Kentucky Derby 2019: What you need for the best Derby party

Preparing for a Kentucky Derby party isn’t like the Oscars parties you have with friends. You can’t just wear a fancy gown and call it a day.

Sure, the horse races are important, but it’s the fashion that catches everyone’s eyes, and more specifically, the hats. As the Official Milliner of the Kentucky Derby Christine A. Moore describes it, “The Derby motto will always be ‘Go big or go home.'” So if you want to step out in style this weekend, check out some fashionable tips.

Hats, Hats, Hats

Are you even going to a Kentucky Derby party if you don’t have a hat?

“For the perfect derby party there are only a few must haves,” says the Food Network’s Giada de Laurentiis. “Great food, strong cocktails and hats. Lots of hats.” 

Women traditionally dressed up for events, and they continued this tradition when they were allowed to attend the Derby, Moore explains. It doesn’t look like that iconic trend is going away any time soon.

Carson Finkle, CEO at Tenth Street Hats, which sells official Derby head gear, suggests wearing the fascinator, a “classic, timeless and understated” hat for women. He also adds that the hatinator, a mix between a hat and fascinator, and sinamay are both great options as well.

Courier-Journal:Check out the latest Derby coverage

For men, Finkle advises the boater, which he says is a classic for the Derby.  The fedora is also a very popular option, and Finkle says those types of hats are currently flying off the shelves. The bowler is also “timeless for the racetrack” and the ivy is the “gentleman’s look.” 

You can also get some extra inspiration by looking back towards last year’s Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, Moore suggests..

“This year, you will see more beautiful clean disc style fascinators elegantly perched as well as the always popular southern belle large brimmed hats,” she says.

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