The Investec Derby: Sporting Style in the Sun

My appointment as one of Investec's Style and Fashion Consultants came to glorious culmination when I went to Epsom with my wife as Investec's guests to see the 238th running of this magnificent race. I'd had great fun working with Investec for the last few months during which time I'd selected three British menswear brands to work with (an interesting experience in itself and which taught me much) and made two videos to offer sartorial advice to men attending the Investec Derby. These appear on the Investec Derby website and can be seen here.

If you haven't been to the Investec Derby you should make a point of going next year. As a venue for a sporting and social spectacle you can't beat the Epsom Downs. The gently rolling chalk hill overlooks the whole of London to the north east and the gentle wooded Surrey hills to the south and west. When the sun shines (as it did) the scene comes alive. The bright green ribbon of the track is almost swamped by the tens of thousands who come to enjoy the racing, food, fair and the entertainment. Her Majesty The Queen, resplendent in a yellow outfit, is surrounded by all manner of her subjects, from travellers selling sprigs of lucky heather, to lords in shiny silk tops hats and tails. Young women totter around on high heels and impossible hats, young men look uncomfortable in their tight suits and ties.

And this year the Derby itself was won by 40 to 1 outsider, Wings of Eagles, who lived up to his name, swooping home to the screams of an excited crowd. The investec Derby is an unforgettable day out for anyone. 

I was a guest of Investec. 

Top Hats: Vintage & Modern from Oliver Brown

With less than two weeks to The Investec Derby, or maybe a wedding coming up, you may be in need of a top hat. The top hat is worn at many of the prestigious racing events around the UK and is obligatory at The Investec Derby if you are a guest in the Queen's Stand. It's also worn at weddings and various ceremonial occasions. 

Getting ready for The Investec Derby

In my capacity as a style consultant for the Investec Derby I've been looking into the story of the top hat with the help of one of London's largest suppliers, Oliver Brown, whose well-stocked shop is in Chelsea and online here.

Modern top hats are made of rabbit fur felt and, while this makes a beautiful hat, it can lack the deep black, highly polished finish of a silk top hat. And here the story gets interesting, so I'll let Oliver Brown take up the tale:

"During the nineteenth century, the top hat [was] made with a unique fabric called ‘silk plush’ which has a long nap, giving the hat its high shine. This was stretched over a hard gossamer shell. [However] in 1968 the only factory that produced silk plush ceased production [and] today there is a finite supply of silk top hats in the world. Their stunning lustre, shape and lightness are the height of beauty and elegance".

Oliver Brown do offer a 'melusine' fur hat to attempt to reproduce the shine of the vintage silk hats. I suggest you visit them to compare the vintage top hats in their collection with their modern offering to see what you think. The vintage hats are pricey, particularly in larger sizes (head sizes seem to have been on average smaller in those days) but if your budget allows you will have found a true investment. 

Vintage top hats from Oliver Brown

Oliver Brown offer a refurbishment service for both vintage silk and more modern top hats, see here.

I'm pleased to own a vintage silk top hat, which I hope to have cleaned and polished and I look forward to wearing it at The Investec Derby. For more advice on what to wear at The Derby, see my videos here.

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Wear to be Seen at The Investec Derby - Videos

The Investec Derby, run on Saturday the 3rd June, with Ladies' Day the day before, is a highlight both of the English sporting and social scenes. Huge crowds are attracted to the superb setting of Epsom Downs Racecourse, with its views over the Surrey hills and towards the City of London, to see the greatest flat racing in the world and to enjoy a very traditional British day out. But what should a man wear if he's going to Epsom Downs to enjoy the racing at The Investec Derby?

A still from one of the Investec Derby videos. I'm wearing Turnbull & Asser

I was delighted to be invited by Investec, sponsors of The Derby, to be one of their Style/Fashion Consultants for the event. The chance to talk about men's style in the context of a great British sporting event and day out was too good to miss. I knew that I wanted to link the heritage of The Investec Derby (first run in 1780) with the traditions of menswear that are so strong that the styles worn by men at the event at the beginning of the last century would be recognisable by a race-goer today.

Unless invited to wear morning dress, visitors to The Investec Derby are asked to 'dress up', with no sportswear or frayed denim. I wanted to advise men on how to dress within the dress code while retaining a link to the heritage I've just mentioned. Investec gave me great latitude to explore this theme in two videos, which are shown here.

I selected three brands to work with during the making of the videos: Turnbull & Asser, Lock & Co Hatmakers and Cad & The Dandy, Savile Row tailors (links below). The videos outline the advice I obtained from these experienced menswear retailers on the dress code and how to select formal and informal styles, accessories and colours for the event. More advice can be found on my page on The Investec Derby website can be reached by clicking here.

This first video explores the ways in which a man might express his personality in dressing up for the Investec Derby, whether he is an extrovert or (like me) more cautious sartorially. 

This second video advises on morning dress, looking at very traditional and also more contemporary versions of this style.

If you are going to The Investec Derby, have a wonderful day and enjoy dressing for the event. I will be out and about with a photographer to record some of the best men's styles on show, so please say hello if you see me.

Turnbull & Asser
Cad & The Dandy
Lock & Co.

This page is part of a collaboration with Investec Bank, sponsors of The Investec Derby.

Grey Fox Appointed a Style Consultant for the Investec Derby 2017

I'm delighted to have been asked by Investec Bank to be one of its Style Consultants for The Investec Derby 2017. Taking place on 3rd June, the Investec Derby is considered the greatest flat race in the world, attracting huge crowds to the beautiful Epsom Downs racecourse. 

Most attending the event are aware of the heritage of the Investec Derby, which was first run in 1780, and they will be keen to dress for the occasion. The Derby dress code asks men to 'dress up' and in some areas more formal wear is required.

The Derby Day by William Powell Frith 1858

A man from the nineteenth century attending today would find both the race, the spectacle and some of the men's clothing styles familiar (he may be surprised by the changes in women's fashion though). It makes sense to celebrate the heritage of the race alongside the heritage of the menswear worn at it. A great British event deserves to be dressed up for and this will be my theme as a style consultant. 

I will be working with some very British brands to encourage race-goers to dress with classic good style for a classic and historic event. Over the next few weeks I'll be making two videos giving men guidance on how to dress for the Derby - these and other features will appear here, on the Investec Derby website and on my social media.

Other style/fashion consultants are Teo van den Broeke and Ella Catliff, while ambassadors for the event are Emilia Fox and Frankie Dettori. See the Investec Derby website here.