🏇 Royal Ascot 2026 Starts This Tuesday
16–20 June 2026 · Race day season is officially here — and no race day outfit is finished without the right hat 🎩
There's a moment every June when the UK suddenly remembers it owns a hat. Royal Ascot kicks off on Tuesday 16 June 2026, Epsom and Goodwood follow through the summer, and somewhere in between there's a wedding invitation sitting on your kitchen counter. If you've been typing "what hat should a man wear to the races" into Google at midnight — this one's for you.
Below we break down the two classic race day choices — the pork pie hat and the trilby — which enclosures they suit, and three hats from our Wedding & Race Day Hats collection you can order today with fast UK delivery.
⚠️ Quick dress code note: The Royal Enclosure at Ascot requires a black or grey top hat with morning dress. For the Queen Anne, Village and Windsor enclosures — and virtually every other UK racecourse — a smart trilby or pork pie hat is the classic choice.
🎩 Pork Pie vs Trilby: What's the Difference?
Both sit in the smart-casual sweet spot, but they carry themselves differently. A pork pie hat has a flat, circular crown with a distinctive pinched rim — think Steve McQueen and ska-era cool. It reads sharp, confident and a little bit rakish. A trilby has a taller, indented crown with a short brim snapped down at the front — the traditional "racing hat" worn at British courses for over a century.
Rule of thumb: if your outfit leans modern and slim-cut, go pork pie. If it leans classic tailoring, go trilby. Either way, you'll look more put-together than 90% of the crowd by the parade ring.
🥇 Pick 1: The Lightweight Summer Option — from £9.99
Men's Classic Pork Pie Hat — £9.99
Our most popular race day hat, and at under a tenner it's an easy yes. The textured trilby-fedora silhouette is lightweight and breathable — exactly what you want standing in the June sun from the first race to the last. It comes in 25 colour and size combinations (sizes 56–60cm), so you can match it to your suit, your tie, or your bravest summer blazer. ☀️
- ✅ Lightweight polyester — comfortable all day in summer heat
- ✅ 25 variants: classic neutrals to statement colours
- ✅ Sized fit from SMALL/56cm to XXL/60cm
- ✅ Doubles as a beach and holiday hat after race season
🏆 Pick 2: The Premium Statement — £24.64
100% Wool Pork Pie Hat — £24.64
When the invitation says "smart" and you intend to deliver. This is 100% wool with a beautifully structured crown that holds its shape photo after photo — ideal for race days, summer weddings and any event where there's a champagne tent involved. 🥂 Available in black, navy and more, in sizes 57–60cm.
- ✅ Genuine 100% wool — premium feel and structure
- ✅ Sharp, classic silhouette for tailoring
- ✅ Four sizes for a proper fit (57–60cm)
- ✅ Wears beautifully from Ascot in June to weddings in September
🌦️ Pick 3: The British Weather-Proof Classic — £19.26
Handmade Wool Trilby Hat — £19.26
Because this is Britain, and a 20% chance of rain means it will absolutely rain on Ladies Day. This handmade wool trilby is waterproof and crushable — shove it in a bag on the train, pop it back into shape at the gates, and let the grosgrain band do the talking. The traditional racing hat, properly done.
- ✅ Handmade in wool with a classic grosgrain band
- ✅ Waterproof — race day insurance for UK skies 🌧️
- ✅ Crushable and packable — travels brilliantly
- ✅ Multiple colours and sizes, unisex styling
👔 Finishing the Race Day Look
A few details that separate the winner's enclosure from the also-rans: keep your hat brim level (not pushed back), match leather tones across shoes and belt, and don't forget what's below the trouser hem — a sharp pair of suit socks finishes the outfit when you're sitting in the grandstand. Prefer a fuller crown? Browse our fedora collection, or see the full Hopoye headwear range.
🏇 Ready for the Off?
Royal Ascot starts Tuesday — order today for fast UK delivery and arrive looking like you've already backed the winner.
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