Fashion Friday- Kentucky Derby

Happy Derby Weekend!! I LOVE Kentucky Derby...it's one of my favourite days of the year! My family is a horse racing family, so watching the Derby is something I have done my whole life. Going to Kentucky for the Derby is on my bucket list- I would love to experience Churchill Downs in person!

 

This year, I will be cheering on Always Dreaming from the comfort of my home, but if I was at Churchill Downs, I would be wearing something like this:

Earrings // Hat // Necklace // Watch // Clutch // Shoes // Dress // Sunglasses

The great debate over when you are creating your Kentucky Derby outfit is do you start with the dress or the hat? Personally, I start with the hat! While technically a facinator, I built my outfit around this Christina A. Moore hat. I loved the shade of blue, the blue/black combination, the netting, the feathers...basically everything! 

 

I really wanted the hat to be the focal point of this outfit, and thought I would pair it with a white dress or a simple yellow dress. Then I came across this Isabeau Dress by Lilly Pulitzer and thought this shade would go well with the blue in the hat. What makes this dress work with the hat, even thought it has a bright colour, is that the cut, style, and lace detail of the dress is simple. I love how feminine this dress is- definitely something you would spot at the Derby!

Again, I wanted the hat to be the main part of this outfit, so I kept the accessories simple. Kentucky Derby is an all day affair- even though the actual race is only two minutes- and you are outside on gravel, dirt and grass, I opted to go with the Palm Beach Sandal by Jack Rogers. Classic, comfy, and perfect for Derby! This Rose Dial Metro watch by Kate Spade is an homage to the Kentucky Derby's nickname- Run for the Roses. The Straw Derby Clutch by Vineyard Vines was designed specifically for this year's Kentucky Derby, so of course I had to include it in this outfit!

This is an outdoor event, so you do need to dress for the weather. The perfect Derby day is of course sunny and warm, so I didn't incorporate rain or outerwear in this outfit, but I did include these Bayleigh Sunglasses also by Kate Spade.

I don't think a ton of jewellery is needed for any Kentucky Derby outfit, but if you insist on wearing some, keep it classic with a pearl necklace and pearl studs.