Extravagant hats, high heels, and bold colors made attendees of the Kentucky Derby stand out at the event.
May 1, 2015, marked the 141st Kentucky Derby, and the horse races weren’t the only thing that people were paying attention to.
In the crowd and on the runway, people were decked out in pastels and flowers. Women wore large floppy hats with extravagant details of lacy and feathers.
The colors chosen usually correlated with the rest of the outfit. One women was photographed in a pink blazer with a black shirt underneath with a pink pocket square. On her head she wore a hat that was covered in so much tulle that it looked as if there was no actual hat to support it.
On top of that were black feathers in the middle of her head, and flowers on top of that as a center piece.
She accessorized with silver and pink earrings that dangled down to her shoulders.
While a look so exaggerated would be mocked by the Fashion Police on a Hollywood runway, this was common place at the Kentucky Derby.
Almost all of the hats worn by women had some type of added accessory. Whether it was a bow, flowers or feathers, they could be found in combination with one another atop the women’s heads.
According to Kentuckyderby.com, “Wearing a hat to the Kentucky Derby is believed to bear good luck! The long-established fashion was started by women, however, over the last few years, many men have taken part in the tradition as well.”
The dresses themselves almost always landed right above the knee, and were in solid colors in order to draw more attention to the hats.
Female celebrity Sarah Hyland could be seen on Instagram posing with Katie Welch in a pink halter dress with flowers along the scoop neck line. She wore a tan straw hat with white tulle on top of it. This was a different look from the one she wore on the runway.
On the runway she wore a white dress with red, pink, and yellow flowers. She wore a large velvet like flower piece on her head, with feathers coming out the back, and lace covering her left eye.
Women weren’t the only one wearing these extravagant outfits.
Men are encouraged to dress up in pastel clothing, whether that includes a suit and tie, or a button down and shorts.
In the case of the Kentucky Derby, Seersucker suits are always a go-to. They are built to allow more air into the suit, causing for less sweating even when they’re out in the sun. Another thing to keep in mind about these cotton based suits is that they’re normally pretty inexpensive.
Men pair these suits with bright bow ties that will usually match the ensemble. If bow ties weren’t their thing, a regular tie with a bold pattern would do the trick.
If you aren’t in the mood for a suit, a pair of pants with a pattern and a t-shirt to match will do the trick. Try to work with pastels if you’re interested in keeping up with the ladies in the fashion department.
According to Kentuckyderby.com, “The Derby is one of the few times that gentlemen can dress up and stand out more than the ladies. Classic styles of seersucker or khaki suits are nothing to miss but this year men have the chance to really turn some heads.”
Johnny Weir made a statement, in only a way that he could, with a hat made entirely of red roses, and topped with a mint julep.
Celebrities like A. J. Hawk could be seen at the event although his look was a little more toned down. He wore a blue suit, with a matching tie, and a yellow, blue, and white checkered shirt underneath.
If you’re looking for inspiration to dress up for this momentous occasion, try checking out looks from the past. The key to pulling off these looks is having the confidence to wear them.
