Hats suit everyone. it's just a matter of finding one that suits you!
We all know that most of our body heat leaves us through the tops of our heads, so it makes perfect sense to wear a hat to the races. Hats are a staple at most racedays, particularly at those featuring prizes for the best-dressed racegoers. But they become more than a matter of style during our winter meetings.
Styles of hat you’re likely to see men wearing at the races
The Fedora
An iconic men’s felt hat with pinched sides and a lengthways crease along the crown. The flexible brim gives the fedora more versatility than other styles - it can be tilted down over the eyes for a hidden, mysterious look, or angled slightly upward for a more open profile.
The Trilby
Little more than a shortened, angular fedora.
The Panama
Most Panama hats are shaped like the fedora and trilby, but they are made from woven palm leaves or straw instead of felt.
The Top Hat
Used to accompany morning dress in The Queen Elizabeth II enclosure on Derby Day.
The Flat Cap
A rounded cap with a small stiff brim in front. Usually made from wool, tweed and cotton.
The Baker Boy
A more casual hat and similar in style to the flat cap, it has the same overall shape and stiff peak but the body of the cap is rounder, fuller and panelled, with a button on top.
Styles of hat you’re likely to see women wearing at the races
Like men, you will see ladies wearing Fedoras, Trilbys, Panamas, Flat Caps and Baker Boys but in addition, colour, feathers and other creative masterpieces can be seen.
The Boater Hat
The boater has become synonymous with quintessentially British social events and is usually crafted from stiff sisal straw and finished with a smart ribbon.
Fascinators
A fascinator has a base which fastens onto the head with either clips, a headband or a comb and is adorned with anything from flowers, feathers and pearls to more structural designs.
The Pillbox
With a flat crown, straight, upright sides and no brim. It is named after the small cylindrical or hexagonal cases that pills used to be sold in.
Wearing the Right Hat for Your Figure
- If you’re petite, choose hats with a low profile crown and a small brim - avoid big hats which can overpower you.
- If you’re tall, a wide brim and a shorter crown are most flattering.
- If you’re curvy then full brimmed hats balance shape.
Wearing the Right Hat for your skin tone
A hat sits right next to your face, so it’s important to bring warmth and colour to your skin rather than washing you out.
- For pale and light skin tones, darker colours like grey, brown, burgundy, green and dark blue will contrast with your skin and bring warmth and colour. Avoid black as this can wash you out.
- For olive skin tones, this warmer complexion will suit a wider range of colours. Most will look great but try shades that are either slightly brighter or darker than neutral.
- For darker skin tones any colour can be worn but try to keep some contrast between skin colour and hat colour.