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Sailors, officer model peacoats in GQ

While the peacoat made its rounds on the runways last spring in designers’ fall collection shows, GQ magazine’s fashion editors set out to find the perfect models for the perennial fashion favorite for its November spread: active-duty sailors.

Although the men’s magazine had tried to get members of the military to model before, they were told they could appear only in uniform. This time, it was different.

“The gates opened up to us,” said GQ’s senior fashion editor, Brian Coats.

The Navy notified sailors of the casting call when they arrived for New York’s Fleet Week on May 20. GQ scouts set up tables at the USO office and at the pier entrance during the first few days and asked sailors to stop by for a snapshot. GQ chose eight sailors from a pool of about 200 photos. Then, with the Navy’s help, they arranged the photo shoot a few days later onboard the destroyer Roosevelt before sailors shipped out again, Coats said.

The November magazine, which hit newsstands Tuesday, shows the sailors strutting, jumping and otherwise hanging around on deck wearing coats that range in price from $248 to $2,795.

Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Tommy Doerflinger, 24, told the magazine he felt a little ridiculous modeling.

“They were like, ‘Run—no! Don’t really run, fake run.’ How do you fake run?” he said. Doerflinger, who is assigned to the amphibious assault ship Iwo Jima, modeled a $2,795 gray tweed Burberry coat with a $400 blue Salvatore Ferragamo turtleneck and $338 Gilded Age jeans.

Alas, it was only make believe. The sailors don’t get to keep the natty coats or duds. They belong to the designers.

“They were all great,” Coats said. “They all took direction really well.”

Beth Baker, public affairs officer for Navy Region-Mid-Atlantic, said she was not aware of any previous attempts by the magazine to seek out sailors as models. She said the Navy had no problem with the shoot because the sailors were modeling while on liberty, and the clothes passed muster.

“This had a Navy connection with the peacoat, and the timing worked out quite well,” said Baker, who also handled public affairs for Fleet Week. “They did a very nice, tastefully done photo shoot.”

Only seven men made it into the magazine. The eighth sailor is featured online because the feature lost a page in the design process, Coats said.

In addition to Doerflinger, the featured models are:

• Logistics Specialist Seaman Kirk Albert Jr. of the Iwo Jima.

• Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) 3rd Class Lateaf Bush, stationed at “C” School for Shore Based Aircraft Fire Fighting at Goodfellow Air Force Base, San Angelo, Texas.

• Lt. Mikell Cribbs of Fleet and Industrial Supply Center Yokosuka Detachment, Sasebo, Japan.

• Intelligence Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Joseph Hodge, also of the Iwo Jima.

• Reserve Master-at-Arms Seaman Travis Molter of Navy Operational Support Center, Louisville, Ky.

• Aviation Structural Mechanic 2nd Class Stanislav Montgomery of Fleet Readiness Center Detachment, Norfolk, Va.

• Master-at-Arms Seaman Marcus Wilson of Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadron 6, Portsmouth, Va.

Sailors from the Roosevelt can be seen in the background of some photos.

According to GQ, the peacoat was popularized by European sailors in the 19th century. It was cut from a fabric known as P-cloth, hence the name.

For sailors, it’s an easy way to always be in fashion — whether you stick to your $132.60 Navy-issued one or get snazzy off duty in a $695 camel-colored one by Gant, Coats said.

“It’s something that gives you a lot of style without you putting a lot of effort into it,” Coats said. “You just walk out the door, pop the collar and you look amazing.”