Pea-coated

We had an exquisite from St Mary Hall, a pea-coated Brazenose boatman, a philosophical water-drinker and union-debater from Balliol, and a two bottle man from Christ Church.

The pea-coated gent at that word made a start, / And looked nervously round at the goods of our mart: “A vest, coat, and trousers, as soon as they’re done, I want, s’il vous plait, Messieurs Moses and Son.

The iconic image of that day is the Alfred Eisenstadt photo of a pea-coated sailor in drizzly Times Square excitedly kissing a young woman in a stylish overcoat and hat.