HARRINGTON JACKETS ARE DUE FOR A COMEBACK
From James Dean to Steve McQueen, style icons have favored Harrington jackets for almost a century, and with wearable clothing the new top focus for luxury fashion, the style is due for a comeback.
In 1955, James Dean did what he did best and broke ground for men’s style with a bold red Harrington jacket in Rebel Without a Cause. Thirteen years later, Steve McQueen consolidated Dean’s work when he wore a G9 Harrington jacket as Thomas Crown in The Thomas Crown Affair—a style choice that would become iconic in menswear lore, and one that still holds weight some 60 years later. Make no mistake, Dean and McQueen were already guiding lights for men’s style—Thomas Crown goes down as one of the most stylish movie characters of all time—but it’s a striking testament to the easygoing aesthetic and versatility of the Harrington jacket that these are the garments, amongst countless others, that went down in history.
In 2024, wearable clothing is the rule for luxury fashion, which brings classic pieces like Harrington jackets into sharp focus once more. But what exactly is a Harrington jacket? Originally designed for golf, the Harrington jacket was invented by British label Baracuta in the 1930s. With a cropped body often elasticated at the waist, the lightweight cotton jacket is cut with a roomy silhouette to offer enough space for a smooth swing. The design can usually be identified by a tartan lining and a button-fastened stand collar, though variations were designed to be more suited to work environments with classic spread collars. In the modern day, Harrington jackets are more or less unchanged, with the time-tested Baracuta G9 Harrington still in production. For SS24, though, names like Maison Margiela, Marni, and OPEN YY bring new experimentation to the category while Polo Ralph Lauren, Fred Perry, Burberry, and others remain faithful to the jacket’s archetype.
Featured In This Image: Maison Margiela jacket
With wearable clothes back on the menu, spring and summer setting in, and cowboycore becoming impossible to ignore, this Maison Margiela Harrington jacket sits in the eye of the perfect storm. Conceived in a rich burgundy hue, the classic silhouette features Western-style detailing around the shoulders.
Featured In This Image: Burberry jacket
Born in Lancashire in the north of England, the Harrington jacket is an inextricable part of British sartorial history, and, as such, who better to honor the style than Burberry? One of the most famous British fashion brands of all time, the house’s collections continue to be built on British style heritage.
Featured In This Image: OPEN YY jacket
Korean fashion brands have collectively shown a distinctive talent for melding classic design cues with contemporary variations. OPEN YY’s Crinkled Bomber Jacket exemplifies this, taking inspiration from the Harrington while reframing the silhouette with a cropped body and zip detailing throughout.
Featured In This Image: Dunst jacket
Dunst’s ability to add subtle surprises to classic designs has already built a loyal following. This Harrington is cut from a beige cotton-blend which features a tonal herringbone texture that reveals itself up close. A corduroy trim to the inside of the stand collar epitomizes the young label’s attention to detail.
Featured In This Image: Fred Perry jacket
Fred Perry’s unending popularity is down to its core collection, which has appealed across generations and subcultures for decades. Every season, the brand is sure to re-up pieces like this black Harrington jacket with all the traditional trimmings and a signature laurel wreath on the chest to boot.
Featured In This Image: Marni jacket
Marni isn’t a name that usually crops up when it comes to classic British garments, but the finesse with which it delivers this beige Harrington suggests that it should. Featuring a cotton gabardine shell like the OG designs, the only subversion comes in the relaxed tailoring of the jacket.
Featured In This Image: Polo Ralph Lauren jacket
While it wasn’t one of the originators of the style, the Polo Ralph Lauren Harrington jacket is a purist’s favorite. Complete with the pony logo in navy embroidered on the chest, the café-tan jacket is a lesson in versatile wearability.
Featured In This Image: MM6 Maison Margiela jacket
This lightweight cotton jacket is a staple for spring and summer thanks to its pared-back design. It doesn’t lack personality, though, with two large zips detailing the body, angling towards the stand collar with press-stud fastening as a nod to the recognizable Harrington shape.
- Date: February 22, 2024
