Socialites & The Kentucky Derby

Dress to Impress

One of the truly unique characteristics of the Kentucky Derby, and its sister event, the Kentucky Oaks, is that they are sports parties that showcase the finest in spring fashions. Both female and male attendees pull out all of the stops when selecting their Kentucky Derby and Oaks apparel.

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  Louisville's own "Southern Belles" strut their stuff on the Kentucky Derby Red Carpet. Photo: Churchill Downs

There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to Derby dressing in part because what you wear has much to do with where you plan to spend the day. In the reserved seating areas (grandstand, clubhouse, suites and corporate hospitality areas), ladies typically wear pastel-colored suits, frilly dresses or bold separates that coordinate with their Derby headwear and accessories. While high heels are certainly part of the total Derby ensemble, experienced Derby divas also pack a pair of fashionable yet comfortable flats or flip flops to wear home. Who says the high price of fashion has to include blisters?

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  Wearing the Derby's official color, this lady in red outshines her floral competition. Photo: Churchill Downs

Not to be out done by their dates, gentlemen leave their pinstripes at home and instead opt for seersucker suits, light-colored sport coats and the occasional madras plaid jacket. Guys, when in doubt, a navy sports coat with pressed khakis or dress slacks, a light-colored shirt and flashy tie (long or bow) is perfectly acceptable!

Women's Attire

The Kentucky Derby is a chance for every female to express her inner Southern Belle so take note and don't hold back when planning your party hat (especially if you are the hostess!).

Hats

Wearing a hat to the Kentucky Derby is believed to bear good luck!  The long-established fashion was started by the women, however, over the last few years, many men have taken part in the tradition as well.  Wearing a hat is much like getting into costume, you might be pleasantly surprised to see what type of character you become. From the fantastic to the sublime, there are no rules or limits.  In the clubhouse and paddock, women of grace and taste sport classy, fashionable styles. In the infield, the headwear has tendancy to take on a zanier character.

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Within the seated sections of Churchill Downs, you will find hats of elegance and style. Generally speaking, women wear wide-brimmed, “Southern Belle” inspired Kentucky Derby hats. The hats can be decorated with flowers, feathers, bows and ribbons of any color to express creativity and individuality. Men's Derby hats are generally solid in color and inspired by the style from the 1920s.

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Dress or Hat -  Which Comes First?

You can exhale - there are two answers here!
Some will say that you absolutely get the outfit first. Then you design your hat to go with the outfit. (The arguement here is that it’s easier to custom design a hat than to “make” an outfit to go with a hat!)
Then there are those who say that you must definitely purchase, create or design your hat before picking out the outfit.
Most often in this case, matching the dress (or outfit) to your hat involves personal preference, however keep a few things in mind in getting dressed:
* If your hat is having a pattern party, keep the dress design simple.
* If the hat is simple and elegant, keep the outfit simple also for a classy look.
* If you want a funky outfit, keep it consistent and accent the hat most of all!
* If you have long hair, showcase a ponytail slightly to side or keep it down to one side to highlight the color on your face.
You will find lots of debate on this subject– so finally the NO answer is THE answer!

Party Idea - Best Dressed Hat Contest

Have a hat contest to celebrate your guests efforts with the following categories:
* Biggest Hat
* Best Derby Inspired
* Best Men's Hat

Men's Attire

Southern Style

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.
Starting with the pants because it is the eye-catcher from a distance, all gents should turn to sun drenched pants in vibrant colors like Key Lime, Ocean, Bermuda Pink, and Citron.  Any one of these colors paired with the right shirt and blazer will make you stand out like no one else.

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Now that you have the pants you know that you’re going to have some fun with the shirts. A great dress shirt in a complimentary color will go a long way. Don’t be afraid to grab a fun gingham or striped shirt to turn it up. This is the one day of the year that more is better.  One option that is a must for some is the monogram on the shirt!

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Next is the tie. Most gentlemen wear a necktie, but a bow tie is always an option. If you never wear bows, try it out this year and you may like it.

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For neckwear this year there is only one option. Vineyard Vines is the official tie maker of the Kentucky Derby and they will make every man look dapper and distinguished.
Lastly, covering those feet with a nice pair of “sleds” is the right idea. There are many types of horse bit loafers out there and everyone has their idea of who makes the best ones. The most important thing you need to know is that they should be wore sockless.
Now you are ready to throw back some bourbon and tie on a bowtie. The most important think about your Derby outfit is the secret for all successful men.

The Secret: men just need to be confident. No matter what you wear, it’s how you wear it gentlemen.
If you can do that you will be the most dapper gentleman at the Derby.

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  ©Andrew Kung

The Kentucky Derby infield comes with its own agenda and dress code. Unbridled fun and frivolity is the focus of infield fans and with that attitude comes the need to be practical in all apparel choices. Infielders typically sport jeans or shorts, T-shirts, tanks or polo shirts, sneakers or comfortable sandals and other varieties of durable (and washable) attire. Some fans show up centerfield in more elaborate costumes, including fantastic get ups meant to draw attention. Whether you want to be noticed – or just blend into the crowd -- the key is comfort. Be sure to pack a rain jacket along with your cooler, chair, blanket or tarp. If it rains you’ll be glad you did (no umbrellas allowed!) And don’t forget the one thing ALL infielders should wear to the Derby regardless of the weather – a good layer of sunscreen!

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Viineyard Vines is the Official Style of the Kentucky Derby.

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Hats, hats & more hats... Gotta love the Glamour of the Derby.

-xoxo Lola

 

 

 

Derby Fashion History

The spectacular female fashion often seen at the Kentucky Derby is not solely a product of modern times; rather, opulent feminized dress has played a large role in the history of the Kentucky Derby. What Colonel M. Lewis Clark Jr., (the founding father of the Kentucky Derby), envisioned was a racing environment that would feel comfortable and luxurious, an event that would remind people of European horse racing. For a well-to-do late 19th and early 20th century woman, a day at Churchill Downs, especially on Derby Day was an opportunity to be seen in the latest of fashions. A journalist from a 1901 Louisville Courier-Journal stated, “The seats in the grandstand were filled with gaily dressed women and men. The mass of green, pink, red, yellow, blue, all the colors of the rainbow, blending into one harmonious whole was as beautiful a sight as His Eminence in the lead.”

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What would these women have worn? Perhaps surprising to some, local Louisville women would have had the opportunity to purchase dresses and accessories from a talented group of seamstresses. The dresses in the late 19th through the early 20th century would have emphasized a slimmer bustled silhouette than those of years past. The length of these dresses would have assuredly been long, covering the ankles. Due to the fact that the Kentucky Derby is in the spring, silks would have been a good, warm weather choice. Gloves, hat, and perhaps a parasol were also appropriate choices as well.

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As societal rules softened in the 20th century, what was deemed appropriate dress transformed. In the 1920s, women at the Derby could be seen wearing a dress or perhaps a more modern suit, complete with a jacket. Some of the1920s jackets were roomy and accommodating, others were fitted. The hat and gloves were still very much in fashion. The 1930s and 1940s followed in the same vein, with option of a dress or suit; in fact, in the 1930s and 1940s the formal suit seemed to be more popular than the dress.

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The 1950s ushered in a renewed prosperity to postwar America and clothing styles reflected that. At the Kentucky Derby, one would have most likely viewed well-dressed women in chic suits, with skirts that were either fitted to the body or billowed outward with the assistance of a petticoat. Again, gloves and hats were still quite popular and still a part of a well-dressed woman’s wardrobe. The rules that guided so much of 20th century culture seemed to be thrown out the window in the mid-to late 1960s. Though the Derby was still viewed as a most respectable event and women continued to dress as such, a change had occurred. Now that Millionaires Row had opened, society women wore increasingly louder hats and took pride and enjoyment in selecting one. This trend of bigger, more spectacular hats might have developed due to the fact that while society was loosening its grip on the hat and glove formality, the Kentucky Derby offered women a place to continue the old traditions. Patterns and prints were also brighter, and hemlines defiantly were raised, yielding a much different look than years before.

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In the 1970s and 1980s was a return to the longer skirt, while the same casual attitude of the 1960s was still in place. From the 1990s to today, the dress at the Derby is slowing replacing the suit, especially with younger women. While gloves are out of fashion, a hat never is, and they tend to get wilder and more expensive every year. The style of the infield today is defiantly relaxed, with women wearing cool sundresses, cotton skirts, or more frequently shorts. Still, the Kentucky Derby has earned its reputation as a fashion playground and here at the Kentucky Derby Museum we would like to capture its dynamic spirit.

Credit:
Katherine Veitschegger
Curator of Collections
Kentucky Derby Museum