A guide to classic hats: the fedora

Allon Zloof, founder of London hat maker Tom Smarte, is your guide to choosing the perfect hat to suit your face shape and complement any ensemble. This time it's Indiana Jones' signature headpiece – the fedora

Fur and merino felt Fedora, £250 Photo: Hanson Leatherby

The word 'fedora' comes from the title of an 1882 play by Victorien Sardou, whose work popularised this style of hat when it was worn by the cross-dressing lead actress Sarah Bernhardt.The hat evolved from the very formal homburg style and became popular in the 1920s. A fedora is characterised by having a wide brim, 5-6cm, snapped down at the front and a pinched crown. It is usually made from felt as a winter hat, or from Panama straw as a summer option.

Who it suits

The fedora is very easy to wear and suits most faces, except for those with a short face shape.You should think of a hat as a way to provide symmetry and balance to your face – if the length between your eyebrows and chin is on the short side, a fedora would look too top heavy.

How to wear it

Always place a fedora from the front of your head to the back and adjust with a very slight tilt to the side. Pair a felt fedora with a trench coat, tailored suit or leather jacket (think Indiana Jones) or a Panama fedora with slim fit chinos or tailored shorts and a linen shirt.

This is a sponsored blog post, created in collaboration with Tom Smarte. For more information on partnerships and joining our directory, please email advertise@ernestjournal.co.uk.

Wunderkammer of today

We invite you to explore Eastern Biological's cabinet of botanical, geological and entomological stationery, gifts and oddities to satisfy the curious 

Body Anatomy Model
This 31-piece model can be opened up to reveal the workings of the human body. £14.50

Woodcut Notecard Set
12 notecards based on the book Woodcut by Bryan Nash Gill, revealing the inner beauty of trees. £11

A Voyage of Discovery, by Alice Pattullo
4-colour screen print of Charles Darwin and his groundbreaking discoveries on the Galápagos islands in 1835. £85

Opulent Oceans
This gift set includes accounts from early naturalists and comes with 40 art prints of sea creatures. £38

Galapagos Tortoise
Pop this hand-painted chap on your desk and simply revel in the joy of his being. Made from high density plastic. £5.95

Measuring Conical
A great alternative to a measuring jug for use in the kitchen. Available in two sizes. From £7

Jungle Plates
Inject some tropical flavour into your home with these melamine plates covered in jungle print. £6

Greenhouse Pot
This concrete base and glass cover provides a perfect environment for indoor plants. Please note: plant not included. £55

Late Jurassic, by Sam Brewster
We’re enchanted by this limited edition print illustration of a Pangaean landscape teeming with Jurassic life. £85

Large Fossil Fish
Treasure your very own nugget of prehistory with this fossil of a Knightia, disovered in the Green River Formation, Wyoming. £20

Discover more about Eastern Biological in our online directory.

This is a sponsored blog post, created in collaboration with Eastern Biological. For more information on partnerships and joining our directory please email advertise@ernestjournal.co.uk.

Introducing Tux & Tabby

Nordic-inspired toys, umami treats and other considered accessories for the discerning feline

Blizzard Feather Balls, £4.50 each

So, tell us a bit about Tux and Tabby. What's it all about?

We design beautifully styled, contemporary toys, accessories and treats for the modern cat and design-conscious owner. Our goal is for our products to become a feature of the room and a signature of the cat’s presence, rather than an unsightly embarrassment to be tidied up.

Working closely with local suppliers, we source the highest quality materials, such as wool from British rare breeds and natural pheasant feathers. We use these individual components to craft each item by hand which means that every toy and accessory is unique and always one of a kind.

Give us a taster of some of the things you sell.

We sell a range of considered products for the discerning feline, made for both life and play. Some favourites include a curated collection of toys and treats inspired by contemporary Nordic design to sympathise with the modern interior; a ball hand-felted from undyed rare-breed British wool and fletched with natural pheasant feathers; and Bonito flakes, paper-thin tuna fish treats with an intense umami flavour.

What's important to you?

Beauty, simplicity and uncompromising quality. 

Our focus is on the interplay between cats, their owners and the home, so we aim to design elegantly simple products for felines that complement contemporary spaces.

We also stand strongly behind our ethos of small-batch craftsmanship. This allows us to ensure exacting standards are met every time a product leaves our studio.

If you were a cat for the day (or night!), where would be the first place you'd go?

Without a doubt, our first stop would be a gallery or museum. Probably the British Museum in London, or the Kiasma Contemporary Art Museum in Helsinki. We’d love to be able to prowl around at night when everyone else has gone home.

Anything else you want to tell us?

By focusing on the quality of craftsmanship and materials, we’re looking to redefine what has come to be viewed by many as the traditional model for cat products – generic, brightly coloured and mass produced toys and treats.

To this end, we’re hard at work and are in the process of developing some fantastic new products, which will launch soon.

Ernest readers receive 20% discount when placing an order with Tux & Tabby – just quote 'Ernest20' at the checkout. 

This is a sponsored blog post, created in collaboration with Tux & Tabby. For more information on partnerships and joining our directory, please email advertise@ernestjournal.co.uk.

A roll-down pack for climbers, cyclists and hikers

There's something about a roll-down pack that Ernest finds irresistible. Maybe it's the way you can change the litre capacity, just by expanding or rolling down the top like a coffee bag? Maybe it's the way they they fit snugly around your shoulders and back, ensuring a comfortable climb, cycle or hike? Or maybe it's because they look so ruddy awesome?

Organic Climbing roll-down pack from Kinoko, £90

Kinoko have a keen eye for products that are comfortable and functional, yet have a uniquely beautiful aesthetic. This can definitely be said of their new roll-down pack from Organic Climbing, handmade in the USA. It was designed to meet the demands of climbers, cyclists and hikers who wanted a bag they could take out in all seasons and adjust the size to their needs. The bag features:

- Durable ballistic nylon shell, hand-stitched with the same heavy-duty stitching used for making bouldering mats
- External daisy chains for clipping on extra gear, or bike lights if you're cycling
- Ergonomic shoulder straps, ideal for cyclists and climbers
- Adjustable sternum belt and hip belt for stability while adventuring
- Large internal stash pocket for your phone and other precious bits
- Bright yellow lining for better visibility when rummaging around inside the bag

This is a sponsored blog post, created in collaboration with Kinoko. For more information on partnerships and joining our directory, please email advertise@ernestjournal.co.uk.

Classic hats: the Trilby

Allon Zloof, founder of London hat maker Tom Smarte, is your guide to choosing a timeless classic to suit your face shape and complement any ensemble – starting with the trilby

Fur felt Trilby, £295 Photo: Hanson Leatherby

The word 'trilby' was coined from a theatre adaptation of George du Maurier’s 1894 novel Trilby, when a hat was worn at the first London production and referred to as the ‘Trilby hat’. It has a slightly narrower brim than a fedora, around 4cm, and is often made with a pinched or teardrop crown.The brim tends to be upturned at the back and sometimes snapped down at the front. A trilby comes in a variety of fabrics including felt, wool, cotton and straw.

Who it suits

If you’re lucky enough to have an oval face, any style of hat would suit you, especially a trilby. The medium brim would add balance to a short face.

How to wear it

A trilby can be either smart or casual – the look you’re after will determine how you wear it.The classic smart way would be the same as the fedora – placed from the front of the head to the back. For a casual look, wear it on the back of your head; placing it from back to front, showing the underside of the brim.The trilby is the perfect accessory for a jeans and t-shirt outfit, layered with a field jacket.

This is a sponsored blog post, created in collaboration with Tom Smarte. For more information on partnerships and joining our directory, please email advertise@ernestjournal.co.uk.