What calls to mind when you think of sailors? Probably fashion.

You might say that much of today's attention-getting/rebel fashion has nautical roots.

--Earrings -- Sea faring men wore earrings for a right practical purpose. Burial at sea was standard practice. Bodies were weighted and committed to the deep. For the poor fellow who was thrown overboard and eventually washed up to shore or met his demise on land, this presented a problem. Who would pay the undertakers fee?

The sailor himself.

The gold earring gracing many a seaman's ear was an early type of insurance. It's purpose was to provide for the cost of burial. The customary removal of the gold ring for payment was understood. Since the earring was securely attached to the body, it worked better than coin, which could easily be washed away or might have been non existent anyway.

-- Starched hair styles --

Sailors tarred their hair before setting out to sea. Hair was often braided before applying the tar. Tarring the hair eliminated the need to wash it, kept it from blowing in the wind and didn't allow a home for lice.

Now that that's cleared up, can someone please tell me the significance of the return of the Pea Coat?