Why the Harrington jacket is the timeless men's staple
You are looking at a menswear classic. The Harrington is the jacket that will go with everything.
The original, Baracuta’s G9, was launched as a golfing jacket in Manchester in 1939 but popularised by Ryan O’Neal’s character, Rodney Harrington, in TV soap Peyton Place.
Worn in the 1960s by Paul Newman, Elvis Presley, JFK and Steve McQueen before being adopted by British sub-cultures (mods, skinheads, punks), the G9 is still going strong.
I bought my first during the Britpop years. Featuring a signature Fraser tartan lining and funnel-neck collar, it’s an original which has given rise to several hybrids, like the shirt-collared Harrington, or the Harrington with a straight-cut hem (the classic G9 has an elasticated waist).
Stone, £75, FatFace; Red, £24.90, Uniqlo; Reversible jacket, £295, Mr P. at Mr Porter; Denim jacket, £125, Lyle & Scott; Dark coral, £59.99, Zara; Light denim, £50, American Vintage
For the traditional style there are some budget-friendly options: Next has a great one in a machine-washable check. Uniqlo, Mango, FatFace and Ben Sherman also have it covered. But remember, fit is everything with a Harrington – it should fit snugly over the chest, allowing a sweater to be worn underneath. It should never look oversized or venture past your trouser-fly in terms of length.
Brown, £79.99, Mango; Bright red, £95, Ben Sherman; Oatmeal, £245, Peregrine; Green, £309, Baracuta; Blue, £59, Next; Beige checked, £39.99, H&M
The more modern interpretation of a Harrington is slightly boxier in shape and features the aforementioned shirt-style collar. Lyle & Scott and American Vintage both have a denim version – a trucker jacket/Harrington mash-up – that offers great versatility.
Smarter models can be found at Zara (which has one in coral-coloured corduroy), Peregrine and H&M – my favourite for this season, in a fine puppy-tooth check.
