Top hat top hat is a hard, black silk hat, with fur now often used. The acceptable colors of hats are much as they have traditionally been, with "white" hats (which are actually grey), a daytime racing color, worn at the less formal occasions demanding a top hat, such as Royal Ascot, or with a morning suit. In the U.S. top hats are worn widely in coaching, a driven horse discipline as well as for formal riding to hounds. The collapsible silk opera hat, or "crush hat", is still worn on occasions, and black in color if worn with evening wear as
Claque an agency in Paris opened to manage and supply claqueurs. By 1830 the claque had become an institution. The manager of a theatre or opera house was able to send an order for any number of claqueurs. These were usually under a "chef de claque" (leader of applause), who judged where the efforts of the "claqueurs" were needed and to initiate the demonstration of approval. This could take several forms. There would be "commissaires" ("officers/commissioner") who learned the piece by heart and called the attention of their neighbors to its good points between the acts. "Rieurs" (laughers) laughed loudly at