The hats were big, and beeeeeautiful!!! - The bigger the better for women. The ladies were prancing just as much as the horses on that day. I would say 95% of all women attending had on hats of some kind. Even those sitting in the "cheap seats" had hats on and were dressed to the "nines". Sometimes the hats matched the women’s suits (yes I saw leopard skin hats & suits) or sun dresses. We were with three couples, one lady my age (sundress and hat) and two other ladies probably around 60, again hats and suits on. It was a great experience and one I will never forget. It was amazing to me that everyone was dressed up and having a good time even though it began to get warm as the day wore on. The men were wearing straw summer hats. The men kept on their suit & tie or blazers and ties, dress shoes (no tennis shoes) all day long. We commented on the fact that if you could get that dressed up for a whole day, and feel good why didn't we do it more often. It is my understanding that the day before the Kentucky Derby which is called the Oaks, that people dress up and women wear their hats on that day also. I remember that at the end of the day I had hat hair so by now I am committed to wearing this hat to dinner even though we are inside the hotel restaurant (and etiquette probably says take it off*). I must say everyone loved seeing me in my hat and it is a dead give away that you attended the Derby. People came up to me at the restaurant and even in the casino later that evening and told me how much they loved my hat. I have never had so many compliments in one day as I received Derby Day. It was kind of funny that in the crowded casino people would move out of the way for me and my BIG HAT to walk through. This hat had a following of its own.
There are couture hats, funny hats (horses or trophies, or jockeys, or mint juleps on top); hats with real flowers on them and most of the hats had wide brims. Not many small hats. The day was big and showy.
I wish I were going this year. I was going to recycle my hat and add some color or more flowers. I am not shy about wearing a BIG HAT.
*[VillageHatShop.com Footnote] Proper etiquette with regard to ladies hats would allow Ms. Steindler to keep her hat on at the restaurant, not so with men.
The article is very awful. There are several sort of traditional hats too which has its unique style. I would be glad if u provide more entropy regarding this.
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Sheik
http://www.treatmentcenters.org/kentucky
Posted by: sheik | August 04, 2008 at 01:38 AM
If I may show my ignorance, could someone please tell me the significance of the hats and when it began. I would greatly appreciate it. My intuition is equating the word derby with hat, but I am sure I am wrong. Thanks. S. Walsh, SoFla
Posted by: stephanie walsh | May 02, 2009 at 02:46 PM