Question: My fiance and I are to marry on 9 July, the style being "classic English summer wedding" - relaxed, yet traditional and formal. We're getting married at a Georgian Manor House in rural Lincolnshire, followed by canaps in the gardens and then the reception in a marquee.
The wedding party are all wearing traditional black morning coat, striped grey trousers, ivory silk waistcoat and tie (or should a cravat be worn?), and pocket square. My real concern is the colour of the top hat - should it be grey or black? And should you wear gloves to match the hat or the trousers? (Marc Sagar)
Answer: Obviously as it is Marc's wedding he can technically wear a gorilla suit if he so chooses. As he has chosen to go rather more formal, however, I can tell him that the choice of colour for the top hat is also optional. Like so many things, in fact, this follows fashion rather than convention. Although there has been a tendency to favour grey top hats in recent years, I am assured by the very wonderful hatters James Lock & Co that there is now a move towards black - particularly renovated silk plus (these have to be vintage as they are no longer manufactured). As for gloves, these traditionally would have been grey, although Bertie Wooster-esque dandies might favour a more daring shade of lemon yellow. I would steer clear of black hat and black gloves, however, as this might make you look like a funeral director. And last but not least I would stick to ties rather than cravats. (Robert Johnston)
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