The Kentucky Derby and Virginia Gold Cup are only a week away, which means it’s time get your liver ready for Bourbon and mint juleps as well as watch horses run around the race track. The most stressful thing come Derby season for me is the same each year, what kind of hat should I wear and where can I get a nice one? If you want a truly unforgettable hat, you have to be willing to spend some cold, hard cash. Milliners like Eric Javits, Satya Twena, Bijou Van Ness, Amy Hamilton of Granville Millinery Company and Christine A Moore have created jaw dropping, statement making and one of a kind Derby hats and fascinators just for the horse racing season.
Choosing the right hat for the Gold Cup or the Kentucky Derby is a daunting task. It takes creativity, thinking outside of the box and a lot of confidence to keep your head held high while wearing a Derby hat. These hats exude the grandness of the occasion and if you plan on entering one of the hat contests, you need to really thing big. For the girls out there just looking for a beautiful hat to go with your dresses, I’ve hand picked a few from my favorite designers in various price ranges for your consideration.
If you are in a time crunch, make a pits top at J.Crew and pick up one of the wide brimmed hats currently in stock. (note: they are not available on the website). The hats come in navy, black and a nude colors and can be decorated to suit your look. All you need are ribbons, feathers, artificial flowers, and a glue gun. Get creative in decorating the hat and don’t be afraid to go online to find some inspiration.
