Top Hats for Royal Ascot

It’s surprising to know that Top Hats got off to a shaky start when the hat maker John Heatherington wore the first one to be seen in public on the streets of London in Jan 1797. At the sight of this unusually tall hat, women screamed and fainted, children cried, so the poor man was arrested and fined for ‘frightening timid people’.

Proving it had stamina; the top hat ran the distance and secured its place in high fashion when Prince Albert started wearing one in 1850.

But what about the fainting women? Well we are more apt to swoon at the sight of the hat now.

Originally made out of fur felt (beaver being the most expensive); silk became to gain the lead in the fashionable stakes. Silk is still out there in front but no longer manufactured, making them a rarity and most coveted.  

Royal Enclosure Rule not to be broken

A top hat must be worn at all times within the Royal Enclosure area except for:  the restaurant, a private box or a private club. You can also remove your hat within any enclosed external seating area within the Royal Enclosure Garden. If in doubt, keep it on unless you see the vast majority taking theirs off.

Black or grey top hats are acceptable for black morning coats, but grey top hats partner well with grey morning suits.

Oliver Brown’s website www.oliverbrowntophats.com states: “has been selling Top Hats for over 30 years and is the oldest independent silk top hat dealer in London. We are the official and only silk top hat dealer with a trade stand as part of the Royal Ascot shop on the course during the Royal meeting.”

Oliver Brown vintage silk top hat

Their vintage silk top hats start from £500

Whilst their new top hats include:

Oliver Brown - Royal Ascot Tall topper

Royal Ascot Tall topper – standing tall above the rest in this highly polished, black 6 ¼ inch high top hat. £450

Oliver Brown - grey top hat

Or go for the more popular 5 ½ inches black or grey top hats, felt finished and priced £250

Oliver Brown also stocks top hat boxes to keep your top hat safe. Vintage boxes start from £750 whilst new at £450.

Savvy Row of www.savvyrow.co.uk stock vintage British classic garments and at the moment has two top hats on sale.

Savvy Row- Christy's top hat

One is a brand new Christy’s black wool top hat with 5 ¼” crown and black morning band for £79.

The other is an antique genuine silk top hat priced at £125

You’d be ‘mad as a hatter’ to miss out on these two.

Speaking of ‘Mad as a Hatter’ – the phrase is said to originate from those unfortunate hat makers in the 1800’s who used a mercury compound in the process of turning fur into felt.  The workshops were usually poorly ventilated and so the fumes were breathed in causing mercury poisoning which resulted in slurred speech, trembling, loss of memory, depression, anxiety and loss of co-ordination.

Go Vintage for your Royal Ascot Morning Attire

Our ‘savvy’ online vintage British classic shop www.savvyrow.co.uk has a few morning wear garments on their books. So why not go vintage for Royal Ascot?

Savvy row say this 1970 London W1 bespoke 3-piece morning tails suit is perfect for Royal Ascot.

The suit includes a black herringbone wool tailcoat with quilted Bemberg lining, 5 button waistcoat with mother of pearl style buttons, single pleated trousers with buttons for braces.

The price is also perfect too at £179.

But will it fit you? The size is UK41 short.

For a cheap Quality Suit - Go Vintage

Can’t afford a bespoke suit? Then why not buy a vintage bespoke suit and have it altered? 

Founded in 2006, www.savvyrow.co.uk specialise in classic British vintage clothing, including bespoke suits. OK these bespoke suits were made to fit someone else and have been put out to pasture by the original owner, but with a good tailor to make the necessary alterations to fit your own body shape, the suit will be back in the saddle and a favourite to be first past the sartorial winning post. You’ll be placing your £300-£400 bet on a hand tailored suit which was originally sold for around £3000. 

The 70’s are back in trend and this 1976 bespoke 3-piece dark grey suit with royal blue stripe is graded as in immaculate condition at a great price of £175. Estimated fit size UK40 short

Where else would you be able to get a designer suit for £125? This Burberry dark navy blue suit is graded as excellent condition and estimated size is UK46 regular. It is made of medium weight super 100s wool, has horn buttons and a navy blue satin lining with Burberry charger design.

Savvy Row hand picks their garments making sure they are of high quality and have stood the test of time.  They check the items for marks, stains, loose stitching etc and then grade accordingly so you know the condition of the suit.

Mint: An item is as perfect and pristine as when it was originally made and shows no sign of wear (mint condition is rare for vintage clothing).
Immaculate: An item shows only the slightest signs of wear.
Excellent: An item shows typical signs of wear due to occasional use but has no obvious flaws.
Very good: An item is considered wearable but has some obvious flaws (e.g. staining or soiling or loose stitching to lining). Flaws are repairable, so the item can be returned to Excellent condition.
Good: An item is wearable but cannot be returned to Excellent condition even if repairs are made.
Restoration: An item has many significant flaws but its historical value merits an investment.

 Plus they give a comprehensive description and the measurements alongside each suit.

They are also not averse to stocking classic readymade suits as long as they are well made and concentrate on brands such as Aquascutum, Gieves & Hawkes, Austin Reed and others from Saville Row or Jermyn Street.

 An XL immaculate Aquascutum navy blue pin/chalk stripe suit at £109, probably 1980’s. Estimated fit size UK45 regular

This Brook Taverner RTW pale green herringbone suit is not vintage but actually new. It’s a very slight second due to some tiny flaws to the material. At £69 it’s a steal.  Estimated fit size UK46 regular

And before the suit is dispatched to you, they make sure it is clean by steaming it inside and out.

These suits are all one offs and although they were available at time of print, they may have already been snatched up.  But don’t worry as Savvy Row have new stock arriving daily so you just have to keep checking their site.