a broad range of silhouettes, colors, styles and prices. Here are six stand-out contemporary pea coats for fall 2009.

Victoria's Secret Fitted Pea Coat. Victoria's Secret updates the double-breasted classic pea coat with a fitted waist and flared silhouette that is modern and a little saucy. This feminine look comes in graphite or navy wool/polyester/wool. For more information and to purchase this pea coat go to www2.victoriassecret.com.

Talbots Herringbone Pea Coat. Talbots' lengthens the classic pea coat, slightly narrows the waist for a tailored silhouette, and adds interest with a contemporary herringbone patterned wool/nylon fabric. Having updated the styling, it then updates the color selection to 10 fabulous choices, including such modern shades as red berry, honey, valley green, raven and palomino. For those who care about practicality, as well as looks, this coat is thinsulate lined for warmth. For more information and to purchase this pea coat go to www1.talbots.com

J. Crew Wool Harbor Pea Coat. J. Crew puts its own stamp on the classic pea coat by offering a shorter version with a bold, oversized notch lapel and a slightly fitted silhouette. This pea coat comes in an array of six colors, including traditional black and navy, dark rust, antique stone, ivory, and (my favorite) barely peach. For more information and to purchase this pea coat go to www.jcrew.com.

Guess Drop Waist Pea Coat at Nordstroms. It would probably be difficult to find a pea coat less like the classic than Guess's unique version. This extreme styling of the traditional pea coat transforms it with a drop waist, pleats, button-tab cuffs and a club collar. Choose it in black and mulberry. For more information and to purchase this pea coat go to shop.nordstrom.com/Guess drop waist peacoat.

Burberry Wool Blend Pea Coat at Nordstroms. Burberry crops the classic pea coat, adds ribbed knit sleeves and shoulder epaulets and finishes it off with wide notched lapels, creating a young, classy and very contemporary look. This luxurious wool/polyester/cashmere coat is only available in ink. For more information and to purchase this pea coat go to shop.nordstrom.com/Burberry peacoat.

DKNY Wool Blend Pea coat at Nordstroms. DKNY's version of the pea coat respects the styling of the classic coat. Empire inset seaming and back-button details are contemporary touches, but, otherwise, this wool/nylon coat is a nod to the original, as indicated by its traditional palette of black, navy and camel. For more information and to purchase this pea coat go to shop.nordstrom.com/DKNY pea coat.