The 20 Best Peacoats Will Make You Look Like the Leading Man of Your Own Movie

Political thrillers aren’t particularly known for setting fashion trends, but The Three Days of Condor is the exception. In the film, Robert Redford plays Joe Turner, a nondescript CIA analyst (a pencil pusher, really) who gets ushered into corrupt government coverups. He’s an average joe, and his choice in outerwear, a peacoat, reflected that at the time.

It was the ’70s, and the style—once the purview of navies across the globe, fisherman, and other seafarers—started gaining popularity among the masses. The sturdy wool jacket, marked by its double-breasted silhouette with two rows of pronounced admiral-style buttons and sizable notch collar, was completely insulating and hassle-free. It was utilitarian, intended to protect men traveling the ocean blue from harsh conditions. But after Redford, a bona fide hunk, donned the topper, it became an emblem of sophistication.

Over the years, other poster boys took up Redford’s mantle: Johnny Depp in Blow, Norman Reedus in The Boondock Saints, and 007 himself, Daniel Craig, in Skyfall, his by Billy Reid, are just a few examples of men looking spiffy in a peacoat on celluloide. Other Tinseltown folk, too, exuded the same kind of debonair quality on the streets, especially Chris Pine last year. All these fellas stuck to the OG style, and reaped our adulation in the process.

Lately, the peacoat has gotten a few tweaks, but is no less worthy of praise. Ted Baker and Dsquared2 have replaced the traditional black, navy, and gray hues with pops of color. Instead of using sturdy wool, RRL opted for leather. Dior has cashmere, and Saint Laurent has a boxy number in virgin wool. Prada shortened the collar and padded its peacoat to oversized perfection. And Burberry exaggerated the lapel and collar. The throughline—and what remains of the original style—is that the two front panels overlap and feature rows of buttons. Basically, it’s a double-breasted blazer with a bit more heft, and a lot more cachet.

In the event you want to get the most Hollywood look around, check out the options below—all of which will make you a leading man and definitely not an average joe.