How to Wear an Ascot: A Complete Guide

The ascot is one of the most distinctive pieces of men's neckwear. More relaxed than a traditional necktie but considerably more refined than leaving a shirt collar bare, an ascot can add colour, pattern and personality to an outfit without looking overly formal.

Whether you're wearing an ascot for a wedding, pairing one with a tweed jacket, or simply looking for an alternative to a conventional tie, getting the styling right is surprisingly straightforward.

What Is an Ascot?

An ascot is a broad form of neckwear made from fabric that is worn around the neck and usually tucked inside an open shirt collar.

The terms ascot and cravat are often used interchangeably today, particularly in the UK. Historically, "cravat" is the broader term for various styles of neckwear, while the ascot developed as a particular style of cravat.

Modern ascots are available in everything from understated plain colours to paisley, floral and traditional patterned designs.

How Do You Wear an Ascot?

For the classic look, wear your ascot underneath an open shirt collar.

Start by placing the ascot around your neck with one end slightly longer than the other. Cross the longer end over the shorter end, bring it underneath and up through the neck loop, then allow it to fall over the front.

Gently spread the fabric to create a broad, relaxed shape before tucking both ends into your shirt.

Leave the top one or two shirt buttons undone so that part of the ascot remains visible.

The finished result shouldn't look as tightly tied as a necktie. A few natural folds and creases are part of the appeal.

What Shirt Should You Wear With an Ascot?

A classic white shirt is probably the easiest option because it works with virtually every colour and pattern.

However, pale blue, cream and other subtle colours can work equally well.

Because an ascot already provides a strong visual detail around the collar, it's usually best to avoid combining a particularly elaborate ascot with an equally busy shirt.

For patterned shirts, a plain or subtly patterned ascot can provide balance.

Wearing an Ascot With a Blazer

An ascot works particularly well with an open-necked shirt and blazer.

A navy, charcoal, brown or black blazer provides a simple background against which a patterned ascot can stand out.

For a more understated outfit, reverse the approach: choose a patterned or textured jacket and combine it with a plain ascot.

Unlike a conventional tie, the ascot sits largely inside the shirt, so only a relatively small amount of fabric and colour is visible. This makes even stronger colours surprisingly easy to wear.

Ascots and Tweed

Tweed and ascots are a natural combination.

The texture and traditional character of tweed works particularly well with paisley, floral and other classic patterns. Burgundy, bottle green, navy, gold and rust tones can all complement brown and green tweeds particularly well.

If your jacket and trousers already contain several colours or patterns, look for an ascot that picks up one of the secondary colours in the outfit rather than attempting to match everything exactly.

Can You Wear an Ascot to a Wedding?

Absolutely.

Ascots and cravats have a long association with wedding attire and remain an excellent alternative to a conventional necktie.

They can work particularly well for the groom and groomsmen because the colour of the neckwear can be coordinated with bridesmaid dresses, flowers or the overall wedding colour scheme.

Matching pocket squares can also bring the outfit together without requiring every element to be exactly the same colour.

For a traditional wedding look, consider richer satin finishes, paisley patterns and classic colours such as burgundy, silver, navy or champagne.

For rustic and country weddings, floral and paisley ascots combined with tweed can work particularly well.

What Colour Ascot Should You Choose?

There isn't a single rule, but contrast is generally more useful than an exact colour match.

With a white shirt, almost anything works.

With a dark jacket, lighter or brighter colours can create an attractive focal point. Burgundy, purple, gold and patterned blues are particularly versatile.

Earthier colours such as olive, rust, brown and dark green complement tweed and other textured fabrics.

If you're new to ascots, navy, burgundy or a restrained paisley pattern is an easy place to start.

Plain or Patterned?

A plain ascot creates a cleaner, more understated appearance and works especially well when the rest of the outfit already contains patterns.

Patterned ascots make more of a statement.

Paisley is perhaps the classic choice, but floral, geometric and other designs can give an otherwise simple blazer-and-shirt combination considerably more character.

The easiest rule is simple:

Busy jacket or shirt = simpler ascot.

Simple jacket and shirt = more freedom to choose a patterned ascot.

Ascot vs Necktie

You don't necessarily have to choose one permanently.

A necktie creates a sharper and generally more formal appearance. An ascot has a softer, more individual character.

That makes ascots particularly useful for occasions where you'd like to dress well without looking as though you're heading into the office.

Weddings, dinners, parties, race meetings and other smart social occasions can all provide an opportunity to wear one.

Do Ascots Have to Be Formal?

Not at all.

Although ascots have historical associations with formal dress, modern ascots can be worn quite casually.

Try an open white or pale blue shirt, dark jeans or chinos, a blazer and a patterned ascot.

You can also leave the jacket behind entirely. An ascot worn inside an open shirt can provide just enough detail to make a simple outfit more interesting.

Finding Your Own Style

Perhaps the biggest advantage of an ascot is that there aren't many rigid rules.

Some people prefer a small amount of fabric visible above the shirt. Others wear their ascot fuller and more prominently. Some favour traditional paisley designs, while others use brighter colours and contemporary patterns.

Experiment with the knot, loosen the fabric slightly and see what works with your outfit.

An ascot should look relaxed rather than perfectly engineered.

Once you've found the style that suits you, it becomes one of the easiest ways to add something distinctive to an otherwise straightforward outfit.

Explore Ascots and Cravats

At The Ascot Shop, we specialise in ascots and cravats in a wide variety of colours, patterns and styles, making it easy to find something for weddings, formal occasions or everyday wear.

From understated plain colours to traditional paisley and more distinctive patterned designs, there's an ascot to complement almost any jacket, shirt or occasion.

Explore the collection and find the style that works for you.