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FOR ROYAL ASCOT, LOCK & CO. RECOMMEND:
A luxurious top hat from Lock & Co. is the perfect complement to your formal attire.
Few accessories hold the allure and timeless elegance of the iconic top hat. What sets Lock & Co. apart is that we offer the ultimate top hat experience. No other hat shop holds almost 350 years of history or the unparalleled expertise of Lock & Co. This year, for your Royal Ascot silk top hat experience, there is only one place to come – No. 6 St James's Street, the ‘Home of Hats’.
The black silk top hat is the pinnacle of a gentleman's formal wardrobe and de rigueur for Royal Ascot. Lock & Co.'s antique silk top hats are the finest out there. We hand-select our curated collection of the top 10% available worldwide, and all the silk top hats are kept at our shop, ready to try at any time – no appointment necessary. Our collection of silk top hats is unmatched. Explore our full Royal Ascot hat collection to find the perfect piece for race day.
For those wondering why are silk top hats so expensive, the answer lies in the rarity of traditional materials, the specialist craftsmanship involved, and the enduring elegance associated with true formal headwear.
The story of why silk top hats are no longer manufactured is unclear. Silk top hats, once a symbol of elegance and refinement, are no longer manufactured. Silk top hats were crafted from a unique fabric called silk plush, whose long nap gives the hat its high shine, and this fabric was carefully stretched over a rigid gossamer shell. In the mid-60s the silk plush was made in France in only one factory, owned by two brothers who eventually had a falling out. Legend has it that one brother burned the factory in spite, destroying not only the building
but also the looms and all the knowledge of weaving silk plush. Since they were the only family who owned these looms, no one else in the world can weave the silk for these hats. So, from the mid-60s onwards silk top hats are no longer available.
Today, all the silk top hats owned by Lock & Co. are made from vintage silks that we source and lovingly refurbish. Modern top hats, by contrast, are made either from wool or fur felt, or crafted using a method similar to that of vintage silk hats but finished with melusine fabric, which lacks the same lustrous sheen.
Buying a silk top hat from Lock & Co. is not just about making a purchase; it is about an unrivalled top hat experience and a lifetime of care for your top hat. Whether you are buying for the first time or are a seasoned aficionado, our hatters will welcome you into our unique shop that offers a bespoke and personal service like no other. Welcome to a shop full of a limitless passion for hats and faultless knowledge and expertise.
When you enter our shop, one of our skilled hatters will be on hand to greet you and ensure that over the course of the next 15-30 minutes you buy the perfect top hat for you.
An initial consultation will discuss your style preferences and identify any specific design elements you require. When buying a top hat, we can assure you that one size does not fit all, and our top-class personal service means that you will leave with a top hat to treasure over a lifetime.
Meticulously Crafted:
Using traditional methods, our skilled hatters use your measurements from the conformateur to shape your top hat accordingly. Our hatters use centuries-old hatting techniques - molding, blocking, steaming, and polishing to bring to life a top hat that is truly tailored to your specifications.
The finished masterpiece is a testament to the dedication of our master hatters to provide you with the perfect top hat.
The experience takes around 30 minutes, and with multiple hats in every size, Lock & Co. will help you find your perfect silk top hat. In a time of fast-paced and constant change, there is something inherently comforting about the tradition of buying a top hat from Lock & Co. where our expertise, craft, heritage and appreciation for antique silk top hat restoration date back to 1676.
Every Lock & Co. silk top hat purchased is carefully and expertly hand-prepared before being placed in a complimentary Lock & Co. hatbox for you to carry out through our famous green front door at No. 6 St James's Street.
This year, enjoy the ultimate top hat experience at Lock & Co. Our commitment to hat quality is trusted and respected and comes with a lifetime of care with us - everything you would expect from the world's oldest hat shop.
Our Royal Ascot FAQs guide covers everything from enclosure rules to formal dress expectations. For those looking to invest in timeless formalwear beyond the racecourse, explore our Guide To Top Hats for Weddings and Ascot. Or discover seasonal styling inspiration in our Racing Season Edit.
A luxurious top hat from Lock & Co. is the perfect complement to your formal attire.
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