Hi All,
I was planing on buying a used Melton coat but just stumbled over a beautiful Black Frock with 3 buttons.
My question, can/should I wear this Frock coat with Plain Dress Black boots? Or do all Frock Coats have to be worn with Black Dress Boots with Brown Tops?
Thanks!
Alex
I much prefer to wear a frock coat.
Plain Black dress boots will be fine.
That’s what I thought, but wasn’t sure. Thanks for clearing it up:D
I immagine a Frock coat will keep me warmer and drier on those cold and wet day’s.
Frock coat
As I understand the old dress conventions:
A frock coat ( of any color ) worn by a Gentleman is to be accompanied by white breeches.
White breeches should be always be worn with brown topped boots.
Of course - if its OK with your hunt / MFH / fashion police you can do whatever you want.
I knew that a Frock Coat always has to be worn with white breeches but did not know that white breeches have to be worn with brown topped boots.
Any other opinions or sources?
Topped boots
The brown tops are meant to keep black boot polish off your white breeches. Of course they were a throwback to the looks of the knee high boots of long ago that gents would fold the tops down on and expose the brown insides.
Actually, when it comes to frock coats, you have a gender issue:cool:.
For gentlemen- yes, white breeches, and therefore yes, boots w/brown tops.
For ladies (I borrowed the writeup from Doug’s foxhunting in ol’ Virginnie web site):
Ladies wear a black frock coat or Melton coat with plain black buttons. A lady will wear a canary or tattersall waistcoat; a white shirt with a white stock tie and a horizontal gold pin; buff or tan britches of twill, cord, or leather; wash or brown leather gloves; and regular hunting spurs high on the heel. Boots will be of black calf without tops – tabs are sewn in but not sewn down. Ladies do not wear white breeches, or brown boot tops. With a Melton or a frock coat, ladies wear either a black velvet hunting cap or a black derby with hat cord.
PS If you are a field member as opposed to staff, that frock coat should have rounded skirt fronts, not square.
Thanks for clearing that up Beverly and No, no sexual reassignment surgery for me:D
The hard part of this is not figuring out what to wear, which was engraved on my liver before I was 8. No, the hard part is figuring out where to find actual canary breeches. Everything that’s remotely affordable is at best beige. And yes I do have the Horse Country catalog.
Mail order them. It is a standard color in nearly every other horsey country.
Ah, I am VERY pleased with the canary breeches I got from the Old Habit (VA) by mail this past spring.
Thanks, Bev. I never buy anything by mail order since I have a weird shape and am unlikely to fit into anything standard. So I’ll just drive down to Marshall and try some on. Meanwhile the beige ones will do until the formal season starts. I appreciate the suggestion.
Wash the beige ones with a few of those new yellow dusters! 
A friend of mine swears by it. I’ve never tried it so can’t say if/how well it works!
They don’t have yellow dusters here!
Re: frock, britches etc. Ask your Master. Yes, there are good old rules from which one deviates at one’s peril, but your Master may have a different view. It isn’t so much what we might say here as what is accepted in your own field.
[QUOTE=kookicat;3532578]
Wash the beige ones with a few of those new yellow dusters!
A friend of mine swears by it. I’ve never tried it so can’t say if/how well it works![/QUOTE]
Sounds like a great plan, and I bet it’d work for dyeing white breeches, also! I’ve considered dyeing white breeches with a mix of Dylon yellow and tan dyes, too, but haven’t quite plucked up the courage yet. 
I’d also second the buying them online from the UK - Ebay UK is a good start, and they’re so cheap, it’s worth the risk on the size - just ask the seller to take some measurements for you first.
I think Neddy’s also offer canary breeches now, and Equissentials certainly used to, plus they do custom ordering for the same price as regular retail - it’s their “eggshell” colour - and they’re fantastic to deal with.
Equissentials does not do the egg shell color anymore. I asked them at Rolex and they were out of fabric.
Do you have a website for Neddy’s?
[QUOTE=Painted Wings;3534397]
Equissentials does not do the egg shell color anymore. I asked them at Rolex and they were out of fabric.
Do you have a website for Neddy’s?[/QUOTE]
Sorry, no: I thought I’d seen them on Ebay, so maybe keep watching there? I’ve no idea what they’re like, either, I’m afraid.
Meanwhile, the good news is that RTS/Bentex breeches are available in canary - and it’s a really GOOD canary, and they are FANTASTIC breeches IMO - well-cut, tough pliable washable fabric, comfy, etc.
http://lilleslegacy.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=68
Price is better than Pikeur, Arista, TS, etc, too.
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.
For Customers
Company
Terms of Use
