I have been rocking an old faded Brooks Bros take on the classic Harrington with added patch pockets every summer since ages ago, but I have a mind to get a replacement as we emerge, blinking, into the sunlight. I am thinking collarless, not waisted, slim lined…just started the search for that rare thing, me buying an item of clothing which isn’t a pair of Levi’s or a tee shirt. Anyways, what jacket will you be sporting this summer? A jaunty Seersucker? College blazer? Battered Wrangler? Give me some ideas.
New jacket!
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I’ve got an ancient faded blue linen suit type jacket which is now too big for me and doesn’t even have the style of Talking Heads era David Byrne but I love it. I’ve got a small cast pin of a BBC-Marconi Type A microphone on one lapel. Enough pockets for specs etc.
Same here – I find I prefer an unstructured suit-type jacket to a Harrington-type – proper pockets for glasses, notebook, pen, phone, inside pocket for travel tickets (back in the day) and reasonably smart…
It all depends on what image you want to convey and how good you might think you’re chances are. These are challenging times for us oldies that still want to consider themselves. For instance, I work outdoors and need a hat now that it’s getting into summer sunshine weather. I want a cool looking straw cowboy hat. I’m not putting up with any old wide brimmed monstrosity just to keep the sun off my neck! I’ve got sartorial standards to uphold here! I’m Beatle and Bowie born after all!
A blazer, of course. With orange stripes!
Who wears a jacket in the summertime? Unless of course you want to look like David Sylvian circa 1984. In which case you are excused.
Move to Singapore – at 30degC you won’t need a jacket
But you might meet Phil Collins
Linen jacket for travelling(remember travelling?). Rest of time where I live it’s either too hot or too cold for jackets. It’s either thermal coat or it’s short-sleeved shirts. I miss jackets.
I have a handful of blazers but I’m generally not that keen: they often feel a bit Howard’s Way unless you get them exactly right.
I’m a huge fan of a casual / unstructured suit. Wear them a lot, tie-less. With a good shoe and a good sock, properly hemmed and with sleeves taken up to fit, they’re a joy.
Big fan of the purple corduroy Paul Smith number I bought last summer. Perfect weight for those inbetween weathers, and looks ace. Officine Generale have a lovely light grey cord suit on Mr Porter just now, which will be mine if it ever ends up on the sale.
Other than that, I’m either full coat (either overcoat or massive Swedish down puffer) or shirt/knitwear. A jacket, other than my beloved classic black biker, is a rarity chez Pig.
I’ve always craved a linen suit to drift around in during the summer months. Do you own one that I could borrow for the podcast that I so wanted you to appear on with me that you have spurred on the spurious grounds that having two Scotsmen appearing on the same podcast together might ignite an insurrection?
Watching ‘Antiques Roadshow’ last night there were two things I coveted – a Rolex Submariner watch, and a ‘Prisoner’ jacket worn by one of the experts.
The Prisoner gift shop in Portmeirion sells ‘official’ Prisoner jackets, but they’re not in their online shop at the moment.
That said you could get a Prison cape, which would cut quite the dash when out on the town on a summer’s evening.
https://www.portmeiriononline.co.uk/the-prisoner-cape/p96824
I am not brave enough to wear a cape. I’d look like a 1950s actor in rep. ‘GCU Grey Area is appearing in More Tea, Vicar? at the Winter Gardens, Weston-super-Mare’…
Don’t be fooled by film fetishism into purchasing a full metal jacket. A bugger at airport security and chafes the nips. Still, does allow the attachment of fridge magnets.
I have just read that out in a ‘Johnny Vegas’ voice, and have thus sprayed coffee again.
I am a recent convert to an overshirt – I found a Barbour one in the Harrods Outlet store (memorably described by my son as TK Maxx for rich people). It’s a bit like a denim jacket for old farts I think. And avoids the risk of double denim. I rather like it.
https://images.houseoffraser.co.uk/images/imgzoom/60/60241622_xxl_a1.jpg
I’ve got one that looks remarkably like that, right down to the silver poppers, but in navy blue. Came from Marks & Sparks.
Hand pockets at the side?
I have that one. And a dusky lumberjack style one, both with fluffy linings. I live in them when not working. North Coast?
I got a nice overshirt from A Day’s March – a Swedish company that has one store in the UK (in Berwick St., Soho) plus online shopping, of course.
http://www.adaysmarch.com
Hand pockets at the side, yes.
Handy!
Hoggs of Fife, mate, that’s what you want.
https://www.hoggs.co.uk/mens/shirts/bark-dk-check-fleece-lined-shirt-navy-brown
Yes to overshirt, I have a navy cord and a rust orange cord, also dark navy canvas, both zip-up and button. Sort of a less scruffy denim jacket. Can work with t-shirt or shirt under. I also wear ordinary shirts undone and untucked-in over t-shirts, a kind of in-between jacket, sort of.
Or, as a young person would say, you can tuck shirts in?
I sported a black bomber jacket for the past couple of years. Collarless and plain. Timeless. Or so I thought
‘I hate that bloody jacket’ said Mrs Beezer as I reached for it a short while ago.
We’ve reached a compromise – a washed out black denim jacket. Worn with trousers or chinos so avoiding Dreaded Double Denim.
Recently, I claimed the double denim defence of black jeans and blue denim shirt was acceptable. My daughter laughed at my stupidity.
He’s back. He’s back in Denim. And Denim put the soul in your rock and roll.
Oh yes!
Bought a Harrington style jacket in navy blue with a tartan lining and button down pockets.
Perfect fit and looks very smart.
I’d say you’ll find something suitable in the Barbour range. They’ve really branched out from their traditional waxed jackets including a few variations on Harringtons. Best to try them on though. I found their sleeve lengths varied considerably across the range.
Stupid prices too. They sell to people who want the brand not the item of clothing.
Next thing you know you’ll be wasting money on a gilet from Schöffel!
Uniqlo (you can buy online as there aren’t many shops about) usually have a decent range of spring/summer jackets in different styles. They do (or have done) their own Harrington and it looked good, without looking too 70’s skinhead. None of their stuff is that expensive either and it’s reasonably well made.
I used to wear jackets every day, for work. Tweed of course. Now I don’t cos I’m not wearing shirts or slacks either. So a wardrobe of clothes going to waste. T shirts and jeans off duty, and slipping into the odd cheeky short. I seem to have acquired a few chunky cardies as my top layer, so go me.
Same here – tweed or cord – cord jacket was bought in early ‘90s and still going strong.
I stopped wearing suits to work when I was still doing my pre-reg (about 40 years ago) – one of the experienced old lags pointed out that, if I spilled a kilo of staining ointment down my front, I’d had lost a suit and not just the trousers…never wore another suit to work, apart from interviews…
Dude thinks the early 90s is a long time ago!
Aye…buy once, buy well…
Pre-reg? Staining ointment? What profession is that, fitterstoke?
Best fifty notes in the business.
Pharmacist, Tigger. I did my pre-reg in the Southern General in Glasgow in 1982/83, when they still had a big sterile/non-sterile manufacturing unit supplying all the hospitals in the southern Glasgow patch (it’s why I applied…).
I couldn’t drive at the time: all the other passengers on my bus knew when we’d been making Cade Oil ointment…
Thank you. You must be as old as me!
(60 next month…)
I have a dark blue Harrington-style from Fat Face. Very nice. Especially when half-price, which all their stuff is eventually.