The Baracuta G9 is an item every man should have at least one of in his wardrobe. In this first instalment of Menswear Icons You Should Own—Man of Many’s new series exploring timeless menswear staples—we’ll discover how this inherently British garment created the Harrington blueprint that so many would go on to follow.
Welcome to the first instalment of Menswear Icons You Should Own. This new series will see each new issue of Man of Many’s Digital Edition deep dive into a menswear classic that has not only stood the test of time but has had a seismic impact on how we dress. In each instalment, we’ll explain the history behind our menswear icon of choice, explore the signature details that make it special, and discuss those who’ve worn it best, from actors and musicians to athletes and public figures.
For our first instalment, we’ve opted for none other than the incredible Baracuta G9 Harrington. Often imitated but never bettered, the G9 is the definition of essential outerwear, and as the proud owner of eight of these jackets and counting—yes, you read that right—the G9 clearly holds a very special place in my heart.
Despite having been around for the best part of 90 years, Baracuta’s G9 design remains largely unchanged. All these years later, it still feels defiantly modern, marrying a range of practical design elements with a subtle, self-assured flair that can’t be denied.
In fact, its iconic status has seen the G9 embraced by a variety of subcultures over the decades. An essential building block of the Ivy League aesthetic, the ease with which the G9 can be dressed up or dressed down has seen it become a consistent presence within ever-evolving subcultures like mod, skinhead, ska, and punk.
These days, the G9 has become a jacket for everyone, and yet if you ask me, wearing one makes a statement. It’s the kind of item for which the phrase ‘if you know, you know’ was invented. The knowing in this case being that from Frank Sinatra and James Dean to Bradley Cooper and Liam Gallagher, the Baracuta G9 Harrington has long been a go-to piece for the sartorially savvy.
With that, let’s dive into the origins of this jacket that was destined to be donned by generations of the world’s most stylish men (and women).
The Original ‘G’
The Baracuta story starts in 1937 in Manchester, England, one of the rainiest cities in a notoriously rainy country. Founded by brothers John and Isaac Miller, Baracuta provided a way for them to harness their family’s years of experience in the rainwear industry.
As owners of a factory that had long supplied raincoats to brands like Burberry, Aquascutum, and Marks & Spencer, the Millers had a level of expertise in this field few could match. Plus, being Manchester-based, it only made sense that the brothers should devote themselves to the creation of an outerwear brand that would offer reliable and stylish protection from their city’s signature weather feature.
It was around this time that John and Isaac—regulars at the Manchester Golf Club—observed fellow players struggling to move in their coats and jackets as they made their way around the course, particularly while battling the elements. This moment of clarity proved invaluable as they recognised a gap in the market for a golf jacket that offered maximum practicality without making any sacrifices in the looks department.
Setting to work, the brothers developed a golf garment that combined style and movement like no other. Called the G9—the ‘G’ standing for Golf, while the ‘9’ represented the holes of a golf course—this short, zip-up jacket offered sufficient room that players could strike the ball unencumbered, while its waterproofing ensured the rain wouldn’t ruin their game.
Upon completing the design, John and Isaac knew they were onto something, but the brothers couldn’t shake the sense that an element was missing. The G9 still needed that signature touch (one that would go on to become a calling card for Baracuta as a whole).
The answer awaited them in Scotland. There, the brothers approached Lord Lovat – Brigadier Simon Christopher Joseph Fraser, the 25th clan chief of the Clan Fraser of Lovat, asking if they could use his family tartan to line their innovative new jacket. He agreed, and in 1938, the Baracuta G9 Harrington arrived fully formed, boasting a stunning tartan lining of red, white, blue, and green.
John and Isaac’s brainchild would go on to become one of the definitive menswear garments of the 20th century and beyond. It now exists outside the ebbs and flows of fashion, maintaining a status at the height of men’s style that shows no signs of waning.
Signature Features
In every edition of Menswear Icons You Should Own, we’ll outline the signature features that have helped our subject attain its icon status. These might come down to fit, fabric, innovative design choices, or oddities and quirks that have become part of the charm. Regardless, this is the stuff legends are made of.
1. Umbrella Back Yoke
For proof of the G9’s ability to keep the rain at bay, look no further than the umbrella back yoke. The curved shape of this feature helps to channel rainwater away from the wearer’s back, ensuring you won’t get caught off guard by a sudden downpour.
2. Two-Button Dog Ear Collar
This twin-button collar is one of the features that many other brands copy in their own incarnations of the Harrington and yet they never get it quite right. Either they trade in the slightly angled tips for a more squared edge or make the collar too narrow, so it’s less effective against the elements. Fortunately, Baracuta nails it every time.
3. Fraser Tartan Lining
We already touched on this, but it’s such an essential element of the G9 and Baracuta’s identity that I’m compelled to double down. Thanks to Baracuta, a tartan lining has become the industry standard for Harrington-style jackets, but none has the pedigree or elevated mix of colours offered by the Fraser tartan. As soon as you see it flash from behind a jacket’s zip, it’s a sure sign the wearer is someone who knows their stuff.
4. Elasticated Cuffs and Waistband
Unlike its sibling jacket, the G4—a slightly roomier offering that Baracuta introduced in 1944—the G9’s cuffs and waistband are elasticated in order to provide extra protection from the wind and rain. As with many of the details pioneered by Baracuta’s original, this has been copied by many competing brands, but we prefer to stick with the original.
5. Range of Colours and Materials
One of the Baracuta G9’s great strengths is that it looks the business no matter its colour, offering a spectrum of shades most garments can’t come close to. It lends itself to a wonderfully broad range of materials as well. As mentioned, I personally have G9s in my wardrobe that include dark red, indigo, ultramarine, caramel, and ‘flamingo’ pink, as well as navy suede and brown leather. In addition to the traditional water-resistance-treated cotton blend and the just-mentioned suede and leather, you can find G9s crafted using nylon, seersucker, canvas, melton, corduroy, and more. No matter your ensemble, there’s probably a G9 that fits the bill.
As Worn By…
As you might expect of a menswear icon, the Baracuta G9 has been thrown on by a long line of devilishly handsome and fiendishly talented chaps since it first launched in 1938. While this is far from an exhaustive list, here are a select few who’ve clearly worn it well.
Elvis Presley
‘The King’ was seen in a G9 at several points over the years, but most famously, he donned one for his role in 1958’s King Creole. This look went on to become so iconic that Baracuta used it as inspiration for a 70th Anniversary Elvis Presley G9 back in 2007.
Steve McQueen
Steve McQueen is synonymous with three items of clothing: Persol’s 714 sunglasses, the TAG Heuer Monaco, and the Baracuta G9. Pictured here in a navy number, but also known to be partial to a light grey, McQueen’s unofficial title as “the King of Cool” might help to explain why the G9 became such a must-have item in the ‘60s and remains so to this day.
Leonardo DiCaprio
Leo donned both brown cotton (as seen here) and black suede incarnations of the G9 for his performance as Rick Dalton in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in… Hollywood. It was a perfect choice for the character, capturing the look and feel of the era in which that film’s set while simultaneously providing an absolutely timeless aesthetic that anyone would do well to replicate.
Daniel Craig
A snappy dresser both on and off the screen—as any self-respecting James Bond should be—Daniel Craig is clearly a connoisseur when it comes to classic British menswear. And so it should come as little surprise that he’s fond of donning a Baracuta G9 in the never-out-of-style tan colourway.
Where can I buy a Baracuta G9 Harrington?
And there you have it! Man of Many’s first instalment of Menswear Icons You Should Own is done and dusted, and what an outstanding piece of clothing to have in the spotlight. Now for the most important question, where can you secure a Baracuta G9 of your very own?
While you might struggle to find an Australian bricks-and-mortar retailer within which to browse the Baracuta range, there are a number of online places you can rely upon to meet your G9 needs. These include Mr Porter, END Clothing, and Atom Retro, to name but a few. Of course, the place you’ll find the widest selection of G9 jackets is Baracuta’s own online boutique. Check it out via the link below.
