Top Hat Colour Royal Enclosure Dress Code

The traditional principal Royal Enclosure dress code for Gentlemen is Black or Grey Morning Dress, though since 2020 Navy Morning Dress was also permitted. But the Topper is only Black or Grey.

So what is the best colour to wear?  It depends if you wish style, comfort or tradition.

Tradition; Is GREY. This dates to when Top Hat wearing was more frequent, and Black was in commonplace every day use. To make Royal Ascot more exclusive, Grey was worn.

Comfort; Whilst both Felt and Silk Toppers both can be fitted, Silk Toppers (with a gossamer shell) maintain their shape better due to their construction. As nearly all Silk Toppers are made with Black Plush, then for comfort, it is BLACK (Silk) by default.

Style; Matching a Top Hat to one’s morning dress colour is not required. A Black Silk Top Hat can be worn with Grey 3-piece Morning Suit, as equally as a Black Morning Coat. But for style, a Black Silk on Grey does stand out from the crowd more.  The polish on a (Black) Silk or a Melusine (Fur Felt) topper is also stylish with a very high sheen.  But if you want your Lady to shine more, a demure Grey (Fur, or Wool Felt) is a good style choice.  If one is looking at the Wool felt range, then Grey often looks better than Black in Wool Felt, especially if it has a Black Wool felt hatband.

So we would suggest:  BLACK (By default if choosing a Silk Topper), BLACK or GREY (if choosing a Fur felt Topper) or GREY (if choosing a Wool felt Topper).

Often, we hear people say Black is colour for Royal Ascot, but in fact it is a (Black) Silk being chosen for Style or Comfort that has limited and forced the colour choice.

Either way; We suggest you get your hat fitted for comfort, be it Black or Grey!

To book a fitting appointment please call us on 01344 638 838.