ACCESSORIES
Ascot Guide: The Quintessential Accessory For Gentlemen
Ascot Guide – A Classic Accessory Worn by Quintessential, Suave, and Sartorially-Inclined Gentlemen
Well, you could argue that the above statement is not true, but that’s my take. Do you know why?
I’ve had a lot of people tell me that while they appreciate the look of an ascot on men who wear it, they don’t believe they could pull it off effortlessly.
And I totally understand.
It takes confidence and a little bit of an edge to pull off this classic men’s accessory.
For some time I’ve been pushing off writing this piece about Ascots, however, I only decided that it was about time after my client Ben, recently called to tell me that he had received an accessory box as a gift on his birthday some days ago, and there was a clothing piece folded in the box which he had believed to be a “pocket square”.
He was preparing to step out for his company’s Product Launch Event when he decided to complete the look of his custom-tailored Kobi Koachman Double Breasted Suit with the newly gifted “pocket square” for an extra touch of elegance, and then realized it wasn’t a pocket square.
In his words – “I brought out the clothing piece and was gonna make a puff fold and slip into the jacket’s breast pocket when it dawned on me that this is not a pocket square”
Confused about the situation, he called me and explained the whole situation to me. I was surprised, and I asked him to take a picture of the “clothing piece” and share it with me.
Lo and behold, when I received the image, I realized that it was an Ascot. It doesn’t go into the breast pocket, rather it’s a substitute for your necktie.
I called him back to explain all this, but most importantly to re-confirm the occasion he was dressing up for. Is it the right occasion to wear an Ascot to? and Is it okay to pair the Ascot with the menswear jacket he was wearing? I then informed him that it was a perfect occasion and a classy substitute for his necktie.
The next thing he said was – “Kobi, I don’t think I can pull this off. It’s my first time seeing an Ascot, let alone wearing it. So I’m not sure I want to step out of my comfort zone for this important engagement I have today.”
Well, gentlemen!
Unlike my friend – who questioned his status as a quintessential gentleman, if you’ve decided to step away from your style comfort zone, then consider this article, your Ultimate Ascot guide, and the perfect handbook.
[He later wore the Ascot to the product launch event. Of course, I showed him how to tie an Ascot and how to wear it. He later called after the event to tell me about the many stares and compliments he received regarding his look. That built his confidence more. So this is what prompted me to write this piece and share it with all our readers…enjoy!]
WHAT IS AN ASCOT – WHY IS IT WORN BY STYLISH MEN WHO ARE DRAWN TO STYLE?
An ascot is a wide, straight piece of material worn like a tie in the open neck of a shirt. It is the most formal type of necktie.
When worn the right way, an ascot gives the wearer a look of sophistication and elegance. Extremely fashionable in the nineteenth century, ascots are usually worn in formal settings as alternative neckwear to bow and neckties.
Take note of these guys – The casual ascot is called a cravat, or a day cravat to differentiate it from the highly formal dress ascot. It is made with thinner woven silk that is very comfortable against the skin, mostly with ornate and colorful printed patterns. There are more options to wear the ascot today. A little bit of history then…don’t worry I’m not going to bore you with stories – you just need to know how the name Ascot came about.
ASCOT HISTORY
The ascot descended from the earlier type of cravat in the early 19th century. It was generally made of heavily starched linen and tied elaborately around the neck. In the 1880s, amongst the upper-middle-class in Europe, men began to wear a more loosely tied version for formal daytime events with a daytime full dress in frock coats or with morning coats. The name itself originates from the Royal Ascot race meeting at the Ascot Racecourse.
What’s the difference between Ascot & Cravat?
Most people use the terms ascot and cravat interchangeably but they are not the same. The cravat is basically any piece of cloth that you tie around your neck for decorative purposes. It is from a cravat that the bow tie, scarves, and even ascots originate from. It is a general term for everything that you wear around your neck.
ASCOT GUIDE: TYPES OF ASCOT
An Ascot can be differentiated in two ways. We have the;
- Formal ascot
- A more casual day ascot.
Formal Ascot
As mentioned earlier, the name originates from the Royal Ascot and the Ascot heath – a very famous horse race in England where people wear formal morning dress. The type of ascot is a formal piece of silk, usually silver with a little black silk that is tied with a double knot and then fastened with a stick pin.
Today, these formal ascots are hardly worn and are now outdated.
Day Ascot
This type of ascot became popular in the 1930s as a casual, relaxed version of a tie. They were worn as an alternative to the necktie and bow tie for a more relaxed look. Popularly worn with a dressing gown, jacket, vest or sweater at home. Cary Grant wore the ascot regularly for a sprezzatura effect.
Cary Grant Wearing An Ascot
Final Thoughts
Today you’ve learned the history of this quintessential menswear accessory and different types of ascots. Ascots are a great way to not look sloppy but elegant. You get the attention of people when wearing an ascot and you stand out from the norm, plus it makes your outfit look more dressy and relaxed. You can learn more about how to tie an ascot as well as other style tips to take note of when wearing this accessory in our Gentlemen’s Guide To Ascot – How to Tie An Ascot + How To Wear An Ascot.
Please drop your questions or contributions in the comment section below, I will love to know what you think. I hope you find this Ascot guide very helpful.
Until next time gentlemen … Continue to Do Well. Live Well and Dress Really Well. Stay Classy!
Yours in Style,
Kobi O. Mbagwu [Mr. Kobi]
Founder, MrKoachman.com
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