A Harrington jacket is a lightweight, waist-length jacket made of cotton, polyester, wool or suede. Designs often incorporate traditional Fraser tartan or checkerboard-patterned lining.
The first Harrington-style jackets were made in the 1930s by the British clothing companies Grenfell of Burnley, Lancashire and Baracuta of Stockport, Greater Manchester. Baracuta's original design, the G9, is still in production. Elvis Presley popularized the Baracuta G9 in his 1958 movie King Creole. The jacket got the nickname "Harrington" from a character in the 1960s prime time soap opera, Peyton Place. The character in question, Rodney Harrington, (played by Ryan O'Neal) is often depicted in a Harrington jacket. Steve McQueen and Frank Sinatra were photographed wearing Harrington-style jackets in films and their personal lives.
The jacket became fashionable in the United Kingdom in the 1960s among mods and skinheads. They enjoyed a resurgence in the late 1970s and early 1980s with skinhead and mod revivalists, as well as with scooterboys. Within those subcultures, Harringtons are often worn with Fred Perry or Ben Sherman shirts.
In France, HARRINGTON has been a registered trademark since 1985.
In addition to Baracuta, brands who have released Harrington jackets include: Yves Saint Laurent, Ralph Lauren, J.Crew, Lambretta Clothing, Pretty Green, Brooks Brothers, Merc London, Fred Perry, Tesco, Izod, Ben Sherman, Lacoste, Lyle & Scott, Lonsdale, Warrior Clothing, howies, Relco, and The Spirit of 69.
In 2007, Baracuta released three special edition G9 jackets with quotes by Presley, McQueen, and Sinatra printed on the lining to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the brand.
Characteristics of the Harrington Jacket
Before we delve into this garment’s history, let’s first define the characteristics of a Harrington jacket as we know it today.
- A waist length jacket.
- Made of either cotton , wool or leather ( also available in synthetics )
- Usually a single color on the outside.
- Fits snugly around the waist with an expandable elastics along the bottom hem and cuffs.
- Has a full front zip that runs all the way up to the neck.
- Has two buttoned flap pockets on either side in the lower fronts which are cut at an angle of 45 degrees.
- Straight collar much like a mandarin collar that fastens with two buttons.
- A back yoke that is designed to allow the rain to run away from the jacket and the wearer. This unique design feature was inspired by the umbrella.
- A tartan interior lining.
Style & Fit
- As always the fit is the first thing to look out for. A classic Harrington’s body will always be cut short in relation to the chest size and arms.
- The elastic hem of the jacket should always cover the belt or waistband of your pants, and the sleeves must be long enough so the elastics cover your wrists. If that’s not the case, try another one.
- The classic G9 outer shell is made of a poly-cotton blend that is water repellent though I also enjoy pure cotton. You can also find corduroy, leather and all kind of other materials nowadays.
- Although Baracuta sells a style called “G9 Original” it is in fact not the original Harrington jacket because the modern version is slimmer and utilizes better quality fabrics than the old jackets. Of course, if you want the real deal, you have to go for a vintage jacket but even then, it will be hard to find.
this jacket is well suited to all kinds activities in typical
spring/fall climates. Of course, you can wear it for golf as its
intended purpose but also for driving your motorcycle or convertible to
get groceries or for a picnic… the possibilities are endless.
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