Funnily enough, when I was back in the UK last November, I almost bought a black Harrington jacket off Retford Market. I must say Harrington jackets have been seared into to my mind as clothing of mythic proportions ever since while wearing one I had a high speed Raleigh Arena crash (had to be going downhill to gain any sort of speed) in the early 1980s. I had severe and very bloody abrasions on my elbow, but.... like some form of miracle (the Hand of Harrington I call it), the jacket had no visible rips or tears
whatsoever. From that moment on, I've had a love affair with them. Well, that and the fact that as a 14 year old I thought they were cool as I saw Paul Weller wear one before I realized he really is a pretentious d**k.
Anyway, back to Retford market, November 2016. Frickin' thing was size XXXXXXXL and even though I am now substantially more "well proportioned" (
cough) than I was in the 1980's, even I found it was just too big, perhaps more befitting for Frank Cannon (I threw that reference in for those of you who remember the 1970's). I was gutted -the bloke at the stall told me he could get my size the following week, but by then I was going to be back in the States where they think a Harrington jacket is some kind of new restrictive top for the mentally insane.
Anyway, still looking for one -particularly if I fall off my bike so I can give a stylish flash of tartan on the way down to the ground.
Ha ha, black Harrington with red tartan lining and burgundy stay press. I must have looked like a right galoot.
