My phone rings just at the end of a rehearsal - it's my best mate in L.A - he's up early. We get on a FaceTime call and after our introductory "hello's" and "how are you's" I start to recognise his backdrop as one of our favourite hotel bars in South West London. "Are you at Blakes?!" We waste no time catching up and getting reacquainted. This is his first holiday in ten years, and he has a surprise - I'm told to get my passport. He's hired a car and we're going on a roadtrip into Europe. I go home and pack a small bag of essentials only. My passport, toothbrush, couple of pairs of pants, a few t-shirts and my black hat - essentials. With no plan at all, we have an amazing month-long adventure across seven countries with surprisingly little to no disruptions or unexpected hiccups.
 
We've seen all sorts of weather, torrential rain in the provinces of France, cold bitter winds on lakeside streets of Zurich, blistering hot rays of sun on the beaches of Spain and cool evenings along the ancient and tangled backstreets of Milan, and all the while my black hat weathering every storm and matched for every event. A true classic. We fly home into London City Airport and head for a pint in Soho - it's good to have my feet back on the London cobbles. Just as we step out of the cab, we get a proper London homecoming welcome of some of the heaviest rain I have ever seen. The streets are emptying at a rapid pace as people scarper to take shelter under every storefront awning and hidden alcove.
 
Of course, I have no umbrella but I have my beloved black hat. With a 55mm embellished grosgrain band and bow, a custom-made nappa leather bow loop, accentuated with lapping black suede and a vintage silver brooch - the rising moon - adorning the velvety-rich black 100% rabbit fur hat sporting an accentuated, extra-tall crown and a three inch, hand-stitched 15mm grosgrain bound brim, lined with our custom-made 100% silk liner featuring the House of Harding logo and Freedom Feather pattern sides.
 
This is a tribute to a hat from my personal collection, the hat from this story and to a true classic. An essential in everyone's wardrobe. Do not go gentle into that good night.

Hand-made and hand-finished in London. 
 
Colours and sizes may vary slightly.