A
top hat,
beaver hat,
high hat,
silk hat,
cylinder hat,
chimney pot hat or
stove pipe hat, sometimes also known by the nickname
"topper", is a tall, flat-crowned, broad-brimmed
hat, predominantly worn by men from the latter part of the 18th to the middle of the 20th century. By the end of
World War II, it had become a rarity in ordinary dress, though it continued to be worn in specific instances, such as state funerals, also by those occupying prominent positions in the
Bank of England and by certain
City stock exchange officials. , top hats are still worn at some society events in the UK, notably at church weddings and racing meetings attended by members of the royal family, such as Royal Ascot. They remain part of the formal uniform of certain British institutions, such as
Eton College and the boy-choristers of
King's College Choir. They are usually worn with
morning dress or
white tie, in
dressage, and as part of servants' or doormen's
livery.