Neon colors, bold accessories and brightly colored hats stand out at 2023 Kentucky Derby
Dress to impress and head-turning chic is always the dress code at Churchill Downs. For 2023, the fashions at the Kentucky Oaks and Derby, for both women and men, have definitely turned up a notch thanks to this year's trend of electrifying hues of neon green, pink and yellow.
Dressed to perfection, Linsday Perko traveled from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with friends for the races. Her neon yellow dress and coordinating fascinator set the tone for the day.
"I wanted something that would match the fun and celebration, I am experiencing around me here at Churchill Downs," she said.
Big, bright and bold are always in style, and this year did not disappoint.
"Go big or go home. People come to the Derby to be seen and noted," said Christine A. Moore, featured miIliner of the 149th Kentucky Derby. "This year we've really seen an uptick in people wanting to make their statement through the colors they have chosen to wear in their clothing and in their hats."
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With temperatures in the 70s, race fans flowed through the security gates on Kentucky Derby weekend in light coats and sports jackets and wrapped in pashmina shawls — all of which added to the elegant feel of a day at Churchill Downs Racetrack on the first Saturday in May.
With head-turning hats, bold dresses, tailored suits, chic shoes and fancy fascinators, Derby styles stole the show whenever the horses were not on the track. Dallas native Carson Grisson arrived at Churchill Downs with a two-foot pink and green stargazer lily propped on her head for the Kentucky Oaks. The Friday before the Kentucky Derby is known as the "Race for the Lilies," and the blanket of stargazer lilies is presented to the winner.
"I have a big hat each year I come to Kentucky," she said. "They seem to get bigger each year and I would describe this one as a large gaudy lily. My mom makes my hats or surprises me with something she has ordered for me."
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Of course, seasoned Derbygoers know the biggest fashion statement they can make is with their hats. Wide-brimmed hats and dramatic fascinators have become a staple in Derby fashion.
"This is the third rendition of the hat I wanted," Stephanie Lake, who is from Louisville, said. "We finally got the colors right and it's perfect."
But maybe not the perfect fit for the car drive to the track. Lake's wide-brim hat, which she had made at Dee's on Shelbyville Road, was so large she needed to recline the passenger seat in the car while her husband drove to the races.
Both Friday and Saturday for the Oaks and Derby, celebratory ensembles created from flirty florals, vibrant colors, and patterns galore filled the Grandstands, paddock, Millionaire's Row, the new First Turn Suites and the infield, where fashion also has its own comfortable chic.
"Today, you can do so many things with your fashion at the track," Lake said. "You can really push the boundaries and the colors this year are amazing."
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For some, looking their Derby best starts months in advance and includes custom-made headpieces and garments. For others, who make the bucket list event an annual affair, shopping the closet for past Derby pieces does the trick.
And no matter how long, or little time, race fans spend planning their Derby Day look — nearly everyone comes to the longest continuously held sporting event in America wearing a fancy hat, joyously dressing in a way you'll only find at the Kentucky Derby.
"In my experience as a milliner, it's all about 'look at me,'" Moore said. "People come here to feel special, to celebrate and live the day."
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Reach features reporter Kirby Adams at kadams@courier-journal.com.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: What people wore to Kentucky Derby: Bright hats at Churchill Downs
