British summer has a dress code all of its own. Between the races, the garden weddings and the long-promised 'smart but not stuffy' invitations, this is the season your outfit finally earns a proper hat.
From the Derby and Royal Ascot in June through to Glorious Goodwood and the wave of summer weddings that follow, the right brim does a lot of quiet work — it lifts a linen suit, finishes a three-piece, and saves the back of your neck from the sun while you're at it. The trick is choosing a hat that suits both the occasion and your face, which is exactly what this guide is for. We'll walk through what to wear to the races, how to pick a wedding-guest hat that won't upstage the groom, and how the fedora, trilby and porkpie actually differ — with honest advice and a few of our favourite wool fedora hats along the way.
At a glance: which hat for which occasion?
| Occasion | Best style | Go-to colours |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Ascot — Royal Enclosure | Formal top hat (with morning dress) | Black or dove grey |
| Other enclosures, Goodwood, York, the Derby | Wide-brim wool fedora or trilby | Beige, grey, navy, black |
| Outdoor / garden wedding | Fedora or trilby | Beige, forest green, wine, navy |
| Festival-leaning or summer party | Statement-colour fedora or porkpie | Mustard, burnt orange, teal, pink |
| Everyday smart-casual | Porkpie or short-brim trilby | Brown, black, grey |
🏇 Race Day Hats
Ascot, Goodwood, the Derby & every meeting in between
A day at the races is one of the last great excuses to dress properly, and headwear is half the fun. For most enclosures and most courses, a structured wide-brim wool fedora hits the sweet spot: smart enough for the lawn, relaxed enough that you'll actually keep it on all afternoon. Pair a black wool fedora with a charcoal or navy suit for a classic look, or go for beige if you're in lighter summer tailoring.
Black Wool Fedora
The safest, sharpest choice. Works with every suit colour and never looks out of place on the lawn.
£24.99 · XS–XL
Shop black fedora
Beige Wool Fedora
Made for summer tailoring. A soft neutral that pairs beautifully with tan, cream and pale blue.
£24.99 · XS–XL
Shop beige fedoraWant to see the full line-up before you commit? Browse the Wedding & Race Day Hats edit, hand-picked for exactly these occasions.
💍 Summer Wedding Guest Hats
Look the part without stealing the show
Outdoor and garden weddings are made for a hat — there's shade when you need it, and a brim photographs wonderfully under summer light. The golden rule for a wedding-guest hat is simple: complement, don't compete. Pick a colour that nods to your outfit rather than shouting over it, and keep the brim tidy rather than theatrical.
A navy fedora is the most reliable partner for a blue or grey suit, while a forest green or wine red brings a richer, more characterful touch for autumn-edged or countryside celebrations.
Navy Wool Fedora
The understated cousin of black. Effortless with blue, grey or earth-toned tailoring.
£24.99 · XS–XL
Shop navy fedora
Forest Green Fedora
Deep, earthy and elegant — a quietly different choice for a countryside celebration.
£24.99 · XS–XL
Shop green fedora
Wine Red Fedora
Refined and warm. The confident pick when you want to be remembered for the right reasons.
£24.99 · XS–XL
Shop wine fedora🎩 Fedora vs Trilby vs Porkpie
Three classics, three different jobs
They're often lumped together, but each of these hats has its own personality. Here's the short version, so you can pick with confidence:
The Fedora
Wider brim, pinched crown, the most versatile of the three. Smart enough for the races, easy enough for everyday.
Shop fedoras (15 colours)
The Trilby
Shorter, snappier brim that angles down at the front. Neat, modern and great for narrower faces.
Shop trilbies
The Porkpie
Flat-topped crown with a short, upturned brim. The relaxed, characterful option for smart-casual days.
Shop porkpie hats🎨 Choosing Your Colour
From safe neutrals to proper statement shades
Our wool fedora range comes in fifteen colours, which is either a joy or a small crisis depending on how decisive you're feeling. Two simple routes: pick a neutral (black, beige, grey, navy) if you want one hat that works with everything, or a statement shade if you've got the outfit and the confidence to carry it.
Mustard
Warm, vintage and full of charm — brilliant against navy or earthy tones.
£24.99
Shop mustard
Light Pink
Soft and understated — a gentle statement for summer parties and festivals.
£24.99
Shop pink📏 Fit, Sizing & Care
A few minutes now, years of wear later
Every Hopoye fedora is handmade from 100% wool felt and comes in sizes XS to XL, so you can get a proper fit rather than a one-size compromise. To find yours, run a tape measure around your head just above the ears and across the middle of your forehead, then check it against the size guide on the product page.
Looking after wool felt is straightforward:
- Handle by the brim edge, not the crown, to keep its shape.
- Store it upside down on its crown or on a hook so the brim doesn't flatten.
- Brush gently in one direction to lift dust; a little steam helps reshape a tired brim.
- Keep it dry where you can — wool naturally shrugs off light moisture, but let it air-dry away from direct heat if it gets caught in a shower.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What hat can a man wear to a summer wedding?
Can men wear a fedora to Royal Ascot?
What's the difference between a trilby and a fedora?
Which fedora colour is the most versatile?
How do I know what size hat to buy?
Find your occasion hat
Handmade wool fedoras, trilbies and porkpies — built for race day, weddings and everything in between.
Wedding & Race Day Hats Shop all fedoras Browse all headwearDress codes for race meetings change from course to course and enclosure to enclosure — please check the official guidance for your event before you go.
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