Royal Ascot Hats
Royal Ascot publishes a written dress code and reviews it every year, so the starting point for any hat decision is the current year's wording. As it stands, women in the Royal Enclosure wear a hat or a headpiece with a solid base of at least 10cm in diameter. A blocked straw pillbox, a disc or a structured bow answers that rule. A slim headband on its own does not. Every piece below is made to order in the London atelier by Monika Perlinska, so the base measurement, the colour and the fit are settled before the first steam.
What the Royal Enclosure asks of women
The 10cm solid base is the line that matters. It rules out a wisp of feathers on a wire and it is why a blocked shape is the reliable answer for that enclosure. The Classic Parasisal Pillbox in ice blue (£480) is the house's cleanest answer, fine woven straw with a straw bow that keeps its edges in strong June light. The Panama Grande (£550) brings a sweeping brim with a sculptural canotier crown for a bolder silhouette. Ask for the base measurement of any piece before you commit, and we will confirm it against the current code.
What men wear, enclosure by enclosure
In the Royal Enclosure men wear black or grey morning dress with a waistcoat and tie, plus a black or grey top hat. A straw fedora is not permitted there, however fine the straw. In the Queen Anne Enclosure and the Village Enclosure the requirement is a full length suit with a collared shirt and tie, which is exactly where the Parasisal Fedora in cream (£480) and the emerald green (£450) belong. The full guide is in what men actually wear to Royal Ascot.
Choosing a colour that survives the photographs
Ascot is photographed all day. Mid tones with texture hold their shape on camera, very pale colours lose their edges under strong sun and very dark ones flatten into silhouette. Woven straw helps a pale colour keep its identity, which is why ice blue, oyster and buttermilk work where optic white gives up. The long version is in our guide to hat colours that photograph well, and because every piece is made to order, any shape here can be matched to a fabric swatch from your outfit.
Questions we are asked about Ascot hats
How far ahead should I commission?
A commission begins once the design and quote are agreed and is dispatched on the date agreed with you. The meeting is in June and the calendar fills, so earlier is always more comfortable. If your date is close, write to us and we will always try to help.
Can you match my outfit?
Yes, from a physical swatch. A colour name or a phone photograph will not carry the colour, so send a cutting from a hem or seam allowance and the straw, ribbon and thread are chosen against it in daylight.
Do you fit remotely?
Fittings take place in the London atelier or by video call for clients abroad. UK delivery is complimentary and every piece travels in the Maria Monica London hatbox.
Shop the Royal Ascot collection or start a commission and we will begin with your measurement and the current year's code.