'Good Morning' Royal Ascot Men's Fashion

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Royal Ascot Men’s Fashion

Gentlemen: Royal Ascot is the time to bring out the dapper in you.

If you are lucky enough to be going into the Royal Enclosure, then wearing morning dress attire is obligatory for men, and to gain entry in to the enclosure on the day, there are certain dress codes that must be adhered to.

However you will still be able to find acceptable ways to add individuality to your attire by means of colour in your tie, waistcoat and shirt as long as they are the softer subtle hues.

The Morning Coat

So called because in the 19th century, it started as a riding coat which was worn by gentlemen out on their morning ride. The curved front edges were designed to keep the coat from flapping around the rider’s knees, and the two back buttons allowed the wearer to fasten the tails up out of the way. It certainly has come a long way from its starting line to passing the most formal of winning posts.

Royal Enclosure Rules not to be broken:

Your morning suit can only be black or grey; no other colour is acceptable in the Royal Enclosure. Black is the most popular.
If wearing a black morning coat, the trousers must be either striped or houndstooth.
If wearing a grey morning coat, the trousers should match the coat in colour and fabric, like a suit.

To Hire

Moss Bros Hire has an ‘Ascot Collection’ especially designed to meet the dress code for the races – see main picture, top. So it’s a safe bet that you’ll get it right wearing this:

Morning coat: Pure new wool and light in weight so if the day turns out to be a scorcher then you’ll stay cool, but if it’s a cooler day then it’ll keep you warm. The coat has a royal-blue satin lining and the distinctive Royal Ascot emblem embroidered on the inside pocket. It also has the traditional single link button.

Waistcoat: Single-breasted in traditional dove grey with five buttons.

Trousers: Traditional wool-blend single-pleat grey-stripe trousers.

Check their website www.mossbroshire.co.uk for hire and purchase prices.

To complete the look they also have:

Royal Ascot tie
Black top hat: 100% fine fur felt with black satin trim. Also comes in grey. Again, 100% fine fur felt with black satin trim.

If you fancy a grey day then Moss Bros Hire has the Lingfield – pictured right, a classic grey morning coat with matching trousers.

Oliver Brown also has a grey morning suit but this is only available to buy:

Morning coat: 100% wool in grey.

Trousers: Matching.

Oliver Brown is also under starter’s orders for Royal Ascot hire.

Morning coat: 100% black herringbone wool 10/11oz weight – perfect for the summer.

Waistcoat: Can only hire the single-breasted in buff or grey. 100% wool.

Trousers: 11/12 oz grey and black striped 100% wool. Half lined, side adjusters.

Top Hat: Black polished felt with 6 ½ inch crown.

Tie: Dark grey and silver dogtooth woven silk tie, to buy only.

For hire and purchase prices see their website www.oliverbrown.org.uk

To Buy

Charles Tyrwhitt morning coats and waistcoats are 100% wool and woven in Yorkshire. Their pin-stripe trousers are designed using a lighter-weight wool fabric and are woven in Italy.

Morning coat: Traditional peak lapels, rear button detail plus working button cuffs and corozo buttons. Here shown with their silk sky plain handkerchief.

Waistcoat: The dove grey waistcoat is double-breasted with three buttons and peak lapels. It also has two front welt pockets and lower centre back link strap detail.

Trousers: Forward-facing pleats, button fly, brace buttons and side pockets.

Shoes: Black pair of their calf leather Oxford shoes made in Northampton (the UK shoe capital), Goodyear welted, leather sole with rubber heel and fully leather lined.

Shirt: Instead of the white shirt, here it is shown with their blue-ground white-stripe Winchester shirt. The shirt is 100% cotton with double cuffs.

Tie: 100% silk Etal blue-and-white puppytooth woven tie.

For prices and further information see www.ctshirts.co.uk

Ede & Ravenscroft, London’s oldest tailor can also provide the top hat. www.edeandravenscroft.co.uk

Morning coat: Discreet herringbone pattern, super 100s pure wool fabric, buttonhole in lapel with flower loop, traditional single link button closing.

Waistcoat: Adjustable back strap, pure wool black herringbone – the most formal option for morning dress.

Trousers: 12oz pure wool worsted houndstooth by Dormeuill. Popular for Royal Ascot. Single pleated, buckle and strap adjusters, internal brace button.

Shirt: Blue-and-white striped with white collar.

Tie: Red-and-blue polka dot silk tie.

Top hat: Edwardian style fur felt, polished to give a silk appearance. Crown height 6 ½ inches.

Custom Fit

It may be too late for this year but for next year you could have a semi-bespoke morning suit from ‘A Suit That Fits’ www.asuitthatfits.com

Morning coat: made from a black, medium-weight blended wool ideal for colder months with a purple lining. (OK it’s June and the weather should be warm – but hey this is a made to measure service so you can choose lighter wool if you prefer.)

Trousers: white chalk stripes on light grey background, blended wool perfect for all seasons.

Going Vintage

The ‘savvy’ online vintage British classic shop www.savvyrow.co.uk has a few morning wear garments on their books.

For example, you could have picked up a 1970 London W1 bespoke three-piece morning tails suit they say is perfect for Royal Ascot.

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

Check out their latest items online.