(Cover photo credit: James Dean and Natalie Wood in “The Fury of Living”, 1955 - photo IMAGO / Everett Collection)
You know: we have released a new short Ventile jacket . It's typically the kind of piece that gives you ideas. Like for example: doing a Reel on the Harrington jacket, a classic of the mid-season genre.
He became famous thanks to a TV series from
Originally, it was a jacket that accompanied golf games . A fine canvas that protects from wind and rain, a specific collar and side pockets, sometimes even a tartan lining : the emblematic model of the genre is none other than the G9 from the British brand Baracuta.
But we can also look to Grenfell for another historical reference:
Jordan talks to you about it in more detail in King Creole ” have nothing to envy him. An overview ? Look here :
© Christophel Collection / IMAGO / Prod.DB
Dolores Hart and Elvis Presley, in “King Creole” in 1958.
The film is by Michael Curtiz, a name you probably already know if only because we have admired his way of filming Vertigo ”, “ Rear Window ”, etc. As you can see below, she wasn't lacking in style herself:
How Elvis wears the Harrington? As if it were a leather jacket, with just the right amount of style and rebellious attitude: with light pants, a white t-shirt under a checked shirt or a Les Nerfs à vive ” by John Lee Thompson in 1962, a film that we have already approached through Yakuza ” by Sydney Pollack in 1974, another very interesting film with Robert Mitchum in a parka and turtleneck . No revolution that being said: we also wear the Harrington in a casual way:
However, if we had to find the Harrington ambassador to cinema , it would not be so much Elvis Presley as The Thomas Crown Affair by Norman Jewison in 1968.
© IMAGO / Prod.DB
Steve McQueen in “The Thomas Crown Affair”, 1968.
Like the cult “ Bullitt ”, it is a plastic film, which happily takes its time. It tells the story of a calm, rich and attractive businessman, who finds his share of thrill in the most daring burglaries.
But “The Thomas Crown Affair” also reveals an aesthetic of clothing that will interest both the men and women who read us. Faye Dunaway's outfits, for example, are worth a look.
As for Steve McQueen, you will probably not be surprised to learn that between two impeccable suits, he brilliantly tries out an orange bathrobe or more casual outfits .
Here a sweatshirt, jeans, sneakers and a “The Knight of the Sands ” by Vincente Minnelli in 1965:
© IMAGO / Prod.DB
Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor in “The Sand Knight”, 1965.
It's a story like one still told in Hollywood, impossible and romantic, between a painter and a pastor, somewhere on the beaches of California. The photography of the film is remarkable, but this adventure is obviously very intriguing thanks to the legendary couple formed by Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton.
We come across interesting things for clothing, suits and ties most often , but also less formal outfits. Harrington or not, the beige jacket worn on the beach by Richard Burton combines for example with a casual spirit, even more relaxed than our previous examples: The Fury of Living ", 1955 - photo Warner Brothers/Getty Images)
Some are talking about a revamped version of the McGregor brand Anti Freeze jacket. Others cite a version made by a brand called Bud Berma. It is a priori a nylon jacket , and there are more or less successful copies all over the Internet.
Among the brands that interest us, we can for example look at the “La Fureur de Vivre ” does not tick all the historical characteristics of the jacket popularized by Baracuta.
Yes, the legend of American cinema from the 50s is an unstoppable selling point. But it's always nice to see old films here and there inspiring today's fashion.
Without transmission, who would go and take a look at the old treasures of cinema? Clothing also has a role as a conduit, and it is all the more inspiring when it is worn by legendary actors or filmmakers.
That being said, the Harrington has been revisited many times by many brands over the years. Look for example at Prologue:
Or even at Valstar, in another style, closer to the original Harrington but in a beautiful suede material:
As for Nicholas Ray's film, it is still today a gold mine for style, cinema and clothing . If you are still hesitant about diving back into this universe, we talked about it in more detail here:
© IMAGO / Everett Collection
Clint Eastwood in “Magnum Force,” 1973.
The first is a classic of American cinema from the early 70s: it is the second part of the saga of the very controversial Inspector Harry Callahan. This time he is grappling with shadowy “vigilantes”, who have decided to execute the criminals of San Francisco themselves.
We find David Soul in the cast, the future Hutch of the series “ The Mule ” in 2018. It is the story of a grumpy and lonely old man who becomes a smuggler for the drug cartels.
This character doesn't say no to the light suit and Losin' It ", a teenage comedy by Curtis Hanson in 1983 - the film has its own little charm.
On the other hand, nothing could be more normal: Tom Cruise appeared in no less than three other films that year, including " Outsiders " by Francis Ford Coppola and " Risky Business " by Paul Brickman - the latter is also worth the detour, if only for the style and the music .
© IMAGO / Allstar
John Stockwell & Tom Cruise in “Losin’ It,” 1983.
If you ever missed “Losin' It” and its story of American teenagers who go to Mexico to have fun, you have in no way missed the film of the year. On the other hand, Tom Cruise has his little Ivy style here, to be rediscovered on occasion: beige Harrington, light blue shirt, This is England ” by Shane Meadows in 2006. It is the story of a group of young people inexorably caught up in by the skinhead movement.
We are in the English North. It's a demonstration type film, so you'll find a number of archetypes, simplified things, an underlined message. We listen to punk, rock, reggae here. We also dress at Fred Perry, Quantum of Solace " by Marc Forster in 2008. This is his second participation in the adventures of James Bond and we find, among other things, numerous destinations, action and a "bad guy" played by Mathieu Amalric. If the film can disappoint a little after the very nice surprise “ Casino Royale ”, it still wins on rewatch. But that’s no comparison to the heights of the follow-up film “ Skyfall .”
There are of course some interesting little things to see, notably an outfit which could possibly appear as a nod to Steve McQueen from “ The Great Escape ”: a motorcycle, brown boots, light pants (here Octopussy ). by John Glen in 1983. The film does not necessarily age very well. On the other hand, as in all James Bond films, there is something to be satisfied with in terms of style, particularly if you like the suit or the safari jacket .
For the record, Roger Moore's jacket was given its replica by the brand here , and as you will see, it is again a variation around the original Harrington.
A final example, for the road? Perhaps Leonardo Di Caprio, in “ Once upon a time in Hollywood ” by Quentin Tarantino in 2019. If you have not yet let yourself be tempted by the adventures of this loser actor character and his understudy played by Brad Pitt, go for it: as always, Quentin Tarantino finds a way to slip in particularly tasty sequences here and there.
© IMAGO / ZUMA Wire
Leonardo Di Caprio, in “Once upon a time in Hollywood”, 2019.
For style, we never tire of this very simple outfit: brown boots, beige pants, a white shirt, a black Harrington . Although we don't often recommend black at BonneGueule, that doesn't stop us from appreciating a good outfit with it - and don't worry, there are some!
3. THE WOMEN’S CLOTHING
You have undoubtedly noticed it, if only through the example of the film “This is England”: the Harrington jacket is also found in the women's wardrobe. It's a resolutely casual jacket, not fussy, rather neutral in spirit .
For example, we can look at some looks from the Baracuta brand, here with a t-shirt and overalls :
Or there, with striped t-shirt, dark jeans, white socks and probably moccasins :
We can also find some slightly more retro and stylized examples, like here with hat, light turtleneck sweater , characterful Harrington and probably skirt at the bottom :
In the cinema too, we can observe the Harrington jacket on women. For example on the shoulders of Adèle Haenel in the poignant “ 120 Beats per minute ” by Robin Campillo in 2017. It is about love, AIDS and activism in Paris in the early 90s.
Here, the interpreter of Céline Sciamma's masterpiece + wears the Harrington jacket in a relaxed way: badges, t-shirt with a committed slogan or blue tank top, Levi's bleach jeans, probably sneakers on his feet . It's once again an action jacket:
If by chance you find this jacket a little too casual for you, rest assured: it probably still has some left under your feet.
For example, we have already worn this jacket with more dressy pants and a shirt-tie combo. Or in silhouettes that play with volume, in the Japanese style. And of course, that's without counting on your own experience + with this piece.
To find out where to find a short jacket with this in mind, you can take a look at this article . We of course think of Grenfell but also of Suitsupply , Baracuta, Harrington, etc. For Ventile models: Private White VC or BonneGueule . And now ? Up to you !
