Lancealot
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Just curious what hat best goes with a tuxedo (besides a topper)?
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What hat with a tuxedo?
- Thread starter Lancealot
- Start date
Miss 1929
My Mail is Forwarded Here
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Here's the skinny:
Top hats are only worn with white tie and tails or with morning suit (like the Monopoly Man!).
Never with a dinner jacket, aka a tuxedo, be it single- or double-breasted.
With a tuxedo (which is 20s slang for the dinner jacket as it was invented to wear when dressing for dinner in the wild environs of the gated community of Tuxedo), one may wear a Homburg (which is slightly more formal than a fedora due to the binding on the brim and the slightly stiffer felt), or in the summer, you may wear a boater, as Fred Astaire does in more than one of his films. No boaters in the winter!
You can also go bare-headed when in dinner jacket, but what fun is that?
Top hats are only worn with white tie and tails or with morning suit (like the Monopoly Man!).
Never with a dinner jacket, aka a tuxedo, be it single- or double-breasted.
With a tuxedo (which is 20s slang for the dinner jacket as it was invented to wear when dressing for dinner in the wild environs of the gated community of Tuxedo), one may wear a Homburg (which is slightly more formal than a fedora due to the binding on the brim and the slightly stiffer felt), or in the summer, you may wear a boater, as Fred Astaire does in more than one of his films. No boaters in the winter!
You can also go bare-headed when in dinner jacket, but what fun is that?
Lancealot
Practically Family
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Would a bowler be appropriate?
ThesFlishThngs
One Too Many
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See, I know nothing of etiquette; all I know is a top hat (worn with the right confident, dapper attitude) makes me weak at the knees. 
ThesFlishThngs
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Oh, don't worry, it'd take more than that to stop me spreading my random thoughts around this joint.
Ephraim Tutt
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Wear a baseball cap and set a new trend!
cptjeff
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Or get yourself dragged outside and stoned, depending on the event.Ephraim Tutt said:
Ephraim Tutt
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cptjeff said:
They're into physical violence these tuxedo wearers? Who'da thought?
Macheath
One of the Regulars
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Lancealot said:
As I understand it, bowlers are strictly daywear, so they are not appropriate with any evening attire.
HadleyH
I'll Lock Up
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Be different and dare! wear a white trilby, like Spike Lee did at the Oscars!
Don't forget to wear a bowtie though!
wear a white trilby, like Spike Lee did at the Oscars!Don't forget to wear a bowtie though!
Actually, we've had this discussion before, and although many people dislike the idea of a top hat with black tie, it is completely acceptable and not incorrect according to the rules of dress. However, considering how few people wear a top hat even with white tie, wearing one with black tie would appear silly to many people, and you shouldn't do it unless the event you're going to contains mostly people who know you and your hat wearing ways.
The safe choice is the homburg, as mentioned.
The safe choice is the homburg, as mentioned.
avedwards
Call Me a Cab
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This discussion has gone on before, but I'll repeat what Lokar said and add what was also agreed previously.
Historically speaking a top hat was worn, though the look is improved if you wear a long (appropriate) overcoat or even a cape as this balances out the height of the hat.
A black or midnight blue homburg became the norm in the 1930s, so you can't go wrong with this.
A black or grey fedora was worn in the 40s and 50s (my guess is that the average person could only afford one hat so that one hat was used).
So historically speaking a topper, a homburg and a fedora can all be worn with a dinner jacket.
A bowler is not appropriate, however if worn with an overcoat you could get away with this.
Historically speaking a top hat was worn, though the look is improved if you wear a long (appropriate) overcoat or even a cape as this balances out the height of the hat.
A black or midnight blue homburg became the norm in the 1930s, so you can't go wrong with this.
A black or grey fedora was worn in the 40s and 50s (my guess is that the average person could only afford one hat so that one hat was used).
So historically speaking a topper, a homburg and a fedora can all be worn with a dinner jacket.
A bowler is not appropriate, however if worn with an overcoat you could get away with this.
Actually the tuxedo was invented in Britain by Henry Poole for the Prince of Wales in the 1860s. It recieved the name tuxedo due to its American debut at the Tuxedo Club in Tuxedo Park.
http://www.henrypoole.com/henry_poole_story/the_tuxedo.cns
http://www.henrypoole.com/henry_poole_story/the_tuxedo.cns
Miss 1929 said:
HadleyH
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avedwards said:
With all respect ... who cares what is appropiate or not as long as it looks fine, why so much rigidity? one has to break the rules sometimes, that's what fashion and style is all about, even in the 20s and 30s rules were broken .... and good things came out of it!
... my humble opinion. [huh]
avedwards
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As my post shows, the rule of homburg only doesn't apply. With being "allowed" to wear a fedora, a topper or a homburg there's not much rigidity. However, some hats would look wrong with a dinner jacket (a tweed hat for example) because they would just look displeasing to the eye.HadleyH said:
I usually copy old clothing etiquette because it came into place for the purpose of making clothes look good. However, I break rules when I feel that a combination is visually pleasing, if not satorially correct.
HadleyH
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avedwards said:
and that's exactly what i mean! we are in agreement there!
both fashion and style should not be treated like a museum, they are a fluid thing.
metropd
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HadleyH said:Be different and dare!
Don't forget to wear a bowtie though!
IMHO I think this trilby is completely disproportionate and unbalanced to his dinner suit. He should "Do the right thing" and wear a hat that completes an elegant ensemble not ruin the whole outfit.
metropd
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I think a tall silk top hat looks the most balanced with a dinner suit when the gentleman has a short torso and long legs. Its one of the reasons I think I can pull it off.
