Kentucky Derby: Women's Hat Style Guide

DERBY HATS FOR WOMEN

We aren't afraid to go for those truly fun and embellished looks at Hats In The Belfry. We appreciate hats that are not just functional but fashionable, and love when we can help you accentuate your own style. What better place for this than the Kentucky Derby? No Derby ensemble is complete without a little (or a lot of) flair, after all an a hat or fascinator can add all the right pizazz to a day of festive fun!

First, What is the Kentucky Derby?

The Kentucky Derby, for those that may be unfamiliar, is the annual horse race at Churchill Downs, where famous horses race down the track and thousands of fans cheer on their favorite racers. It is the first of three races that make up the Triple Crown, followed by Preakness in Maryland, and Belmont Stakes in New York.

The Kentucky Derby is often referred to as "The Greatest Two Minutes In Sports" due to all the action unfolding in its two-minute window. Once the gate opens, the crowd goes wild while they watch the horses run around the track.

But there's more to it than just those two thrilling minutes! The excitement often begins long before the first horse steps onto the track with a pageantry of style and fashion gathered to put their best foot (and hat) forward. A key component of Kentucky Derby style, especially for women, are showstopper hats and headpieces. Many attendees and celebrities will have custom hats made months in advance. This however is not a necessity and we have plenty of beautiful hats ready to ship.

Even if you can't make it to the track there are always local events and watch parties during the races. What could be better than a Kentucky Derby party to capture that colorful and exciting ambience?

Now, What to Wear? GET YOUR DERBY SPIRIT ON!

Choosing the right dress and color combo is half the battle when planning your outfits at the Kentucky Derby, and you wouldn't be the first to find yourself in a quandary about buying the hat or outfit first.

If you want to make a STRIKING statement, purchase the hat first so that you can match it with your attire. Let your hat do most of the talking, and let the rest of your ensemble finish the job!

Our collection of Derby hats for women includes styles with wide brims, small brims, cloches, and fascinators all with high-fashion details. A courageous choice could make onlookers stop in their tracks but we also offer simple, classic styles if you aren't ready to go big and bold. No matter what you choose, it will be one-of-a-kind. There's no reason to be ordinary when you have an entire Women's Belfry Italia Collection to spruce up your derby look, so we'll start there.

Bright & Bold Hues of the Season

	The Belfry Viviana from Complit Hats of Italy is a simple, elegant dress hat made of lightweight sinamay, and festooned with a double bow and contrasting feather stalks. The bright fuschia color is a perfect complement to so many spring/summer outfits. If you prefer something sunnier, the Belfry Imelda has the same shape but is offered in a golden senape hue.
The Belfry Fia is a fashionable hat combining two soft spring hues together in one beautiful face-framing silhouette. It is crafted from Sinamay, a delicate and lightweight fabric, and is enhanced with a bow of both Sinamay and silk for a graceful appearance.
	A fascinator and hat built into one amazing design! The Belfry Marta offers plenty of versatility and fashionable style by simply changing its position on the head. Made of sisal straw that is lightweight, yet holds its shape, the Marta will add bold impact to your spring/summer ensemble.

When wearing brightly saturated colors like these you have a few options.

1) Match your hat to your outfit If what you desire is a slick head to toes monochromatic look you'll want to either start with the hat and buy your other pieces to match. Pretty simple concept but keep in mind it is sometimes difficult to find a perfect match the more unique the color. Often you can achieve the same impact with varying shades of the same color.

2) Emphasize an accent color This is a fantastic option for anyone choosing to wear a bold, colorful print. What you'll want to do in this scenario is look at the print and choose one color or two colors you'd like to highlight. Then you can use your hat and other accessories to bring that color forward.

3) Dial up the high contrast For this look your going to want to look at colors that compliment each other but are on opposite ends of the spectrum. Think about a bold colored hat paired with a neutral dress, or combining warm colors with cool. A couple classic combinations are Navy with Yellow, Pink with Green, or Coral with White but the possibilities are endless.

Smaller Options with Big Impact

If you're not quite ready to wear a wide brimmed hat or you think you'll have more opportunities to wear a smaller headpiece, fascinators are an excellent option. There are many of the same embellishments and details offered as with the hat styles. Below are a few more options from Complit:

	The Belfry Mariella brings to mind the alluring charm of Venice in this boater-styled fascinator. The color play between the teal and pink immediately draws the eye. Made of lightweight sinamay, with a layered brim edge trimmed in sisal and grosgrain ribbon. The crown is adorned with a sisal bow and wispy feather accent adding to its playfulness.
Inspired by Paris in the 1920’s, this elegant fascinator offers a sophisticated look with vintage style. The Belfry Simona is made of lightweight mesh Sinamay swirled onto the pillbox base, which then spirals into a multi-faceted bow with rosette flower accents. Just a few well-placed feathers adorn this beautiful fascinator and add gentle movement. Perfect for anyone who want to make a statement and have a timeless look simultaneously.
	The Belfry Brio is another an eye-catching piece of 1920's inspired fashion. A nod to fashions of the past with forward thinking updates. Constructed from soft and pliable sinamay straw in a stunning coral color, hand formed into a round shape to sit gently upon the head and decorated with petal and flower details. Feathery accents have been added to for graceful movement. The Belfry Brio is truly a masterpiece of Italian design.

Seasonal Styles That Fully Embrace Springs Arrival

Springtime means new colors, blooms, warmer weather, and of course… Derby Day!

This year we're offering a collection of Derby hats styled for spring. From bright colors to stripes, these designs come in various shapes and sizes and will brighten your day. Grab them now while you still can.

These chic derby hats are crafted in our American millinery partners at Kathy Jeanne. We call this collection our Garden Party with handcrafted details such as hand-sewn flowers, satin ribbon bows, and berry accents surely to make the perfect addition to your spring wardrobe. These styles are on the top of our list for a vintage feminine look. They all pair beautifully with softer color pallets and spring prints.

	The Belfry Lydia is a beautifully crafted , with vintage charm. Made of lightweight subtle nude straw, the Lydia features a woven crown accented with French knots and a decorative open-weave brim. An asymmetrical slant to the brim and a delightful bouquet of ivory flowers and lace add fashionable charm.
The Belfry Jane is part of our Garden Party Collection, and is an elegant, saucer/disk fascinator that takes its design cue from the sophisticated vintage styles of the 1920's. Made of a high quality navy straw, the Jane is accented with a simple, large magnolia flower, made of embossed velvet and silk.
	The Belfry Caroline is the perfect accessory for horse races, weddings, teas, and more. Featuring a light robin's egg powdery blue color accented with a complementary navy bow and buckle, a modern lipstick crown and the perfectly proportioned medium sized brim.