Oh yes, yes, yes! My favorite thing about Derby season! The fashion. Don’t get me wrong, I ended up in this city for my love of horses, so I love watching these beautiful horses race. The races are so exciting and it’s always fun to throw in a wager every now and again.
But I’m so looking forward to seeing all the dresses and millenary work on display at Churchill Downs. Some of the men are equally entertaining to watch. Don’t underestimate the creativity that can go into menswear. Even though I have two younger brothers whom I have helped dress, I’m no expert in men’s fashion. I just know what I prefer to see on a man and what’s pleasing to the eye. This time of year is a great time to break out pastels (yes, for the men too) and to wear something you wouldn’t normally see on a day to day basis. Pink or green pants? Go for it! Purple stripped bowtie? Why not?! Just remember to avoid pairing clashing colors, like red and purple. And don’t forget, gentlemen, to get a proper-fitting suit and to have it pressed before the races. A tailored fit is the key to perfecting your look!
I’m not entirely sure if you can “miss the mark” when it comes to Derby fashion. There are influences from everywhere; Milan, Paris, London, New York… you get the picture. When you go to the racetrack, it’s like stepping back in time. In an era where women would much rather wear stretchy pants or an all-black ensemble, even the “Boss Babes” wear floral dresses. You won’t want to wear pants anyways, ladies. It can get to be pretty hot and muggy. Even the rain here is HOT later in the year. It’s over the top everywhere: crazy hats, wild dresses, bold accessories, or a combination of the 3. But you can absolutely rock a simple dress and accessorize to your heart’s wildest dreams. You will see every cut, hemline, neckline, sleeve options in every shade of any color that screams “Spring!”
What to Watch For: Sustainable Fashion
This makes my Washingtonian heart happy. Earlier this month we saw the Duchess of Cambridge re-wear a custom Alexander McQueen number to the BAFTA’s. Que Fashion Police gasps. She previously wore the gown in 2012. If a Royal makes a statement with fashion, it sticks. Stella McCartney has been working on this idea for quite some time, using vegan leather and faux furs instead of the real deal. Adidas started making a shoe using only recycled materials. My point to this is: make a conscious purchase if you decide to buy a high end look for the event. It is possible! Haute Couture house rivals Louis Vuitton and Gucci recently had a sustainable fashion face-off on the Oscars red-carpet. Read the Forbes article to find out more, here: https://www.forbes.com/sites/isabeltogoh/2020/02/10/sustainable-fashion-reigned-supreme-at-the-oscars-led-by-rivals-louis-vuitton-and-gucci/#3b57ed8d5aa2
The resale market for luxury designers is a nice option if you’re a self-proclaimed label addict like I am. For things you plan on wearing for only special occasions, it makes so much sense to buy a garment from someone else who took the tags off and decided against it. There are some great deals on Poshmark and The RealReal. With vintage and throwback styles being “in”, I would highly recommend cruising the listings on these platforms to find some hidden gems. Small shoulder bags and 90’s style sunnies are a quick way to look “on trend”. Designer items from the 90s are considered vintage. Wow that is weird to say, as a 90’s baby. I’ve seen a number of gently used designer bags and sunglasses for good prices.
There’s another option, too. We’ve heard of this company before, ladies: Rent The Runway. This is not a sponsored advertisement/mention, but a personal recommendation. With so much to do and see (and eat and drink!) before the races themselves, those dollars can start adding up. If you have a package deal for Oaks (Friday’s races for fillies) and Derby, then that’s two dresses and two hats to budget for. Pink is the staple color for Oaks, because girls love pink of course. And Derby is definitely “anything glamorous goes”. So that brings me to mention RTR. If you’re planning an avant-garde outfit you know you’re only going to wear once, why not rent at a fraction of its retail cost? You could get so much more dress for your buck, and really elevate your look.
Who to watch:
If you were to list every celebrity who has attended the Kentucky Derby, from A-D List, you would run out of trees to make the paper to print it on. You won’t see a dress made of meat or the red carpet shut down by Rihanna in an immense gown, but you could see a ton, depending on where you are.
Millenary Shopping in Derby City
I will go further in depth on the millenary options in another post. Believe it or not, what you wear on your head is equally important to your look as your dress, ladies (or suit, for the gents).
So, get ready, ladies and gentlemen! Refresh yourself with looks you’ve seen on the runways for Spring/Summer 2020. Grab a copy of Vogue or InStyle, my personal favorites, and dream up YOUR perfect look. The sooner you get it laid out, the less stressful the week will be leading up to the event. You can tell your stylist exactly how your hair needs to be, what color you want on your nails and what accessories you need, if you don’t have the perfect match already.
Don’t forget to check out what’s available to borrow, before you buy! Maybe suggest a dress/shoe/jewelry swap between a couple close friends and yourself.
Cheers!