For most UK race days and summer weddings, a wool fedora or trilby in a neutral colour is the safe, smart choice. Want something sharper and more vintage? Pick a pork pie. Want to be remembered? A wide-brim fedora in wine red, forest green or mustard does it. This guide covers what each event expects, how the three classic hats differ, how to choose a colour, and how to get the fit right.
✓ Races: a wool fedora or trilby suits most meetings, but the Royal Ascot Royal Enclosure requires a top hat with morning dress.
✓ Weddings: complement the suit, do not compete with it. Navy, beige, grey and forest green are the reliable picks.
✓ Choosing: fedora for presence, trilby for a neat modern look, pork pie for retro character.
✓ Prices: wool fedoras £24.99, wool trilby from £22.99, pork pie hats from £9.99.
01What hat should you wear to the races?
A structured wool fedora or a neat trilby suits most race meetings: smart enough for the lawn, relaxed enough to keep on all afternoon. Pair black with a charcoal or navy suit for a classic look, or beige with lighter summer tailoring. Dress codes do vary by course and enclosure, so check the rules for your ticket before you go.
| Occasion | Best style | Go-to colours |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Ascot, Royal Enclosure | Formal top hat with morning dress | Black or grey |
| Most other race days | Wool fedora or trilby | Black, beige, grey, navy |
| Garden or outdoor wedding | Fedora or trilby | Beige, forest green, wine, navy |
| Summer party or festival-leaning day | Statement fedora or pork pie | Mustard, orange, teal, pink |
| Smart-casual days out | Pork pie or short-brim trilby | Brown, black, grey |
Want the full line-up? Browse the Wedding & Race Day Hats edit.
02What hat should a man wear to a summer wedding?
A wool fedora or trilby in a colour that complements your suit. The golden rule is simple: complement, do not compete. Take your lead from the dress code on the invitation, and pick a colour that nods to your outfit rather than matching it exactly. A tie, pocket square or hat band in the same shade looks considered; a head-to-toe match looks like a costume.
Shopping for a woman instead? Our guide to wedding guest hats for women covers wide-brim straw hats, berets and more.
03Fedora, trilby or pork pie: which should you choose?
Choose a fedora for presence, a trilby for a neat, modern look, and a pork pie for retro character. All three are smart enough for race days and weddings; they differ in brim, crown and personality.
| Style | Brim and crown | Best for | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wool fedora | Wider brim, pinched crown | Statement occasion wear, rounder faces | £24.99 |
| Wool trilby | Short brim angled down at the front | Weddings and most race days, narrower faces | £22.99 |
| Pork pie | Flat top, short upturned brim | Races, retro looks, smart-casual days | £9.99 |
For the full side-by-side, see our trilby vs fedora vs pork pie comparison, or browse fedoras, trilbies and pork pie hats.
04Which colour should you choose?
If you want one hat that works with everything, choose a neutral: black, beige, navy, brown or grey. If you have the outfit and the confidence, go for a statement shade. Our wool fedoras come in 15 colours, each sold as its own listing at £24.99, so you can compare them side by side in the fedora collection.
Black, beige, brown, grey and navy suit almost any suit and move easily from a wedding to the office. Start here for a first occasion hat.
Wine red, teal, royal blue, mustard, burnt orange and light pink stand out in summer photos. Pair a bold hat with a neutral suit so the two do not compete.
Pick up one colour already in your outfit, such as a tie or pocket square, rather than matching everything exactly.
05How should an occasion hat fit, and how do you care for it?
A hat should sit comfortably around the middle of your forehead, snug enough to stay put on a breezy course but not tight enough to leave a mark. Our wool fedoras come in sizes XS to XL, so you can get a proper fit rather than a one-size compromise.
06Race day and wedding hat FAQs
A wool fedora or trilby in a colour that complements the suit. Navy, beige and grey are the safe choices; forest green or wine red suit countryside or autumn-edged weddings. Take your lead from any dress code on the invitation.
Not in the Royal Enclosure, where gentlemen must wear morning dress with a black or grey top hat. Other enclosures have different rules, so check the official dress code for your specific ticket.
A fedora has a wider brim and a pinched crown. A trilby has a shorter brim that angles down at the front. A pork pie has a flat top and a short, upturned brim.
Black is the sharpest all-rounder and pairs with any suit; beige is the softer choice for lighter summer tailoring. Save bolder shades for when the outfit supports them.
Wool felt is warmer than straw, so it suits cooler days and evenings best. On very hot days choose the lightweight pork pie hat or a straw sun hat.
Measure around your head just above the ears with a soft tape and match it to the size guide on the product page. Our wool fedoras come in XS to XL.
Expert verdict
If you buy one hat for the season, make it a wool fedora in black, beige or navy: it covers race days, garden weddings and smart-casual weekends. Add a trilby if you prefer a neater brim, or a pork pie for retro character. Choose a statement colour only when the outfit can carry it.
Wool fedoras, trilbies and pork pie hats for race days, weddings and everything between.
Wedding & Race Day Hats Shop all fedoras
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