The Spirit of the Ascot

People tend to think of the ascot as a rather formal type of neckwear. If you asked ten men if the ascot is more or less formal than the necktie, a majority might answer that the ascot is the more formal option.

So, is it?

Well, it’s complicated. The ascot is arguably more charming. It’s also, without question, more luxurious and more elegant. But do those things mean formal? Maybe, in some sense. Maybe not, in another sense.

There is an argument to be made that the necktie is more formal due to the fact that it’s more restricting and more constricting. When wearing a necktie, your shirt is buttoned up all the way with the collar flush against one’s neck. The sharply tied necktie, tightly wrapped around the collar is a severe image. It’s strict, regimented, and serious. The ascot is different. It’s more elegant and less strict. It’s more breezy and less militaristic. It’s more luxurious and less severe.

So, is the ascot more or less formal than the necktie? Well, it depends on the way one wears it. One can wear an ascot with a fine suit, and one can wear an ascot with a wool sweater. Perhaps there is no simple answer. Perhaps the ascot isn’t about formality or informality, but rather spirit.

And what is the spirit of the ascot? What word can most accurately sum up the ascot?

Debonaire.